TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The Ikalinga dialect received a “Bantayog ng Wika” marker at the Kalinga State University here in recognition of its relevance to Philippine culture,
Kalinga State University president Eduardo Bagtang on Friday said it is an honor and a privilege to have the marker situated in their school. Not only will it be a tourist spot but will also signify the love of the people of Kalinga for their native tongue.
The Ikalinga dialect is spoken in the upland towns of Tinglayan, Lubuagan, Tanudan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Balbalan, Tabuk City in Kalinga and some parts of Mountain Province.
Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino researcher RR Kagalingan, who represented the agency during the unveiling of the marker, told Philippine News Agency (PNA) last Monday they are targeting 11 structures to be built this year.
In March, the Tuwali dialect of the Ifugaos was given the second “Bantayog ng Wika” marker at the Ifugao State University in Lamut, Ifugao.
Kagalingan said that the markers are erected to make the intangible elements of the culture and heritage tangible.
“Yung pagpapatayo ng structure na ito ay patunay na pinahahalagahan din natin ang wikang katutubo. Ang wika ay kamalig sya ng kultura kaya gusto namin na maunawaan ng mga kababayan nating taga kalinga (The structure is a proof that we are giving value to the ethnic languages. We want the youth in Kalinga to understand that language is a repository of culture),” he said.
He added that Senator Loren Legarda, an advocate of culture and arts preservation in the whole country, has allotted PHP800,000 for the construction of each marker.
Kagalingan also said that the government and the different cultural agencies are working hand in hand to promote and encourage cultural communities to love their dialects and to avoid “language endangerment” or their extinction.
“Napakahalaga na magkaroon ng pagmamahal, pagkilala sa ating mga wika dahil ito ang sagisag ng ating pagka-Filipino (Loving and recognizing our language is important as it represents our being a Filipino),” he added.
National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, chair of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), also said that through the “Bantayog ng Wika” marker, the ethnic communities are guided and reminded of their love to their culture.
He also said that they are going around the country’s 131 indigenous communities to build markers. **Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA
