Filipino or English?

I don't believe that when we choose to speak English in a formal forum or beauty pageant that we are not proud of our language. English is the medium of instruction in our schools and we were taught the language for us to be able to communicate well with people from different countries. Why do we need interpreters when we can do his job ourselves? Let's not use the guise of interpreters to bide for time to think of an answer.

Hmm.. i could remember days back in high school when we have this "english only policy" in school. It was put up because students do not know how to speak in English anymore and that students does not even know proper grammar and pronunciation as well. But i could remember teachers stressing out that it does not mean not being proud of our own language..but we need to learn English because we must be globally competitive..and that also means being able to communicate well in English. I know English but i am also proud of being a Filipino, i know how to speak in Tagalog, Bisaya, Chavacano and Tausug. Plus dialect / language does not matter, it is how you act that matters.

You have a very good point there, mon. I have questioned the same thing when I was still in grade school studying English as much as everyone else. Good thing I have a very good background on that language that's why I passed the subject "miraculously". Anyways, point taken, I'll try to solve your confusion with what I understood so far after this several years of trying to find an answer to this puzzling riddle. Answer #1: Speaking English inside and outside of the Philippines is a norm(standard) for over a hundred years(starting when the Americans tweaked with our educational system that came from the Spaniards and made the medium of language--well what a surprise?-- American-English). And not being able to speak such language is...what do the society call it now?..."just plain idiocy", so that it won't hurt much. Answer #2: Speaking the language of Filipino can be quite confusing for some Filipinos. If you define Filipino as Tagalog well, just call Filipino language the Tagalog language instead so that we won't have anymore confusion. If a person would speak in Cebuano and he/she is talking to a Tagalog, the Tagalog would have to hold down his/her nose from bleeding. Take note, Filipino language became a very dynamic language when President Cori Aquino declared that Filipino language would be able to adopt words from other languages as well like computer to "kompyuter". Answer #3: And the last answer I can give since I'm already tired of typing, speaking American-English language in an event that is of grand scale is...how do you call it?...Hype? The "uso"?...and since Filipinos are very fond of getting with the "uso" of time, they tend to follow American's footsteps from speaking their language to their "tendency" to sleeping with anyone or everyone(if they can) from young to old to legalization of abortion and marriage of gay/lesbian couples. Later, if I make a prediction, even eating fetuses would be legalized by them by the many abortion that happens in their country and Filipinos would surely follow that too if its "uso". All things said above are merely from observation and in my opinion. If you are offended, I will not apologize since as I already said, it's my opinion. It is not YET an acknowledged fact. If you have some complaints feel free to tell me and we'll discuss about it. Happy MyLotting!

Hello shattered, because it was needed in the job description, most people want to speak english because it was needed at work or for future career plans. it's sad that most people are more inclined english speakers because we are more westerenized than any other nation. our education is not looking good that even my nephews had trouble speaking or wrting in tagalog. i think we should just remember who we are and our language as a way to give that legacy back to the future generations.

Not because I speak in english I am no more proud of my language.I only speak in english here in mylot because it is necessary.If I could just communicate in filipino here,I will do it.I think Manny Pacquiao is not trying hard to speak in english.Did you watch his prescon in Quirino?He spoke in Filipino because his audience were filipinos.I know he speaks english during his interviews after fights because his audience is the whole world.I think it depends in the situation if we have to speak english or filipino.

Be proud to be a filipino. filipino excels in terms to language they have learned. English is a very good one coz you can communicate to people around the world even if you have coins of english but at least you can be understood. Try to roam around the world if you can.If you speak in english everybody understands you but if you speak Filipino language nobody will understand what your talking about unless there is a filipino who can interpret. right? So its better to go english and not left filipino language .

just want to share my own view about this,and it's a good thing that this has become a point of discussion nowadays..my point is there is no wrong if we speak english inside the classroom where students are required to speak their second language as part of learning it. it's not even wrong to speak it if our job or work require it so..this won't be our scale to measure ones love to his national language.but the sentiment goes like this why do( government officials)specially our legislators speak in english to a fellow filipino legislators? why in the world do they speak in english to a fellow filipino? do we want to show the world that we're good in english or do we want to impress others and wave our foolish flag that we are smarter than others , i think that is not necessary..i've never seen two american idiot conversing to each other using tagalog or any other language than what they have and own..besides what will they get in doing such but giving themselves a hard time speaking other language like we do

English, being known as the universal language, should be used in certain occasions, especially in international gatherings where every countries in the world is represented by their own countrymen. I think using English to express ones self in an international gathering, is just, for one, a courtesy to others. You would not need any translators anymore to prolong what you need to say. That's my opinion anyways.

Hello, Kababayan. Needless to say I am a Filipino. I think , most Filipinos are proud or trying to be something that we are not other than being a Filipino or doing the Filipino way. Have you noticed that it isn't just the English language we are so crazy about, take a look on how our kababayans are drooling over imported goods. We even think that meztizas are more beautiful than our own women, but , it is another story ,though. My point is that we are being mentally colonized. We think that speaking a foreign language (why do we are so eager to learn foreign languages but lack interest to know real Filipino terms?)is a status symbol, you belong to a higher, intellectual group. Maybe because those who can speak or able to speak English are those who can afford to go to school, especially those from exclusive ones, noticed the twang and fake accents, too. It gives us superiority among those who can not speak, worse, understand the language. Don't they say that those who can not speak the English language are called morons? That's why even those from the lowest class are trying so hard to speak English, only to prove that they are not 'mangmang'. Sigh...

