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The Commission on the Filipino Language (Filipino: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino; Cebuano: Komisyon sa Pinulongang
Filipino; Ilocano: Komision iti Pagsasao a Filipino; Kapampangan: Komisyun king Amanung Filipinu; Pangasinan: Komisyon na Salitan
Filipino; Waray: Komisyon ha Pinulungan nga Filipino) is the official regulating body of the Filipino language and the
official governmentinstitution tasked with developing, preserving, and promoting the various local Philippine languages.[1][2] It was
established in accord with the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. In October 2008, José L. Santos, a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan, was
appointed chairman of the Commission, succeeding Ghel Duran Nolasco.
The Commission, created by Republic Act No. 7104, signed on August 14, 1991 by Former President Corazón Cojuangco Aquino,
replaced the Institute of Philippine Languages (IPL) which replaced the Institute of National Language (INL) by virtue of Executive
Order No. 117 issued by President Aquino in January 1987. The INL, established in 1937 by Commonwealth Act No. 184, s. 1936, is the
first government agency to initiate the development of the Philippine national language.[3]
History
The 1st National Assembly of the Philippines passed Commonwealth Act No. 184, s. 1936,
establishing an Institute of National Language (INL) (Filipino: Surian ng Wikang Pambansâ).
On January 12, 1937, Former President Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina appointed the members
to compose the INL. By virtue of Executive Order No. 134 issued and signed by President
Quezón on December 30, 1937, approved the adoption of Tagalog as the basis of the national
language, and declared and proclaimed the national language based on Tagalog, as the national
language of the Philippines.[4] In 1938, the INL was dissolved and replaced with the National
Language Institute (NLI). Its purpose was to prepare for the nationwide teaching of
the Tagalog -Based National Language (Filipino:Wikang Pambansâ na Batay sa Tagalog) by
creating a dictionary and a grammar book with a standardized orthography. In the School
Year of 1940-41, the teaching of the National Language (Filipino:Wikang Pambansâ), with its
new standardized orthography, was set by law in the fourth year of all high schools in both
public and private schools throughout the country.[5] The Tagalog-Based National Language
was taught in school only as one of the subject areas in 1940 but was not adapted as the
medium of instruction. During World War II, the Japanese encouraged the use of the National
Language rather than English in the schools. The Tagalog-Based National Language was,
therefore, propagated not only in education but also in mass media and in official
communication. The census for 1948 reported that 7,126,913 people or 37.11% of the
population spoke the language, representing an increase of 11.7% from the 1939 figure of
4,068,565. Of these seven million people, 47.7% learned it as a second language.[6]
[edit] The first members of the commission (1937)
Jaime C. de Veyra (Samar-Leyte Visayan), Chairman[4]
Santiago A. Fonacier (Ilocano), Member
Filemon Sotto (Cebu Visayan), Member
Casimiro F. Perfecto (Bicol), Member
Felix S. Salas Rodriguez (Panay Visayan), Member
Hadji Butu (Moro), Member
Cecilio López (Tagalog), Member and Secretary[edit] Criticism
One major criticism of the Commission is that it does not really do its job in developing the
Filipino language. This is grounded in the fact that Filipino was essentially Tagalog, a fact
acknowledged by former Commissioner, Ricardo María Duran Nolasco,[7] and with an
impoverished technical and scientific vocabulary, at that, which relies heavily on foreign
borrowings and, often, constructions. It is often left to the universities to develop their own
respective terminologies for each field, leading to a lack of uniformity and general public
disuse.
It is argued[8] that current state of the Filipino language is contrary to the intention of Republic
Act (RA) No. 7104 that requires that the national language be developed and enriched by the
lexicon of the country's other languages. However, Resolution 92-1,[9] which defines the
national language as "the language spoken in Metro Manila and other business centers of the
country", does not necessarily run counter to RA No. 7104.
