CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA)-- The Kalinga State University (KSU) kicked off the province’s celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa at Kasaysayan in front of the "Bantayog ng Wika" marker at the university compound on August 14.

With the theme “Filipino at mga Katutubong Wika, Wika ng Kapayapaan, Seguridad, at Ingklusibong Pagpapatupad ng Katarungang Panlipunan” for Buwan ng Wika and “Pagpapalaya ng Kasaysayan para sa Sambayanan” for Buwan ng Kasaysayan,’ the celebration started with a eucharistic celebration.

KSU President Eduardo T. Bagtang in his  message,  cited KSU’s strong support to the traditional celebration as gleaned  with the installation  of the Bantayog ng Wika  in its campus.

The Bantayog ng Wika marker in recognition  of the  IKalinga dialect's relevance to  Philippine culture was installed  on June 25, 2018.

The park established years ago through a tie-up with Sen. Loren Legarda showcased the university’s program on preserving national and cultural identity, Bagtang stressed.

Bagtang in explaining the month’s observance,  related the bond of a national language to the nation’s history and patrimony. This he said had brought the Filipino’s strong national identity that had stood the tests of time.

For the region, Bagtang said the Cordillera people’s quest for genuine regional autonomy should be carried along with the national observance  in line with the theme of this year’s celebration.

Bagtang also  raised the concern of coming up with a  common Kalinga dialect  amid   the language diversities among the tribes.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples  Provincial Director  Catherine G. Apaling said there are  46  dialects spoken in the province  and each sub-tribe  speaks its own dialect. This it should be  in recognition of their rights as indigenous cultural communities.

Michael Karel B. Sugguiyao,  Provincial Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative,  said  indigenous  language  is a window  to the  soul of culture, thus we should use it.

There are lined up activities for the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa at Kasaysayan celebration that include  Seminar-Worksyap sa Dokumentasyon at Pananaliksik sa Katutubong Wika at Kultura ng Kalinga on Aug. 23-25 at KSU.  (JDP/LL—PIA CAR, Kalinga)