Losing Identity
By Ria Vem
@riavem21 (27)
May 3, 2018 11:11pm CST
It has been more than a hundred years since the Americans came to my country, I can still feel their rather great influence, specifically in language. We've used the American alphabet for decades and until now, I still wonder why. I have always been trying to figure out who we really are. Right now in my country, government officials are trying to revive our original form of writing called the Alibata. It looks like but not exactly the writing of the Thai. I envy those countries who have preserved their own culture. I think it's too late to learn Alibata now, we've already formed a great nation with the American language as a medium.
8 people like this
9 responses
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 May 18
@riavem21 how about those who live in the provinces? they have their own dialects that they speak every day.
1 person likes this
@riavem21 (27)
•
4 May 18
@hereandthere: Yes, they do. It's not easy to prioritize and that's probably why the government decided to make Tagalog our national dialect and English as second language. What will probably happen to those in the province is use their own dialect, learn English, learn Tagalog, and learn Alibata. Whew! That's a lot.
@riavem21 (27)
•
4 May 18
That's what happened to my country's education system. We were required to use English in school except for our native tongue's subject - Filipino. We learned everything else in English - our history, social studies, math, science, art, physical education, etc. Now, we can't even talk socially in straight Filipino (Tagalog dialect). We unconsciously mix Filipino and English.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 May 18
are you filipino/from the philippines?
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10032)
• Philippines
4 May 18
After WW11 Filipinos spoke good English thanks to the education system the Americans put in place. But after pseudo-nationalist politicians decided to impose Tagalog (which is only one of the 8 major dialect spoken in the Philippines) as the medium of teaching, we now see the sad results of college students needing to take refresher courses in English just to work abroad.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 May 18
but are you in favor of bringing back the alibata, josie?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 May 18
@josie_ i guess it's okay to learn the basics, as part of history lessons, but i don't see where it can be used/applied.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10032)
• Philippines
4 May 18
@hereandthere _As a compulsory subject for students NO! I remember taking up Spanish in high school and college which was compulsory. It was a waste of time. I learn more Spanish through the internet than I did in school.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
4 May 18
I hope we are able to preserve our Alibata and teach it in schools for us to appreciate our culture. We are easily swayed with other countries' culture, which is the sad part.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
4 May 18
teach it in school but to be used where?
2 people like this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
4 May 18
@hereandthere I think that is a tough question. But isnt it better that at least we have the knowledge?
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
4 May 18
Hello and good day! Welcome to myLot.. enjoy your time here.
1 person likes this
@workathomefan (8957)
• Prairieville, Louisiana
4 May 18
Welcome to mylot new user.
1 person likes this
