Hola, Hala! Spanish in Filipino: Discover the Spanish words hiding in your everyday Tagalog at Instituto Cervantes
On February 11, 2026, at 5 p.m., the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes in Manila will host the inaugural lecture of Charlas de la Academia, a new series presented by the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española.
The opening talk, “Vínculos lingüísticos: El español en el filipino” (Linguistic Links: Spanish in Filipino), will be delivered by Academia Director Professor Daisy López. The lecture shines a spotlight on the enduring linguistic ties between Spanish and Filipino, showing how centuries of shared history continue to shape everyday language in the Philippines.
Founded in 1924, the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española remains dedicated to promoting Spanish in the Philippines. Through initiatives such as this lecture series, the institution highlights the presence and influence of Spanish across Filipino society. In this first session, Professor López will focus on Hispanicisms in the Tagalog language.
The discussion will trace how Spanish left a lasting imprint on Filipino vocabulary, expressions, and cultural identity. Everyday words like mesa (table), silya (chair), sapatos (shoes), and bintana (window), along with numbers, time expressions, and surnames, reveal the depth of this influence. Far from being relics of the past, these terms remain alive in daily conversation, media, education, and governance.
Beyond vocabulary, the lecture will explore how Spanish shaped linguistic patterns, naming conventions, and aspects of Filipino discourse. Rather than displacing native languages, Spanish blended with them, contributing to a uniquely Filipino linguistic identity.
This exploration underscores how language serves as a living record of history. By recognizing Spanish influences in Filipino, we gain a deeper appreciation of the Philippines’ multicultural heritage and its ongoing evolution.
Registration: Attendees are encouraged to register in advance through this link: https://forms.office.com/e/BT2y3V3VFg
This event is presented by the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española and Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID Philippines, and the Intramuros Administration.
Venue is the Instituto Cervantes de Manila (Intramuros branch), 385 Calle Real, Plaza San Luis Complex, Intramuros.
For more information, visit www.manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes Manila on Facebook (facebook.com in Bing).