[edit] BISYON AT MISYON NG KOMISYON SA WIKANG FILIPINO
(Vision/mission statement of the Commission on the Filipino Language)
Bisyon ng KWF/CFL, na maging sentro ng kapantasan sa mga wika at panitikan ng
mga Pilipino. Misyon ng KWF na paunlarin, palaganapin at panatilihin ang mga
wikang ginagamit ng mga Pilipino sa iba’t ibang larangan. Tungkulin ng KWF na
magsagawa, mag-ugnay at sumuporta sa mga makabuluhang pananaliksik at pag-aaral
na pangwika at pampanitikan na nasa wikang pambansa, panglokal, o pang-ibayong
dagat. Kinikilala ng KWF ang kahalagahan ng mga wikang ito para sa kultura,
edukasyon at iba pang layuning intelektuwal; pagkakakilanlan at etnisidad;
pakikipagtalastasan sa loob at labas ng bansa; pag-unlad na pang-ekonomiya; at
kaisahan at katatagang pampulitika.
(The Commission on the Filipino Language [CFL or KWF] seeks to become the center of scholarship in
Philippine languages and literatures. Its mission is to develop, promote and preserve the languages used by
Filipinos in various domains. Its mandate is to undertake, coordinate and support linguistic and literary
studies in the national, local or foreign languages. The CFL/KWF believes in the value of these languages in
education, culture and other intellectual pursuits; for identity and ethnicity; for national and international
communication; for economic growth; and for political unity and stability.)
SPEECH
OF
His EXCELLENCY MANUEL L. QUEZON
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
ON
FILIPINO NATIONAL LANGUAGE
[Radiocast from Malacañan Palace, Manila, on Rizal Day, December 30, 1937]
My Fellow-Citizens:
It affords me an indescribable satisfaction to be able to announce to you that on this the
41st anniversary of the martyrdom of the founder and greatest exponent of Philippine
nationalism, I had the privilege of issuing, in pursuance of the mandate of the
Constitution and of existing law, an Executive Order designating one of the native
languages as the basis for the national language of the Filipino people. The Executive
Order is as follows:
MALACANAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 134
PROCLAIMING THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE PHILIPPINES
BASED ON THE "TAGALOG" LANGUAGE
Whereas, by virtue of the provisions of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred
eighty-four enacted for the purpose of carrying out the constitutional mandate contained .
in section three, Article XIII, of the Constitution enjoining the adoption of a national
language based upon one of the existing native tongues, the President of the Philippines,
on January twelfth, nineteen hundred and thirty-seven appointed the following to
constitute the Institute of National Language created under said Act:
Jaime C. de Veyra (Samar-Leyte Visayan), Chairman
Santiago A. Fonacier (Ilocano), member
Filemon Sotto (Cebu Visayan}, member
Casimiro F. Perfecto (Bicol), member
Felix S. Salas Rodriguez (Panay Visayan), member
Hadji Butu (Moro), member
Cecilio Lopez (Tagalog), member and Secretary
Whereas, the Institute of National Language adopted on the ninth day of November,
nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, a resolution as follows: "Whereas, the National Assembly, in accordance-with constitutional mandate, passed
Commonwealth Act No. 184 establishing an Institute of National Language;
"Whereas, the President of the Philippines, in accordance with sections 1 and 2 of
said law, appointed on January 12, 1937, the members to compose the Institute who
assumed their duties immediately after appointment;
"Whereas, in fulfillment of the purpose of evolving and adopting a common national
language based on one of the existing native dialects, and complying with the conditions
and proceedings to be observed by the Institute in the discharge of its duties, as set forth
in section 5 of said law, the Institute has made studies of Philippine tongues in general;
"Whereas, in the light of these studies the members of the Institute have come to the
conclusion that among the Philippine languages, the Tagalog is the one that most nearly
fulfills the requirements of Commonwealth Act No. 184;
"Whereas, this conclusion represents not only the conviction of the members of the
Institute but also the opinion of Filipino scholars and patriots of divergent origin and
varied education and tendencies who are unanimously in favor of the selection of
Tagalog as the basis of the national language as it has been found to be used and accepted
by the greatest number of Filipinos not to mention the categorical views expressed by
local newspapers, publications, and individual writers; and
"Whereas, the constitutional mandate mentioned above may be carried out without
detraction from the requirements of section 1, subsection 8 of the Ordinance appended to
the Constitution which provides:
" 'The Government of the Commonwealth, of the Philippines shall establish and maintain
an adequate system of public schools, primarily conducted in the English language';
"Now, therefore, be it resolved,, as it is hereby resolved, that the Institute of National
Language in harmony and in compliance with section 7 of Commonwealth Act No. 184,
select as it hereby selects the Tagalog language to be used as the basis for the evolution
and adoption of the national language of the Philippines;
"Be it further resolved, that the Institute of National Language recommend to His
Excellency, the President of the Philippines, the adoption of Tagalog as the basis of the
national language of the Philippines, and that such an adoption of the Philippine National
Language shall not he understood as in any .way affecting the requirement that the
instruction in the public schools shall be primarily conducted in the English language."
