04 October 2016 — “Filipino: Isang Wikang Nagbabago” is a timely topic delivered by none other than Philippine National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario on the September 28 at the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In his lecture, Professor Almario talked about how the Filipino language has evolved through creation (paglikha) and borrowing (paghiram) from other languages. He stressed the need for the preservation of the languages of the Philippines and a creation of a database for Philippine and international literature in the Filipino language.

The promotion of the use of the national language was a project that started in 1987 but still has a long way to go. Professor Almario said that there is still a need for every Filipino to take pride in their identity as Filipinos by using the national language at home, thus perpetuating it for the generations to come.

The event, organized in coordination with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), formed part of the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal Lecture Series. It was attended by some 75 kababayans in Jakarta, many of whom are teachers, and who took the opportunity to raise questions about the Filipino Language. END