Senatorial candidate Ben Tulfo has called for the protection and preservation of the Chavacano language in Zamboanga City.

According to Tulfo, the Chavacano language is gradually disappearing among the younger generations living in Zamboanga City. 

Areas where Chavacano is spoken include Basilan, parts of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte, as well as Ternate, Cavite in Luzon.

The senatorial candidate revealed complaints from some parents of elementary and high school students in Zamboanga City. He notes that the use of Chavacano is prohibited in private schools, which mandate the use of English instead.

“I find it insulting when they say that Chavacano is a broken Spanish. No, it is not. It’s an amalgamation of Spanish and Filipino dialects. It must be preserved. Efforts must be initiated aggressively by the Commission on the Filipino Language to preserve the Chavacano language. Otherwise, it will be extinct,” he said in an interview in Zamboanga City.  

He added that active participation of the local government is a must, including the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on the Filipino Language to preserve the Chavacano language.

Tulfo shared that from childhood until now, he along with his siblings still use the Chavacano language.

“Noong bata pa kami, nasa elementarya palang, naririnig namin sa radyo ang mga announcer at mga guest nila. Ang salita nila, 80 percent Spanish at 20 percent may halong local dialects. Nabibighani kami dahil sa tunog nito (When we were kids, still in elementary school, we would listen to the announcers and their guests on the radio. Their language was 80 percent Spanish and 20 percent mixed with local dialects. We were captivated by the sound of it),” he said.

“It’s sad that Chavacano is now starting to vanish in the next generation. It’s about time to do something about it. The action begins now,” he added.