CLSU College of Arts and Social Sciences partnered with Northern Illinois University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Cavite State University, and Sitio Philippines for an online roundtable discussion on native languages.
The roundtable discussion, entitled “SAGIP-WIKA: An Inter-Language Roundtable Discussion on Languages of the Philippines” was held last October 23, 2021 via Zoom Meeting Conference. Prof. Ken Calang, from the CLSU Department of English and Humanities, discussed Filipino language, Prof. Jomer Tangonan and Dr. Baby Jean Jose from the CLSU Department of Filipino talked about Ayta and Ilocano languages, Ms. Joi Irong from SITIO Philippines discussed online language teaching, Ms. Lady Aileen Orsal from Cavite State University also talked about Filipino, Ms. Kay Gallo from NIU talked about Hiligaynon language. Mr. John Paul Dela Rosa and Ms. Soraya Pahm, both former Fulbright Teaching Assistants, also talked about Kapampangan and Maguindanao languages, respectively.
“Native language is important in the identity of a country. In the Philippines, based on the KWF (2016), 130 languages are at risk of losing due to various factors, it is indeed necessary to discuss the status and issues they face for the development of projects and policies to rescue, revitalize, and maintain it,” Dr. Baby Jean Jose noted.