KWF’S forum on Filipino orthography this March

THE KOMISYON sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), with the College of Education, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, will hold the National Consultative Forum on Filipino Orthography on March 11-13, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Benitez Auditorium, College of Education, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

The forum aims to review and examine old and current guides on Filipino orthography to create an expedient and efficient system for Philippine languages.

Scholar Dr. Galileo S. Zafra, project director of Gabay sa Editing sa Wikang Filipino, will convene the orthography forum.

Expected participants are language scholars, writers, editors, broadcasters, businessmen and other professionals. They will take part in the revision and redevelopment of orthography.

The forum is one of the newest initiatives of the KWF under the direction of its new chair, National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, also known as Rio Alma.

Almario envisions bringing back the commission’s leadership as an agency that forges dynamic understanding and exchange among all language groups in the country.

In 1993, Almario, in his book “Filipino ng mga Filipino,” called on the KWF to spearhead important language projects and to set credible rules and standards.

He said the Filipino language based on Tagalog could serve as the foundation of standardization and development of the national language. Tagalog, in its current form, could be used as basis for setting the parameters of revision, especially in writing, official communications and educational purposes.

But Almario said policies should be flexible so that they could absorb modernization and relevant contributions from various regional and indigenous languages.

Other distinguished personalities who had headed the KWF were Jaime C. de Veyra, Lope K. Santos, Julian Cruz Balmaceda, Cirio H. Panganiban, Cecilio Lopez, Jose Villa Panganiban and Ponciano B.P. Pineda.

Almario, who assumed office in January, is joined in the KWF by commissioners Jerry B. Gracio (Samar-Leyte), Purificacion Delima (Iluko), Abdon M. Balde Jr. (Bikol), Noriam H. Ladjagais (Languages of Muslim Mindanao), John E. Barrios (Hiligaynon), Orlando B. Magno (Sebwano), Jimmy B. Fong (Languages of Northern Cultural Communities), Lucena P. Samson (Kapampangan), Ma. Crisanta N. Flores (Pangasinan) and Lorna E. Flores (Languages of Southern Cultural Communities).

The National Consultative Forum on Filipino Orthography is open to the public.

All interested persons and parties are encouraged to participate in the discussions.

The KWF is a duly legislated agency operating under the Office of the President of the Philippines. Created through Republic Act No. 7104 of 1991, the commission is tasked to “ensure and uphold the evolution and further cultivation of Filipino, the national language of the Philippines, based on existing languages in the Philippines and other languages.”