Now, therefore, I, Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, pursuant to the provisions of section seven of
Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred eighty-four, and upon the recommendation
of the Institute of National Language set forth in the resolution above transcribed, do
hereby approve the adoption of Tagalog as the basis of the national language of the
Philippines, and hereby declare and proclaim the national language so based on the
Tagalog dialect, as the national language of the Philippines.
This Order shall take effect two years from the date of its promulgation. Done at the City of Manila, this thirtieth day of December, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, end of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the
third.
MANUEL L. QUEZON
President of the Philippines
By the President:
ELPIDIO QUIRINO
Secretary of the Interior
Rizal, in his patriotic efforts to foster Philippine nationalism, put in the mouth of Simon,
addressing Basilio, the following words: "Spanish will never be the language generally
spoken in the country; the people will never speak it. Each people has its own language
as it has its own way of thinking. You are trying hard to divest yourselves of your own
personality as a people; you forget that as long as a people preserves its language, it
retains a token of its liberty, just as a man retains his freedom so long as he preserves his
own independence of thought. A language expresses the ideas and ideals of a people."
Hence, in deciding to adopt a national language culled from the different languages
spoken in the Philippines and mainly from the Tagalog which was not only the native
tongue of Rizal but also is the most developed of all the existing languages in our
country, we are merely carrying - into realization one of -the ideals of our national hero
as a means of consolidating and invigorating our national unity.
For over three hundred years that Spain exercised sovereignty over the Philippines,
Spanish was the official language; nevertheless, when the United States took possession
and control of these Islands, Spanish had not become the common language of our
people. With the establishment of the American regime, English became the official
language of our country; but despite the fact that English has been taught in all our public
schools for more than a generation, it has not become the language of our people. Today
there is not one language that is spoken and understood by all the Filipinos, nor even by a
majority of them, which simply proves that while the teaching of a foreign language may
be imposed upon a people, it can never replace the native tongue as a medium of national
expression among the common masses. This is because, as Rizal asserted, the national
thought takes its roots in a common language which, develops and grows with the
progress of the nation. We may borrow for a time the language of other peoples, but we
cannot truly possess a national language except through the adoption, development and
use of one of our own.
It is unnecessary for me to demonstrate how essential it is for our people to have one
language that can be used by all in their daily intercourse. Such language cannot be either
English or Spanish, except perhaps, if ever, only after many generations and at a very
great cost. We cannot wait that long. We must as soon as possible be able to deal with
one another directly using the same language. We need its power more completely to
weld us into one strong nation. It will give inspiration and warmth to our popular movements and will accord to our nationality a new meaning to which we have never
learned to give full and adequate expression. As President of the Philippines, many times
I have felt the humiliation of having to address the people through an interpreter in those
provinces of the Islands where either Ilocano, Visayan, Pampango or Bicol is the
language used.
