By MB Online
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino unveiled the country's eighth language marker or Bantayog-Wika on Wednesday in Batangas City, Batangas during the province's Buwan ng Wika celebration.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, KWF Commissioner Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Purificacion Delima, and Batangas provincial tourism officer Sylvia Marasigan were among the event's guests of honor.
( Photo courtesy of Senator Loren Legarda via Twitter / MANILA BULLETIN)
Bantayog-Wika which “seeks to identify areas where languages originated,” is a nationwide project of KWF and Senator Loren Legarda, who hailed the unveiling of the 8th language monument in the country.
“Our language is an important part of our cultural identity as Filipinos. Our culture defines us as citizens of this nation and our language holds a great place in this culture that confirms and completes our national identity,” the senator said.
Legarda added that the language markers were "not merely ornaments or displays". She said, “These are symbolisms of our diverse culture that further exemplify our distinct culture and heritage.”
Legarda said the Bantayog-Wika helps in saving the country's intangible cultural heritage.
“We need to comprehensively document all active, endangered, and dying languages of our ethnolinguistic groups in the country and we should promote the continued use of such languages because these indigenous languages reinforce our distinct Filipino identity,” Legarda stated.
The other seven language markers are located in Antique, Ifugao, Davao Oriental, Kalinga, Occidental Mindoro, Bukidnon, and Bataan.
All language markers were designed and created by Luis ‘Junyee’ Yee, Jr. (Noreen Jazul)