Article by: Angelle Baligod
Photos by: Sigourney Patricia Marie Valbuena
“The Filipino language is not just a language; it is the key to innovation.”
APC Senior High School, led by its Language and Communication Cluster, spearheaded activities and events in celebration of Buwan ng Wika 2022 through a seminar titled SUKIMÁTEM: Mga Panayam para sa Araling Filipino.
Themed Filipino: Wika ng Inobasyon, APC SHS Faculty members Mr. Michael Andio T. Suan and Ms. Patricia Ershelle L. Feliciano organized various activities, contests, and seminars to commemorate the importance of the Philippine culture and Filipino as a National Language.
Ms. Patricia Ershelle Feliciano, a Cum Laude graduate from the University of the Philippines – Baguio with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Language and Literature, shared her undergraduate paper titled, “Boys Will Be Boys: Ang Representasyon ng Pagkalalaki sa Mga Kuwentong Pambata sa Pilipinas, 2017-2021.”
The paper aims to determine and explain the common representations of men and masculinity in children’s literature. The research was focused on three elements of the stories: characters, dialogues, and themes, and based according to their research, despite the undying existence of traditional and toxic themes in the pieces, many of the literature pieces exhibits innovative and progressive representations.
Mr. Michael Andio Suan, a Magna Cum Laude-Candidate at the Rizal Technological University with a degree in Bachelor in Secondary Education majoring in Filipino shared his undergraduate paper titled “Kalangitan, Sisidlan ng Kultura: Pagdalumat sa Etnoastronomiya ng Pilipinas Tungo sa Maka-Filipinong Pagtuturo ng Astronomiya.” Mr. Suan is also the Director at the Sangay Saliksik at Metodo ng Samahan ng mga Nagpapakadalubhasa sa Filipino.
The research paper aims to debunk the belief that studying astronomy should always be based in other countries and prove that indigenous astronomy or ethnoastronomy should be given attention as it can also provide the same quality of knowledge. In the research, it was proven that the ethnoastronomy of the Philippines also possesses the cultural aspect and language.
Before the seminar ended, the organizers also announced the winners of the three competitions prepared for the students: Hulagway, an essay writing competition for the Humanities and Social Sciences students, PaTULAstas, a mixture of literature and marketing and advertising contest for the Accountancy and Business Management students, and SiyenTiktok, a science-related contest for the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics students.
The entire APC SHS Faculty proudly wore and showcased their Baro’t Saya, Filipiniana, Barong Tagalog, and other Philippine traditional costumes last August 31, as these costumes hold a special place in the Filipino culture, language, and identity.
Mabuhay ang Wikang Filipino!
