Daan: Patronize native tongue

CEBU, Philippines - Success can be achieved by patronizing the Cebuano language, said Talisay City Councilor Julian Daan during his privilege speech yesterday during the city’s regular session.

Yesterday, the council used pinulongang Bisaya during their session after Daan had authored a resolution that was duly approved by the council in January that the council should use Cebuano language every last regular session for the month of February.

This is in conjunction with former President Corazon Aquino’s declaration that February be known as the Arts and Culture Month, in Cebuano Bisaya, “Buwan sa Alampat ug Kultura.”

The main purpose of the resolution is to show constituents the beauty of the Cebuano language and to encourage Cebuanos that they should love the language they have been using since they were born.

Daan stressed that constituents should learn to appreciate the beauty of pinulongang Bisaya.

He added that teenagers nowadays have difficulty understanding some Cebuano Bisaya terms like "sam-ang" which means cemetery.

“Hinaot pa unta nga ilabi na sa batan-on karon nga dili sawayon ang kaugalingong pinulongan modayon lang ta’g ingun nga kabakya ug bakyaa. Mao ni, kini ang sinugdanan. Atong ipakita nga unsa nato gimahal ang kaugalingon, nga kita Sugbuanon nga bisdak — bisayang dako,” he stressed.

Daan even cited National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s famous line saying, “Ang tawo nga di magmahal sa sariling wika ay mabaho pa sa dubok nga isda.”

The campaign to love one's own language was in line with Talisay’s culmination of the activities for the Culture and Arts month which featured the first-ever "Bangga sa Pakatawa” and “Bangga sa Pagkanta" last Monday, February 26. (FREEMAN)