Hi shattered, What you have pointed out is basically true and I think that many of us Filipinos are becoming in a way arrogant of knowing English language and other international language there is. Like in the Senate or Congress, our elected officials have been speaking the said language in passing memorandum or laws. Even if there is a debate that is being televised more often they speak in English not knowing there are millions of poor Filipinos who haven't been educated or even finished elementary education. What you are trying to say is that there are places or situation wherein we should be using Filipino/Tagalog as our language like that of a pageant. I would love to see our legislators to communicate in Filipino so that all of us could understand every bit of the information.

People have many ways to interpret themselves through language and action. Perhaps, she has a special reason for using English in a question and answer session at Miss Universe pageant. As far as we know, mastering English is a plus in the world beauty contest and it's also the pride of every participant of the contest. See example, most of who became winners in the contest, because they are not just mastering a foreign language but also the accuracy of answers submitted in a foreign language. So, this is not about pride of Filipino or not, but it is more to the contextual time.

I'd like to say something based on my own experience. I have a foreigner husband and English is our way of communication. I'd like to think that I know how to deal with people of different race because I know how to communicate with them by speaking to them in the English language. I am proud of that. But I'm also proud of speaking in Filipino and trying my hardest to teach my husband. He may not be that a very good and fast learner but I can now communicate with him in simple conversation using Tagalog. As much as I can, I use Tagalog especially when I'm around people who can understand me. Generally speaking, Filipinos are a good multilingual people. We cannot deny that fact. We are said to be one of the most fluent race when it comes to English language (spoken or written) in the whole world. That's something to be proud of. That's why Filipinos can adapt easily even abroad because of that. We can go wherever it is in the globe because of this talent. And with this, I give kudos to our excellent professors/teachers who trained us during our school days!

I was wondering why we got the title around 9 years ago that Philippines is the 3rd English speaking country in the world. There is no truth about that. I myself a Filipino wondered how they surveyed our country LOL. Right now it is too late for us to stick to our Philippine language. The world is changing except Philippines. Our country will remain a POOR country forever while other countries will progress fast. I am not too negative about our Philippines but that's the real truth. We evicted the late President Marcos because of corruptions and slow progress. But what happened now? During Marcos, all students from elementary to college are advice to speak only English at school that is why students from 80's and 90's speak better English. Nowadays, even college degree are either not fluent in English or don't speak English at all. If our legislator will insist that we use Tagalog language as our method of communication, I would rather have BISAYA or CEBUANO language. Besides Bisaya speaking people has the biggest number in the country and not tagalog.

Well first and foremost, the ability to speak is a plus points since English is our international language. Secondly, if we can speak English it is plus points if we are applying for a job or even to our day-to-day living, but not to a point that we are sound boastful or ridiculous. You know what I mean. Lastly, Miss San Miguel didn't push through with pageant, she backed out.

In my own personal views I think English language is something that we should learn and practice with. We need to communicate and we all know that from all walks of life, English has the edge over the others. It is a great tool for communication in landing a job and in almost everything we do all over the world. Now, I am a Filipino, and proud of being a Filipino. By learning English and speaking in English, the way I look at it, does not take away my being patriotic. We have to adjust and we have to accept the fact the not everyone understands our language. In fact not all of us Filipinos even speak one Filipino language considering that in different places we have different languages from tagalog, visaya, ilongo etc. That alone is something that creates a confusion.

hi Shattered although I am not Filipino but American I can relate as we all should have pride in our own languages whether its Filipino or Tagalog or English from my country, we should have pride ino 0ur own country and its native tongue. so if I were at say a political rally here in the US and the speaker spoke Spanish instead of our native English I would feel bad as English not Spanish is our native tongue so should your speakers be using Filipino language instead of English as the Philippines is your country after all.Its great to be bilingual but on a native event the speaker should use his country's native language not English.So I agee, shattered, you should be speaking your native tongue in your own country not'English., I do think your countrymen should be bilingual as should us Americans too. but for civic pride use the language of your own country.

I If she understood the question in English, i would have thought that a person representing one s country in speak in engilsh the spoken yhe english in the visayan dialect so hard to english . the english all over country in speak in english. the speak in english world in international

Maybe a few filipino people are not proud of their own language and no not all filipino hate their own language. If you don't love your own language then you're not proud of your own country. Or maybe it is the age of changing right now were living in a modern world. People are changing maybe someday language too (wishing nothing will change in tagalog word) just like the old writing of we filipino what do you call that Alibata. That is so awesome writing I do not know how to read alibata and only few people can write it Ahh maybe Shamcey Supsup want them to understand in English as a median to all people that watching her what she thinks not hiring an interpreter or anybody else. I am proud to be a filipino (Ewan ko kung tama ang grammar ko not quite good at expressing my real motivation)

hi shattered!. in my opinion, Filipinos do easily adopt to everything,for example using English as their secondary language.for me it's not a big deal cause as long as both parties involve in a conversation understands each other, then why not speak the language that most of us around the world do understand. look at Filipinos now, they're all around the globe cause they communicate through english, if they did not try to learn it and master it then they would have been isolated in their own country and woudn't have the opportunity to earn big and build their own career.:)

it is not necessary that if you speak english most of the tine you did not want our native language anymore it is just so happened that most of the situation needs an english reponse, example is on the class, you could not answer filipino terms in a science class with its related terms, globalization spreads so fast that even our tounges is being affected, we must love our language, but we must also adopt to the fast changing world where in communication bridges every individual, remember even our national hero (jose rizal)is an expert of different language.