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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Enduring Tongues expands indigenous language learning access to over 7,000 community members in Aklan

Enduring Tongues expands indigenous language learning access to over 7,000 community members in Aklan

NCIP-partnered initiative deploys children's learning materials to support early-stage language retention across ethnolinguistic communities.

By MBrand
Published Apr 15, 2026 07:11 am
Maddi Sy, founder of Enduring Tongues.
Maddi Sy, founder of Enduring Tongues.
“Language loss often occurs not through sudden disappearance, but through gradual disguise within a single generation, “said Sy. “Enduring Tongues is designated to address this gap by integrating language exposure at an early stage—where familiarity, usage, and cultural connection can be established and sustained.”
Commitment to Language Accessibility and Preservation
Beyond its Aklan rollout, Sy has also developed a separate series of children’s rhyme books in Lannang, reinforcing her long-term commitment to language accessibility and preservation through education.
NCIP Regional Director Atty. Princess May Alcarde-Oral highlighted the initiative’s significance, underscoring its role in strengthening cultural continuity at the community level. The Commission formally recognized Enduring Tongues as a key partner in advancing the preservation of Indigenous languages in the Philippines.
Children’s Book Deployment in Aklan. [L-R] Godfrey Concepcion, Enduring Tongues Development Officer; Kristie Ann Blasa, NCIP Health Officer Midwife II; Atty. Princess May Alcarde-Oral, NCIP Regional Director; Maddigan Sy, Enduring Tongues Founder; Atty. Lowella Alo-Andalajao, NCIP Regional Legal Officer; Kristine Shiela Mae Bundal, NCIP Development Management Officer II
Children’s Book Deployment in Aklan. [L-R] Godfrey Concepcion, Enduring Tongues Development Officer; Kristie Ann Blasa, NCIP Health Officer Midwife II; Atty. Princess May Alcarde-Oral, NCIP Regional Director; Maddigan Sy, Enduring Tongues Founder; Atty. Lowella Alo-Andalajao, NCIP Regional Legal Officer; Kristine Shiela Mae Bundal, NCIP Development Management Officer II
Maddi Sy, founder of Enduring Tongues.
Maddi Sy, founder of Enduring Tongues.
Enduring Tongues demonstrates how language preservation can be strengthened through early childhood education and community-based materials,” said Atty. Princess May Alcarde-Oral, NCIP Regional Director. “By creating children’s picture books for communities in the Aklan area, the initiative supports not only language learning, but also cultural memory, dignity, and belonging. It is in this spirit that NCIP proudly extends its highest commendation to Enduring Tongues as a pioneering and indispensable partner in the preservation of Indigenous languages in the Philippines.
As language attrition continues to impact communities nationwide, Maddi Sy sticks to her goal that Enduring Tongues presents a replicable model—leveraging education, localized content, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure that heritage languages are not only preserved, but actively passed on to future generations.
For more information on Enduring Tongues’ programs and initiatives, visit the official website at https://enduringtongues.org/.

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