Why We Speak in Many Tongues — And Why It Matters

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Some may ask, almost skeptically: “Why bother?”

Why spend the time and effort to create content in Filipino, in Taglish, or in the many other languages of the Philippines when we can simply use English and call it a day?

The answer is both simple and profound: because we are Filipinos. Even in a nation where English flows easily in conversations, meetings, and social media posts, it is our native tongues that carry the heartbeat of who we are.

August — National Language Month — is a reminder that our words are more than just a tool for communication. They are vessels of identity, culture, and history. By producing content in Filipino and in other Philippine languages, we’re not merely translating words; we’re bridging worlds.

We want our messages — especially those that address vital issues — to reach more people, in the language that resonates with their everyday lives. This is not just about wider reach. It’s about empowering communities, making them more confident to speak up, advocate for their rights, and shape their own futures.

In doing this, we also contribute to the living, breathing evolution of the Filipino language. It is a language born of many tongues — at least eight major and over a hundred others — and continues to grow richer as it absorbs the colors, rhythms, and cadences of each.

And while Filipino may have begun with the grammatical structure of Tagalog, it has never been exclusive to it. Every time we speak it, we infuse it with pieces of our own mother tongues. It becomes a shared space where Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Kapampangans, Warays, Cebuanos, Tausugs, and countless others can meet and understand each other.

So why are we “bothering”?

Because language is not just how we talk — it’s how we connect, remember, and move forward together.

TAGALOG VERSION

Bakit Tayo Nagsasalita sa Maraming Wika — At Bakit Ito Mahalaga

May magtatanong, may halong pagtataka: “Bakit pa?”

Bakit pa gugugol ng oras at pagod para gumawa ng content sa Filipino, sa Taglish, o sa iba’t ibang wika sa Pilipinas kung puwede namang diretsong mag-English at tapos na?

Ang sagot ay parehong simple at malalim: dahil tayo ay mga Pilipino. Kahit sanay tayong gumamit ng Ingles sa usapan, sa opisina, at sa social media, ang mga sariling wika natin ang tunay na tumitibok bilang puso ng ating pagkatao.

Ang Agosto — Buwan ng Wika — ay paalala na ang ating mga salita ay higit pa sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap. Ang mga ito ay sisidlan ng ating pagkakakilanlan, kultura, at kasaysayan. Sa paggawa ng content sa Filipino at iba pang wika ng Pilipinas, hindi lang tayo basta nagsasalin ng salita — nag-uugnay tayo ng mga mundo.

Nais naming maabot ang mas maraming tao, lalo na pagdating sa mga isyung mahalaga, gamit ang wikang mas malapit sa kanilang araw-araw na buhay. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa lawak ng abot. Ito ay tungkol sa pagbibigay ng lakas sa mga komunidad, para mas maging matatag at handang ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan at kinabukasan.

Sa ganitong paraan, nakikibahagi rin tayo sa patuloy na pagyabong ng wikang Filipino — isang wikang isinilang mula sa samu’t saring wika sa bansa, may hindi bababa sa walong pangunahing wika at mahigit isang daang iba pa.

At kahit nagsimula ito sa estruktura ng Tagalog, hindi ito eksklusibo rito. Sa bawat gamit natin ng Filipino, dinadagdagan natin ito ng piraso ng ating sariling wikang kinagisnan. Nagiging isa itong bukas na espasyo kung saan maaaring magtagpo at magkaintindihan ang mga Bicolano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Waray, Cebuano, Tausug, at marami pang iba.

Kaya bakit nga ba tayo “nababahala” na gawin ito?

Dahil ang wika ay hindi lang paraan ng pagsasalita — ito ay tulay ng pagkakaugnay, alaala, at sama-samang pag-usad.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.