The fact that we are going to have our national language does not mean that we are to
abandon in our schools the study or the use of the Spanish language, much less English
which, under, our Constitution, is the basis of primary instruction. Spanish will preserve
for us our Latin culture and will be our point of contact with our former metropolis as
well as with Latin America; English, the great language of democracy, will bind us
forever to the people of the United States and place within our reach the wealth of
knowledge treasured in this language.
There was a time when it seemed that it would be impossible for the Filipinos to agree
that one of the native languages be chosen as the national language, but at last we "have
all realized that if we are willing to accept, a foreign language as the official language of
the Philippines, with more reason we should accept one of our own languages as the
national language of bur - common country. Without giving undue importance to the r61e
that a common language plays in the life of a people, we may point to the fact that in the
Orient the one nation which has made the greatest progress and which has won a high
place in the family of nations, is the only nation that has one common language— Japan.
And every other nation which has attained the highest state of culture, solidarity and
power, both on the American continent and in Europe, and even in Africa, is a nation that
possesses a common national language.
Today, with the adoption of Tagalog as the basis for the national language of the
Philippines, we have accomplished one of the most cherished dreams of Rizal.
In no better way could we have honored his sacred memory on this anniversary of his
immolation to the cause of our free nationhood.
I wish you all a Happy New Year.
Development of Filipino, The National Language of the Philippines
The emergence of a national language that could unite the whole country is the realization of a dream that goes back to the year 1935. President Manuel L. Quezon of the Commonwealth of the Philippines made this possible through the inclusion of an article in the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines regarding the development of a national language.
Of the more than a hundred languages being spoken by the different ethnolinguistic groups of dwellers in the more than seven thousand and one hundred islands comprising the Philippines, eight of them are considered major languages. These major languages are Ilocano, Pangasinan, Pampango, Tagalog, Bicol, Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray-Samarnon.
The 1935 Constitution Article XIV, Section 3 states that "...Congress shall make necessary steps towards the development of a national language which will be based on one of the existing native languages..." There are two significant words in
the statement, namely existing and native. The initial step made by the national Assembly was the passing of Commonwealth Act No. 184 (1936) that created a national committee and empowered its members to decide on which one of the existing native major languages will the national language be based. The committee members were eminent linguists and each one of them representing a linguistic group or one of the major languages. They were Jaime C. de Veyra (Hiligaynon), Santiago Fonacier (Ilocano), Casimiro Perfecto (Bicol), Felix Salas Rodriguez (Samarnon), Felimon Sotto (Cebuano), Cecilio Lopez (Tagalog), and Hadji Butu (Maranao-Maguindanao). Mr. Jaime de Veyra was the chairman of the said committee. A year later, four more committee members were included. They were Isidro Abad (Cebuano), Zoilo Hilario (Pampango), Jose Zulueta (Pangasinan) and Lope K. Santos (Tagalog).
After a thorough and earnest effort in studying the case, the committee recommended Tagalog to be the basis of the national language. Hence, the Executive Order No. 134 s. 1937 stating that the national language will be based on Tagalog. Three years after the proclamation of Tagalog as the basis of the national language (officially called "Pilipino" since 1959) it was decided as one of the official languages of the Philippines. It was taught as a subject in the teacher education courses and in the elementary and secondary schools throughout the country. Lope K. Santos who was then appointed director of the Institute of National Language (1939), undertook the preparation of grammar book (Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa) which constitute the bulk of what was taught in school.
The Tagalog-based national language was taught in school only as one of the subject areas (1940) but was not adapted as the medium of instruction. During World War II, the Japanese encouraged the use of the National Language rather than English in the schools. The Tagalog-based national language was, therefore, propagated not only in education but also in mass media and in official communication. The census for 1948 reported that 7,126,913 people or 37.11% of the population spoke the language, representing an increase of 11.7% from the 1939 figure of 4,068,565. Of these seven million people, 47.7% learned it as a second language (Liamzon).
