The country observes National Language Month in August and today, Aug. 19, we pause to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late President Manuel Luis Quezon, who is acknowledged as the leading advocate of Filipino as the National Language.

It is timely to benchmark with Japan, France and South Korea — countries that exemplify deep-seated nationalism through extensive propagation and use of their national language in the face of modern foreign influence.

Japan is a primary example in promoting cultural diplomacy through education and in forging global cooperation on the anvil of culture. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes language education through various initiatives, cultural exchange through language experts’ visitation, training of language teachers, and publication of teaching aids and references.

Propagating the French language is at the forefront of France’s national identity promotion. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, France proudly demonstrated how this is done through an immersive system that permeates every aspect of national life. The educational system strikes at the roots of imbibing love of country through the constant and pervasive use of the national language. Academie Francaise and similar institutions have a stellar track record in actively promoting the French language as part of conscious efforts to ward off efforts in propagating foreign languages.

South Koreans are proud of their national culture, and this pride is founded upon their national language. Propagation of national culture and language permeates their daily lives. Like the French, they consciously limit the intrusion of foreign cultural influences. Language education is carried out continuously from basic through higher education, thus continuously propagating the use of their national language. For over a decade now, the world has been swept away by a tide of Korean cultural influences, including K-Pop and K-Drama, thereby boosting goodwill and comity for their country and people.

In the Philippines, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino serves as the lead agency in propagating Filipino in promoting national progress. On a parallel plane, the government is also emphasizing the use of languages that are commonly spoken in the provinces of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The 1987 Constitution has declared Filipino as the national language. Its continuous propagation is taking place simultaneously without hindering the flourishing of other languages. Filipino and English are both used as the medium of instruction, even as regional languages are also allowed in Grade I and Grade II classes throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Wikang Filipino is being propagated in various other ways on multiple platforms. First, the use of Filipino is being fostered in official government communication; secondly, the appointment and designation of government officials is communicated in Filipino; thirdly, the translation into Filipino of names of offices in government buildings, and in all government signages; and fourthly, the use of Filipino in oaths of office taken by all government officials.

We join the government in sounding this clarion call: Let Filipino flourish as the symbol of the nobility of the Filipino nation!