The Philippines "Buwan ng Wika" May Be More Appropriately Called "Buwan ng Kasaysayan"

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It's August, meaning it's time for Buwan ng Wika. It's called the Month of the Language in English. As always, please be reminded that I'm a Chinese Filipino. That means I'll be posting some videos in Tagalog (without subtitles), and I'll apologize in advance. August became the designated month for the celebration of Buwan ng Wika. 

I'd like to recall how the Buwan ng Wika programs are being done. I remember being a participant (but never the star of the show) during my high school days. What happens is that Buwan ng Wika almost feels like a repeat performance of the National Heritage Month, which is done during May. Is it because of the schedule where children take their vacation from April to May? Well, there are college students and some of those who need to take summer classes, because they failed a certain subject. Cebu has the "Gabii sa Kabilin" or "Night of the Heritage" during May. However, I tend to overlook that, in favor of the "Buwan ng Wika" celebrations.

Quite interestingly, I ran across this Facebook post by Lanao Del Norte official, Mayor Angel "Tata" Yap: 

While August is widely recognized as "Buwan ng Wika" (National Language Month) in the Philippines, it is also officially declared as "Buwan ng Kasaysayan" (History Month). 

This dual designation stems from the numerous significant historical events that occurred in August, including:

- The Cry of Pugad Lawin (Balintawak) (August 23-26, 1896):  This event is considered the start of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule. 

- The Proclamation of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan Church) (August 3, 1902):  This marked a significant step towards Filipino religious independence from Spanish control. 

- The Jones Law (August 29, 1916): This law, enacted by the US Congress, formally declared the US government's intent to grant independence to the Philippines. 

- The Establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967):  The Philippines was one of the founding members of this regional organization. 

Therefore, August is a crucial month for Filipinos to reflect on their history, celebrate their national language, and acknowledge the events that shaped their nation. While it may not be officially declared as "Filipino Month," the significance of August in Philippine history and culture makes it a month of national importance.

National Heritage Month feels overlooked, and Buwan Ng Wika gains its advantage. In fact, one can look at the way Buwan Ng Wika programs are. These programs tend to showcase stuff like:

  1. Display of different Filipino dances, both influenced by Spanish colonization and the indigenous dances.
  2. Having a dramatization of a Filipino story. I remember Noli Me Tangere was dramatized in my high school days.
  3. Talking about Filipino history, such as the colonization history and those who traded with the Philippines. I remember playing the part of an American, despite the fact that I'm a Chinoy. Funny but true.
I've seen Buwan ng Wika activities include showcases, depicting Filipino culture and history more than Filipino languages. Speaking in Tagalog during history classes was done back when I was in high school. I could remember how we spoke Tagalog during Asian History class and World History class, during Buwan ng Wika. 

Not much talk on the different languages of the Philippines. Instead, all the activities tend to focus on celebrating Filipino heritage and history! I wonder if National Heritage Month feels redundant since Buwan ng Wika tends to overshadow it. However, celebrating history isn't celebrating heritage. Heritage talks more about the culture passed down from one generation to another. Basically, the focus has been more on Philippine history.

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