Once again, the National Language issue sparked heated discussion during the 1973 Constitutional Convention. A committee on National Language (CNL) was created by the convention delegates to look into the language question and to make recommendations on the policy that should be adapted on the matter. The CNL, after hearing conflicting testimonies from various language experts in the country, recommended to eliminate Pilipino and replace it with a new "common national language to be known as Filipino, based on existing native languages...". The FILIPINO to be developed pursuant to the 1973 constitution could be a fusion of the different native languages. This CNL recommendation met a great deal of oppositions from various sectors of the community. They pointed out that such an artificial language was not feasible, since it lacked both native speakers and a literary tradition to help propagate it.
FILIPINO, the national language of the Philippines was finally settled in the 1987 Constitution. Article XIV section 6 states that "the National language of the
Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.
The constitution also provided that subject to provision of law and as the congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.
Section 7. For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.
The regional languages are the auxilliary official language in the region and shall serve as auxilliary media of instruction therein."
It is predicted that by the year 2000, the Philippines will be a Filipino lingua franca speaking nation, which is quite an achievement wrought within a time-frame of around 65 years (1935-2000).
Sessions
First Special Session: November 25, – December 21, 1935
First Regular Session: June 16 – October 9, 1936
Second Special Session: August 28 – September 8, 1937
Third Special Session: September 9, 1937
Second Regular Session: January 24 – May 19, 1938
Fourth Special Session: May 23 – May 24, 1938
Fifth Special Session: July 25 – August 15, 1938
Legislation
The First National Assembly passed a total of 415 laws: Commonwealth Act No. 1 to 415
[edit]Major legislation
Commonwealth Act No. 1 – The National Defense Act of 1935
Commonwealth Act No. 2 – Creation of the National Economic Council
Commonwealth Act No. 3 – Reorganization of the Supreme Court and the Creation of the Court of
Appeals
Commonwealth Act No. 5 – Reorganization of the Executive Departments and the Creation of
the Budget Commission
Commonwealth Act No. 7 – Creation of the National Loan and Investment Board
Commonwealth Act No. 20 – Agrarian Reform Act of 1936
Commonwealth Act No. 34 – Setting the Date of April 30, 1937 for the Plebiscite of the Constitutional
Amendments pertaining to Women's Suffrage
Commonwealth Act No. 39 – Charter of the City of Zamboanga
Commonwealth Act No. 51 – Charter of the City of Davao
Commonwealth Act No. 58 – Charter of the City of Cebu
Commonwealth Act No. 85 – Amendment to the Provincial and Municipal Appropriations Act
Commonwealth Act No. 103 – Creation of the Court of Industrial Relations
Commonwealth Act No. 104 – Authorizing the Secretary of Labor to Promulgate and Enforce
Regulations and the Establishment of Safety Standards for Laborers and Employees working in
Quarries and Mines
Commonwealth Act No. 118 – The Philippine Livestock Promotion Fund Act of 1936
Commonwealth Act No. 120 – The National Power Corporation Act of 1936
Commonwealth Act No. 177 – Extension of the Civil Service Commission
