Today, we join the rest of the Nation in marking the birth anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon.

There are many ways to honor the Man whom many credit with standing at the forefront of the country’s bid for independence. Today, we will honor him as the Father of the National Language, for his vision of a united Filipino people speaking with one voice.

It is fitting that we also celebrate Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, or National Language Month, throughout August in his honor. This is a time when we honor Filipino, our national language, and reflect on the power of words to unite a nation of many tongues, cultures, and dreams.

In 1935, the Philippine Constitution mandated the development of a national language based on one of the existing native languages. On Dec. 30, 1937, President Quezon issued Executive Order No. 134, proclaiming Tagalog as the basis of the national language. He understood that a common tongue was essential for a people striving for independence and unity.

The original Linggo ng Wika, or National Language Week, was later observed around his birthday.

In 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos expanded the celebration through Proclamation No. 1041, declaring the entire month of August as Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.

Today, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino leads nationwide efforts to promote Filipino while also recognizing the richness of our more than 180 other languages and dialects.

Experts in linguistics, education, and nation-building have long emphasized why a national language matters. According to them, a shared language serves as a powerful bridge across regions and cultures. It allows Filipinos from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to communicate, collaborate, and understand one another more easily.

National Artist and former Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Chair Virgilio S. Almario has repeatedly stressed that the national language is not meant to erase local languages but to create a common space where all can participate in national life.

Educators and scholars note that a national language strengthens education, governance, media, and literature. It gives us a medium to express our collective identity, tell our stories, and shape our future on our own terms.

International scholars strongly affirm this view.

Benedict Anderson, in his influential work “Imagined Communities,” argued that a shared language is essential in forming a nation’s sense of collective identity. Sociolinguist Joshua A. Fishman also emphasized that language is deeply intertwined with cultural identity and plays a vital role in nation-building and social cohesion.

Does having a national language still matter today? Our view is yes. In an age of globalization and rapid digital communication, Filipino remains a living symbol of our sovereignty and cultural confidence. It allows us to conduct official business, educate our children, produce films, music, and literature that reflect the Filipino experience, and engage with one another as equals.

It is important to note that Filipino is no longer just Tagalog.

As Chairman Almario has emphasized, it is a living and dynamic language that continues to evolve by absorbing words, concepts, and expressions from other Philippine languages and dialects, making it more inclusive and truly national. The unifying power of a national language is more important than ever, especially in times when our nation is often divided by politics, ideology, and competing interests.

A shared language helps us rise above differences and remember that we are one people with a common destiny. Filipino is also a beautiful language.

Chairman Almario has often highlighted its richness, expressiveness, and capacity for poetry and deep emotion. Linguists and cultural scholars note its melodic quality, relational vocabulary, and ability to convey respect, affection, and complex feelings with warmth and precision, making it both elegant and deeply human.

Let us use this month to celebrate our linguistic heritage with pride and purpose.

Let us speak Filipino with pride and confidence. Let us encourage our children to master both Filipino and English while also valuing their mother tongues. Let us support local writers, artists, and educators who enrich our language. Let us encourage our children to participate in school and community activities that highlight the beauty and power of words.

Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa is more than a calendar event.

It reminds us that language is a living force—one that shapes thought, builds community, and strengthens the bonds of nationhood.

As we celebrate this August, may we commit ourselves to using our national language not only as a tool of communication but as an instrument of unity, understanding, and progress.

In every word we speak and every story we share, we affirm that we are one people, bound by a common voice and a shared destiny.

(The author is a Doctor of Medicine, an entrepreneur and the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, and DENR assistant secretary, LLDA general manager. Email: [email protected])