We’re midway through the National Language Month, and we could be sure the kids are holding related events in schools.

Many could still remember the phrases “national understanding,” “national unity,” and “national identity” that they used before in promoting the national language in school activities.

But in real life and at the same time Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey reenter the zeitgeist on September 1, the attention on the national language is dropped.

The contentious debate on the impeachment regarding the English word “forthwith” would not have lasted one day — nay, one minute — had Congress and the rest of government been using the official Filipino edition of the 1987 Constitution as a primary source on the basic law.

Rendered in Filipino, the relevant provision is as clear as day: “Kung ang pinanumpaang sakdal o resolusyon sa impeachment ay iniharap ng isang-katlo man lamang ng lahat ng mga Kagawad ng Kapulungan, iyon ay dapat bumuo sa Articles of Impeachment, at dapat isunod agad ang paglilitis ng Senado.”

The Filipino word “agad” is unambiguous and leaves no space for misinterpretation and to debate.

The Constitution itself proclaims in its Language provisions: “Ang Konstitusyong ito ay dapat ipahayag sa Filipino at Ingles at dapat isalin sa mga pangunahing wikang panrehyon, Arabic, at Kastila (This Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish).”

“Alinsunod sa mga tadhana ng batas at sang-ayon sa nararapat na maaaring ipasya ng Kongreso, dapat magsagawa ng mga hakbangin ang Pamahalaan upang ibunsod at puspusang itaguyod ang paggamit ng Filipino bilang midyum ng opisyal na komunikasyon at bilang wika ng pagtuturo sa sistemang pang-edukasyon (Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system).”

“Ukol sa mga layunin ng komunikasyon at pagtuturo, ang mga wikang opisyal ng Pilipinas ay Filipino at, hangga’t walang ibang itinatadhana ang batas, Ingles. Ang mga wikang panrehyon ay pantulong na mga wikang opisyal sa mga rehiyon at magsisilbi na pantulong na mga wikang panturo roon (For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English. The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein).”

The elegant Filipino quotations of the 1987 Constitution used here come from the Official Gazette.

Many could perhaps still remember that when the Aquino government was campaigning for its ratification, the Constitution’s official texts were printed in both English and Filipino and distributed in homes and schools.

I think we would better understand and make public officials and institutions obedient and faithful to the 1987 Constitution if we would principally and mainly use the Filipino edition.

Relatedly, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr. has written 75 decisions in Filipino since 2010.

A newspaper report said that in one of his rulings, Justice Bruselas wrote in the footnotes: “Isinulat sa wikang pambansa upang lalong maunawaan ng nasasakdal na nagsalaysay sa sariling [wika] (The decision was written in the national language for the better understanding of the accused who testified in Filipino).”

Justice Bruselas explained: “The lawyer, whether a private or public attorney, speaks in English. The judge’s orders are also in English. It’s all in English, while the accused is just an observer.”

Set to retire in 2026, Justice Bruselas said he hopes lawyers, prosecutors, judges and the solicitor-general would consider using Filipino in the justice system “to help the public understand better.”

In less contentious matters, like popularizing science, we have seen content creators and influencers break free from the elitist English-only academic writing. Proudly using Filipino, the likes of Celine Murillo and Ethan Hernandez are promoting knowledge and awareness on Philippine biodiversity and natural heritage to their growing Filipino audiences.

We are fortunate that our National Language has become the undisputed lingua franca since it was proclaimed in 1937. The most popular and most widely-understood national newscasts, films, television and radio programs, music, and written literature are in Filipino. The most well-attended religious services are those done in Filipino and other national languages. Ditto for satire and jokes as well.

Using Filipino, we communicate, travel, migrate, do business, study, teach, work and serve in various parts of our country. That’s understanding, unity, identity.