Commonwealth Act No. 184 – Creation of the Institute of National Language
Commonwealth Act No. 186 – Creation of the Government Insurance Service System
Commonwealth Act No. 192 – Creation of the National Produce Exchange
Commonwealth Act No. 238 – Abolition of the Cedula or Poll Tax
Commonwealth Act No. 234 – Appropriations for Primary Education
Commonwealth Act No. 240 – Appropriations for New Elementary School Buildings
Commonwealth Act No. 242 – Compensation for Lost Cedula Revenues
Commonwealth Act No. 246 – General Appropriations Act of 1936
Commonwealth Act No. 328 – Charter of the City of Bacolod
Commonwealth Act No. 343 – Abolition of the State Force Police and the Re-Creation of
the Philippine Constabulary
Commonwealth Act No. 381 – Creating A Level of Three Years of Immediate Education for Children
and its Appropriations
[edit]Leadership
Speaker:
Gil M. Montilla (NP, 2nd District Negros Oriental)
Floor Leader:
Jose E. Romero (NP, 3rd District Negros Occidental)
[edit]Members
ProvinceDistric
tAssemblyman
Abra Lone Agapito Garduque
Agusan Lone Apolonio D. Curato
Albay 1st Jose Bonto
2nd Justino Nuyda
3rd Pedro Sabido
4th Pedro Vera
Antique Lone Calixto O. Zaldivar
Bataan Lone Teodoro Camacho
Batanes Lone Vicente Agan
Batangas 1st Miguel Tolentino
2nd Eusebio Orense
3rd Maximo M. Kalaw
Bohol 1st Juan Torralba
2nd Olegario B. Clarin
3rd Margarito E. Revilles
Bukidnon Lone Manuel Fortich
Bulacan 1st Nicolas Buendia
2nd Antonio Villarama
Cagayan 1st Marcelo Adduru
2nd Regino Veridiano
Camarines Norte Lone Froilan Pimentel
Camarines Sur 1st Francisco Celebrado
2nd Jose Fuentebella
Capiz 1st Manuel A. Roxas
2nd Jose A. Dorado
3rd Rafael S. Tumbokon
Cavite Lone Justiniano S. Montano
Cebu 1st Celestino Rodriguez
2nd Hilario Abellana
3rd Agustin Y. Kintanar
4th Vicente Rama
5th Miguel Cuenco
6th Nicolas Rafols
7thBuenaventura Rodriguez
Cotabato LoneDatu Balabaran Sinsuat
Davao Lone Romualdo Quimpo
Ilocos Norte 1st Vicente T. Lazo
2nd Ulpiano H. Arzadon
Ilocos Sur 1st Benito Soliven
2nd Sixto Brillantes
Iloilo 1st Jose C. Zulueta
2nd Ruperto Montinola
3rd Tomas Confesor
4th Tomas Buenaflor
5th Victoriano M. Salcedo
Isabela Lone Mauro Verzosa
La Union 1st Camilo Osias
2nd Agaton H. Yaranon
Laguna 1st Tomas Dizon
2nd Crisanto M. Guysayko
Lanao Lone Tomas Cabili
Leyte 1st Jose Ma. Veloso
2nd Dominador M. Tan
3rd Tomas Oppus
4th Francisco D. Enage
5th Ruperto Kapunan
Manila 1st Gregorio Perfecto
2nd Pedro Gil
Marinduque Lone Jose A. Uy
Masbate Lone Pio V. Corpus
Mindoro Lone Juan L. Luna
Misamis Occidental
Lone Jose A. Ozamis
Misamis Oriental Lone Leon Borromeo
Mountain Province
1st Saturnino Moldero
2nd Felipe E. Jose
3rd George K. Tait
Negros Occidental
1st Enrique B. Magalona
2nd Pedro C. Hernaez
3rd Gil Montilla
Negros Oriental 1st Guillermo Z. Villanueva
2nd Jose E. Romero
Nueva Ecija 1st Manuel A. Alzate
2nd Felipe Buencamino, Jr.
Nueva Vizcaya Lone Bernardo L. Buenafe
Palawan Lone Claudio R. Sandoval
Pampanga 1st Eligio Lagman
2nd Jose P. Fausto
Pangasinan 1st Anacleto B. Ramos
2nd Eugenio Perez
3rd Daniel Maramba
4th Nicomedes T. Rupisan
5th Narciso Ramos
Rizal 1st Pedro Magsalin
2nd Emilio de la Paz
Romblon Lone Gabriel F. Fabella
Samar 1st Tiburcio Tancinco
2nd Serafin Marabut
3rd Juan L. Bocar
Sorsogon 1st Norberto Roque
2nd Tomas Clemente
Sulu Lone Ombra Amilbangsa
Surigao Lone Ricardo Navarro
Tarlac 1st Jose Cojuangco
2nd Benigno S. Aquino
Tayabas 1st Jose A. Angara
2nd Francisco Lavides
Zambales Lone Potenciano Lesaca
Zamboanga Lone Juan S. Alano