Filipino Language in Education

• The text discusses the significance of promoting the national language in higher education and beyond.
• It reflects on the challenges faced by the Filipino language in education and its continued relevance in college.

Fight for the Filipino Language

• The advocacy focuses on retaining Filipino as a subject and medium of instruction at the tertiary level.
• It emphasizes building on past achievements and continuing to use Filipino in learning across all levels.
• Aurora Batnag supports retaining Filipino as a subject.

Elimination of Filipino Subject Matter

• CHEd Memorandum Order No. 20 removed Filipino from the General Education Curriculum.
• The effect of this order is no longer teaching Filipino as part of GE subjects at the college level for students in K to 12.
• The subjects remaining in the college curriculum are Pag-unawa sa Sarili (Understanding the Self), Mga Babasahin Hinggil sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas (Readings in Philippine History), Ang Kasalukuyang Daigdig (The Contemporary World), Matematika sa Bagong Daigdig (Mathematics in the Modern World), Pagpapahalaga sa Sining (Art Appreciation), Siyensiya, Teknolohiya at Lipunan (Science, Technology and Society), Malayuning Komunikasyon (Purposive Communication), and Etika (Ethics).

Advocates for Filipino

• Advocates such as the Alyansa ng mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino (Tanggol Wika) fought for Filipino to remain a subject in college.

Reasons for advocating Filipino

• It fosters Filipino and nationalistic knowledge.
• It promotes intellectualization of Filipino in research, creative writing, translation, public speaking, and media literacy.
• Filipino should be used more effectively in teaching.
• Purposive Communication's medium of instruction is unclear.
• The standard is 36 units of Filipino, but it can be expanded by 6 more units
• The national language should be the medium of instruction in Social Studies/Social Science, Music, Arts, P.E, Home Economics, Practical Arts, and Character Education, as stated in D.O no. 25, Series of 1974 (DECS).

Tanggol Wika's calls to action consist of:

• Keeping Filipino in the GEC in college.
• Revising CHEd Memorandum Order 20, series of 2013.
• Using Filipino to teach various subjects.
• Promoting nationalistic education.

Legal Battles

• Tanggol Wika filed a case with the Supreme Court on April 15, 2015, being supported by professors and scholars.
• Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera spearheaded this defense of the language.
• Tanggol Wika filed a motion for reconsideration in November 2018.
• The Supreme Court denied these petitions with finality on March 5, 2019, eliminating Literature and Filipino subjects at the college level.
• Tanggol Wika filed a second motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court on June 10, 2019.

Importance of Filipino as a Discipline

• It serves as a site for discourse in fields like History, Philosophy, Psychology, Ethics, Anthropology, Science, and Mathematics.
• Tiamson-Rubin (1993) stated that teaching Social Science in Filipino is more effective due to better understanding between teachers and students.
• Acuna (1987) and Constantino (1996) stated that using a child's native language in learning fosters creativity and cognitive development more than using a foreign language.
• Constantino (1996) stated that using native language encourages deeper thinking, observation, analysis, and questioning.

Arguments for maintaining Filipino as a language of education and subject in college:

• It is a discipline and not just a medium of instruction.
• To be an effective language of instruction, it needs to be taught and developed as a subject.
• Other countries have their own language as a subject in the curriculum, in addition to using it as a medium of instruction.
• Filipino is studied in other countries and has the potential to become a leading global language, warranting its study in the Philippines.
• Filipino is the language of the majority, media, and social movements.
• Multilingualism is a skill relevant to the 21st century.
• The economy of a multilingual colonial or post-colonial society cannot be developed by prioritizing a foreign language.
• Constantino (1996) said to view Filipino as a tool for unity and liberation towards economic progress and intellectual advancement.

Communication

• It involves creating understanding in the minds of others through continuous talking, listening, and comprehension (Louis Allen, 1958).
• The process of passing and understanding information between individuals (Keith Davis, 1967).
• Exchanging information, ideas, opinions, or opinions (Newman and Summer, 1977).
• Birvenu (1987) defines communication as the process of conveying feelings, behaviors, knowledge, beliefs, and ideas between living beings.
• Keyton (2011) defines communication as mutual understanding among participants.

Reasons for Communication (Adler, 2010):

• Need to recognize oneself.
• Need to socialize or interact.
• Practical requirements.

Elements of Communication:

• Sender: person sending information.
• Message: the information being sent.
• Channel: the medium for conveying the message.
• Receiver: the individual or group receiving the message.
• Obstacles: factors that impede understanding.

Types of Obstacles

• Physiological: related to the body and physical condition.
• Physical: caused by environmental noise.
• Semantic: rooted in language.
• Technological: related to technological problems.
• Cultural: differences in culture, tradition, beliefs, and religion.
• Psychological: rooted in the mindset of participants.
• Response: feedback from the message recipient based on their interpretation.
• Effect: how the recipient is affected emotionally or psychologically.
• Context: the place, history, and situation in which communication occurs.

