Have you guys experienced these policies?
I remember the first taste of this policy when I was an elementary student in a private school. I thought it was dumb because we’re filipinos and it wasn’t even an international school, but since I was good at English, after some time complaining I let it go because it didn’t affect me that much, and I didn’t want to be seen as a bratty kid.
Now in college, we visited a museum showcasing the local Filipino culture. After exiting the museum, I glimpsed a sign that said something along the lines of “This is an English Only Zone”. I felt betrayed, because the museum was benefiting from Filipino culture but at the same time they’re suppressing it. Just like my previous private school, is it all just for the prestige?
And I think to my current situation. I am barely a fluent speaker in Tagalog. I often trip when it comes to uncommon words in Bisaya. And the worst part is that while filipinos are very ubiquitous around the world and on the internet, there are a dearth of resources in learning the national language at an advanced level, let alone the regional ones. I don’t even know where to find Bisaya fiction in my city!
How much more until we start forgetting ourselves in our self-loathing? When we start forgetting how to convey intelligent thoughts in our language to the point we sound stupid if we don’t speak in some other language?
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we visited a museum showcasing the local Filipino culture
I daresay you name that museum, it needs to be known so that we are properly warned.
Have you guys experienced these policies?
Rarely in my experience since because I was educated in public schools and there is no language enforcement and never been tapped on the shoulder just because of a language to speak.
is it all just for the prestige?
With regionalism being strong in some places, there are some Bisaya – either Cebuano, Ilonggo, or Waray, etc. – who see Tagalog as a form of “cultural imperialism” from so-called “Imperial Manila” and as such they would actively or passively oppose it, and instead rather use English as a bridge language to try talking with other Filipinos from other parts of the country. Yeah, and some have weaponized language to the extent they would give certain perks and privileges to those speaking their own language.
In addition, some individuals or organizations are enforcing the concept that English is a language of the “educated” or the “civilized”, and asking people to leave their regional language behind their homes.
I’ve said some personally identifiable information here on my account so babanatin ko if ever it becomes controversial, and there’s a lot of cases where anyone being criticised on reddit are good at tracking the people there and identifying them and making it an issue on Facebook lol. But I’ll DM you if you’re okay with it.
I know you’re asking that in the context of Philippines but I kept coming back to your post.
It has happened many-many times throughout history. By erasing people’s language and culture you erase their identity. They would become members of the new motherland and rebelling seems pointless because there’s nowhere to go back to. I mean, you’d still live in your country but why would you fight English media and books if you don’t have them in your national language?
A friend of mine from Sierra Leone had a similar experience to yours, the school is English only. At home they spoke pidgin, a broken mix of English and their local dialect.
This wiki article is about the history of Irish language. The chapter about 18-19 century covers almost wiping out Gaelic by catholic church.
Soviet union implemented russification to their territory. This wiki article about geographical distribution of Russian speakers describes the situation in post Soviet countries.
The measures used for russification included deportations after WW2. All men had to do a mandatory military service for 2 years and were shipped to the other end of the union, making sure they can only use Russian for the next two years, hopefully finding a missus around there and never returning to his roots. There’s many more examples like that.
Sorry, I got carried away. Please, find people to practice Tagalog and Bisaya with, and I hope you’ll find a book shop or a library or a website to get some written materials.
I know this is a late reply but it feels wrong to not make a response at all. Thank you for putting in the effort to share other people’s experience of the same thing. I am aware that the policies had unsavory implications, though I wanted to bring more awareness especially to fellow filipinos.
I’m from EU and we had this rule only during English class after we progressed past the basics, to make sure we learn to speak in normal conversation.
We always had many languages in EU and many ppl speak at least two.
I wouldn’t worry about forgetting how to think in your regional language, because fluent speakers can switch the language they think in on the fly.
More worrisome is the effect on your regional culture. Make sure regional songs, plays and stories won’t be lost. It’s not just for tourism, but also important for cultural identity.
I know stories from some 40 to 50 years ago, when talking in a regional dialect could get you in trouble at school. From what I can tell we have as a society moved past that, and actually cherish local dialects and variations, but they are in decline regardless.
My daughter’s school (not international or anything elite) has EOP. It’s favorable to her because her first language is English - thanks to growing up watching educational shows that are mostly available only in English. I’m not against it either because if you want to make it big, you need to be really good with English. That’s just the way how the world works.
They do have a Filipino subject and observes “Linggo ng Wika” (fucking hell getting her to memorize and perform an entire Filipino poem was a pain). The household is also tagalog-speaking.
What do you think of schools imposing penalties on those who don’t speak English even outside the subject English? I remember my private elementary teacher saying that they will be imposing a peso fine everytime we are caught speaking Tagalog. I’m not sure if they were serious though.
I think this happened when I was in high school a long time ago - right down to the fines. Younger me would probably be against it and I can see why a lot of people find it ridiculous, but now I see the practical reason for it.
Tell them to go back to England
In a school i can understand a rule like this because it can quickly become a sort of secret language the teachers don’t understand.
Same reason in some discord chats, mods need to know who posted what that is against the rules without knowing every nuanced meaning in every language.
In some (professional) events or games its important that all parties can understand each other.
But adults in public settings? Ridiculous and not enforceable. Doesn’t seem legal either but i can see the third world USA try things like this for racist reasons nonetheless.
I think you might be a little lost. The school and museum I was talking about are in the Philippines and the teachers are locals. Though this whole worship of English started with American colonialism…
This was in “all” for me but thanks for the headsup.
Considering that, this is a TIL for me and sounds absolutely insane.
Surely the local language should be the norm, especially in schools. I admit i don’t know much about the American colonies in the Philippines but this sounds like brainwashing. Language can change how people think depending on different nuances it can be expressed, there is unique philosophy in each.
I am sorry for your loss, that not even your teachers recognize your cultural identity is being ereased.
Wow I did not expect for this to get there! And yeah it’s just really bad, I thought the attitude was a thing of the past but when I visited that place I was shocked to see that sign. Another assumption I remember from when I was a kid is that the more American-like you can speak English, the more smarter or sophisticated you are. My only hunch as to why English is encouraged at the cost of our language is because a huge part of our economy is Tourism, BPO and Remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers.
I only hope that someday, the Philippines can attain some degree of self-sufficiency, so we don’t have to groom our children as subordinates to foreign people.
