AUGUST is the Philippines’ Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa or National Language Month, a month-long annual observance in the country to promote its national language, Filipino.
It was in 1935 during the Commonwealth era when efforts to introduce a national language in the country was initiated by then President Manuel L. Quezon, known as the Father of National Language. In 1946, a language based on Tagalog was adopted as the national language, which was officially designated as Pilipino in 1959. In 1973, Pilipino was formally renamed Filipino.
The observance used to run for only a week, called Linggo ng Wika or Language Week, which was established by President Sergio Osmena in 1946 through Proclamation No. 35. From 1946 to 1953, the Linggo ng Wika was celebrated annually from March 27 to April 2 — the schools’ summer break.
In 1955, however, President Ramon Magsaysay changed the observance dates to August 13 to 19 through Proclamation No. 186 so that schools could participate in its observance. After Corazon Aquino became president, she affirmed the dates in 1988 through Proclamation No. 19.
Buwan ng Wika
To cover the whole month of August, President Fidel V. Ramos in 1997 changed the observance duration from Linggo ng Wika to Buwan ng Wika through Proclamation No. 1041, which, accordingly, became Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), in partnership with private and public school institutions, takes charge of the observance and celebration of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa where various activities and events promoting the local language and Filipino nationalism are organized. Schools and other educational institutions customarily hold events where students, garbed in traditional Filipino outfits, participate in costume programs. The observance also includes contests and competitions for Original Filipino Music and traditional Filipino folk dance, among many others.