Culture and Communication of Filipinos

• Culture is the complex whole including knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and other capabilities and habits acquired by people as members of society (Edward Tylor).

Two Categories of Culture (Edward Hall, 1959):

• Low-context culture: using direct language to convey ideas, feelings, and opinions.
• High-context culture: relies on nonverbal cues, norms, relationship history, and context.

Types of Culture (Holfstede):

• Individualistic Culture: views oneself as separate and independent within society.
• Collective Culture: emphasizes "Us" and the extended family.
• Cultural Sensitivity: awareness of cultural similarities and differences without judgment.
• Melba Padilla Maggay (2002) notes the high degree of uncertainty avoidance in Filipino communication, which can be challenging for foreigners.

Pahiwatig

• It is a subtle method of native expression that, while indirect and hedging, is sensitive to other people's feelings.

Examples of Pahiwatig

• Pahaging: intentionally missing the mark with a message.
• Padaplis: intentionally brushing against someone with a message.
• Parinig: using a general verbal instrument to convey a message to those nearby, not just the person being addressed.
• Pasaring: nonverbal expressions of criticism aimed at those within earshot.
• Paramdam: conveying a message through a manifestation sensed through sensitivity, often attributed to a person or spirit.
• Papansin: messages seeking attention, often when the messenger feels inadequate.
• Paandaran: focusing on a topic without stating it directly, repeatedly mentioning it when the opportunity arises.

Tulay or Tagapamagitan

• It is a method of communication employed to convey a message to a conversational partner, in particular, if there is a delicate message to be conveyed.
• Pahatid: focuses on the act of sending a message through a messenger.
• Pasabi: a message conveyed through an intermediary.
• Pabilin: conveys an order or request to be carried out by the recipient as compliance.
• Paabot: sends a message to a distant location to facilitate mutual understanding.
• Ihinga: expressing personal relief through sharing inner pains or secrets.
• Ipagtapat: rooted in sincerity and trustworthiness.
• Ilabas: revealing something sensitive or hidden to the public eye.
• Ilahad: presenting an organized account or narrative of events that may be secret or concealed.

Non-Verbal Communication

• Kinesics: communication through body movements.
• Proxemics: communication using space.
• Paralanguage or vocalics: communication conveyed through tone of voice.
• Chronemics: communication based on timing.
• Haptics: communication based on touch.

Filipino Non-Verbal Cues

• Pagtatampo (Tampo): feeling of disappointment due to unmet expectations from a close person.
• Pagmumukmok (Mukmok): stemming from disgust and resentment.
• Pagmamaktol (Maktol): expressing complaints, rebellion, or objections to doing something against one's will.
• Pagdadabog (Dabog): creating noise such as stomping feet or slamming doors as intentional expressions.
• Maggay (2002) indicates that Filipinos convey negative emotions through nonverbal communication.

Common Filipino Communication Practices

• Tsismisan: casual conversation about others' lives, often with unverified information. -Tsismisan typically involves two or more participants and is common among those with free time. The people participating are usually without work or have lenient schedules which allows people to perform the act. -Tsismisan functions relationally, and can convey both negative and positive information.
• Regala and Castronuevo (2015) point out the broad and informal scope of gossip. -Tsismis can build group bonds, provide entertainment, and kill time, but it typically has an unaware victim.
• Banka refers to the source of gossip, who may lack clear basis for their information but is enjoyed by those involved.
• The Psychology of Gossip by Dr. Frank McAndrew (2008) argues that gossip serves the function of bonding by stating, "It's actually better to view gossip as part of the ability to get along, rather than a deficit or a deficiency. In fact, an individuals sharing is a signs of trust, and a symbol of belong in a group".
• Tsismisan may be positive; negative includes infidelity, and positive includes corrupt politicians.
• Filipinos may be good at gossiping because they are gullible, friendly, and value collectivity.
• Online Tsismis uses technology where information is documented, and the information are used to betray one another.
• Gossip is not inherently bad unless it is used to damage reputations.

Other Filipino Communication Practices

• Umpukan: a gathering where individuals share information, often involving familiar topics and relatives, friends, or neighbors.

Dynamics to Umpukan

• May involve teasing but fosters strong relationships.
• Salamyaan is a Marikina cultural hub where locals gather to converse, share, and rest.
• Salamyaan has open-air structures with long tables and wooden seats.
• Salamyaan originated before the rise of large factories in Marikina in the 1950s.
• Talakayan: exchange of opinions to solve problems or implement policies in formal or informal settings.
• Pagbabahay-bahay: home visits which reflect the Filipino value of pakikipagkapwa, which Virgilio Enriquez (1978, 2016) highlights the importance of acceptance and equality.
• Pulong-bayan: public communication used to inform the community about current conditions and facilitate the exchange of opinions.