April: Buwan ng Panitikan

Language is one of the most important characteristics that separate human beings from other animals.  A national language is one of the major driving forces that determine national unity. Indeed, the national identity of a country is represented by its national language. This is what makes a nation distinct from others – not race or religion.

In the Philippines, the month of April is the official Buwan ng Panitikan or National Literature Month. The official proclamation states: “ Philippine literature, written in different languages, is associated with the history and cultural legacy of the State and must be promoted among Filipinos....that national literature plays an important role in preserving and inspiring the literature of today and in introducing to future generations the Filipino values that we have inherited from our ancestors.”

April was chosen because it marks the birth of Francisco Balagtas Baltazar, the birth and death of literary luminaries such as Emilio Jacinto, Ponciano Rizal, Nick Joaquin, Edith Tiempo and Bienvenido Lumbera. International literary events also take place in April. Notable events are Children’s Book Day, World Book Day celebrated on April 23 – the alleged date of death of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote and William Shakespeare.

Several activities have been planned for booklovers for the whole month. One of the innovative and creative events is a six-stop bookstore tour for Pinoy book lovers from April 8 to  10: Solidaridad, artbooks.ph., Uno Morato, Pandayan, Orchids, Mt. Cloud. Readings, book talks, poetry performances and book signings are some of the activities included in the Pinoy Bookstore Tour. Tour participants will have the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite Filipino authors in each of the bookstore stops. The project is spearheaded by the National Book Development Board (NBDB).

Another landmark project of the National Book Development Board ( NBDB) scheduled during the Buwan ng Panitikan is the Philippine International Literary Festival that will celebrate literature and promote best publishing practices.  Since its inception in 2010, the festival has become a major gathering and focal point for authors, illustrators, publishers, and literature lovers in the Philippines and beyond. The event will be held on April 25-29 and the theme will be Against Forgetting.

Language and literature have always been controversial in the history of any people. In the Philippines, the issue of nationalism and national identity has often led to debates on the role of a national language. This issue has again recently erupted in social media between two known intellectual figures.

National Artist and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chair Virgilio Almario recently wrote a piece which I felt is truly worth reading in Filipino. But since the Philippine Star is an English language newspaper, I thought it best to reprint the English translation , which I also thought is a literary masterpiece. It follows:

FILIPINO FOR TEDDY BOY (Originally “Kulo at Kolorum” by Almario, translated by poet Marne Kilates) by Virgilio S. Almario

My friend Teddy Boy Locsin has bared his fangs once more yesterday before the second debate of the candidates for president. On Twitter, he advised Mar and Grace to use or speak English more. Why? Because, he says, Filipino is “so bullshitty, so useless a tongue for debate.” Because, he says, “Tagalog (is) a language inapproriate to a pointed debate, circular shitty.” As a result, he says, they look like Chiz in the exchange.

Teddy Boy is repeating the old “Englishist” prejudice against native languages like Filipino. Which is? That Filipino is a weak language; it cannot be used in intellectual exchange. And this is rooted in his low opinion of the native language. For him, and his fellow Englishists, English is the most perfect and best language in the world. And that is his biggest problem. He is unable to accept that no native language is superior and/or inferior. Instead, the level of development of each language depends on who is using it.

Part of his prejudice against Filipino is the belief that it is not the proper language for debate. And that is as if debate was invented only for the English language. Teddy Boy seems to be unaware that almost weekly people engage in debate in barber shops, sharp words fly, sometimes ending up in fist cuffs (and hacking with knives), and English is not the language they use. Not English, that’s why they understand each other more, the insults cut deeper, and the exchanges are quicker. Not “circular shitty,” either, unlike the Batasan debates where congressmen and senators struggle and stumble with their English.

What do I mean by these words? That the language of debate becomes “circular shitty” not because of the language. Instead, because of those who are engaged in debate. The language of debate becomes “circular shitty” because the debaters are “circular shitty.” Circular, long-winded (1) because they do not want to speak truthfully and directly, (2) because their words are deceptive or flattering, (3) because they are trying to avoid the truth, (4) because they are lying, etc. (I wouldn’t know which of these is Chiz.)

Thankfully, Mar and Grace did not follow his advice last night. In fact, the Cebu debate was quite fun. Let the exchanges continue in Filipino.

(To repeat, I would like it to be understood that all you read here are my personal opinion and not of the KWF, except when I say otherwise. I am also open to any questions apart from those submitted by readers. I would like to be able to converse with advocates of language.)

Summer creative writing classes for kids and teens

Young Writers’ Hangout : April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 21, 28 and June 4 (10:30am-12nn except June 4, 1:30pm-3pm)

Wonder of Words Workshop:  May 2, 4, 6, 10, 11 and 13 (1:30-3:30pm for 7-10 years old and 4-6pm for 11-17 years old) with guest authors, Manix Abrera and Mina Esguerra.

Classes will be held at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street.  For registration and fee details, 0917-6240196 / [email protected]

Email: [email protected]