Joanna Marie O. Santos
August 29, 2022

Buwan ng Wika is a Filipino cultural celebration that respects our country's history, identity, and diversity. This year's theme is “Filipino at mga Katutubong Wika: Kasangkapan sa Pagtuklas at Paglikha.”  

What is Buwan ng Wika?

  We hold Buwan ng Wika every August to support and develop the traditional Filipino language and culture. With a colonial past and over 100 distinct languages, the goal of this national event is to celebrate diversity while actively raising awareness of traditional Filipino cultural aspects (Călățean, 2019).   The theme, "Filipino at mga Katutubong Wika: Kasangkapan sa Pagtuklas at Paglikha," serves as a suggestion and a call to action for Filipinos to cooperate in the interests of teamwork, unity, and peace. This concept serves as a reminder of the importance of the conservation of our indigenous languages that date back thousands of years.   The variety of events during the Buwan ng Wika celebration encourages speakers of the Filipino language to grow in appreciation of their linguistic heritage. To give you an idea of how this meaningful event takes place, here are some recommended activities to commemorate the Buwan ng Wika celebration.  

Top 8 Popular Buwan ng Wika School Activities

Interpretative Dance

  [penci_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NMml-lZDKw" align="center" width="" /]   Interpretive dance is a group of dance genres that attempt to interpret individual feelings and emotions, human conditions, scenarios, or thoughts into movement and dramatic expression. They can also adapt major traits of any conventional ethnic movement into contemporary manifestations.  

Speech Choirs / Panunula

  [penci_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgE5AKCvYb8" align="center" width="" /]   A speech choir is a group of people that read a verse or a story and rhyme in unison while incorporating choreography into their performance. This experience, in which students take part as a group, helps to bring the text to life and emphasize its meaning by allowing them to act in coordination as a group.  

Spoken Word

  [penci_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwB7kJq81mI" align="center" width="" /] Spoken word poetry is the art of reciting a poem in a passionate, and even dramatic, manner. A spoken word poetry performance can be as basic or as sophisticated as you want it to be. However, like any other form of literary art, it should have a compelling message to present on its own.  

Poster Making

    A poster-making competition is a fun way for students to compete among themselves by creating a visual representation of their thoughts, analyses, and reactions to a particular theme, topic, or question. This activity also requires students to think and create within a time limit.  

Balagtasan

  [penci_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyhR_FoWiqI" align="center" width="" /]   Filipinos engage in argument through poetry, known as balagtasan. The term “Balagtasan” comes from the surname of Francisco Balagtas, a renowned Filipino poet, and writer. Three people take part in the Balagtasan: a narrator called a lakandiwa (male) or a lakambini (female), and two debaters who represent each opposing side.  

Film Showing

    A film showing is simply screening a series of movies or documentaries presented at schools that can apply to knowing our culture and understanding our history. This activity is great for culminating Filipino-centered films that students can appreciate and learn from.  

Filipiniana Contest

  Image from Bride and Breakfast[/caption]   The importance of wearing a Filipiniana, a traditional Filipino garment worn by women that are often made from pineapples and other natural materials, is highlighted on this occasion. A Filipiniana is distinguished by its puffy butterfly sleeves, a regular blouse (baro or camisa), a lengthy skirt (saya), and a pañuelo (a square of fabric worn over the shoulders as a scarf or as a head covering).  

Song Choir

  [penci_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WehbBug0Fg" align="center" width="" /]   Filipinos are globally known to be very talented, especially with music. A song choir competition is a type of singing competition where groups compete against each other by singing songs in Filipino or in their respective native language. This is one way to show just how much we take pride in our national and native languages, besides promoting our Filipino identity.  

Importance of Buwan ng Wika in Schools

Students' critical thinking skills and comprehension of the Filipino language are developed and enhanced through these Buwan ng Wika activities. The successful implementation and development of the Filipino language play a significant part in the practice of forward-thinking communication among learning institutions in the Philippines. The students’ cooperation and engagement in these activities show just how much we Filipinos value our identity and traditions by giving importance to and partaking in this celebration.    

Image from Lumina Homes[/caption]   We celebrate Buwan ng Wika to raise awareness of the significance of the Filipino language. It commemorates the Filipino culture, promotes language preservation, and reflects the country's history. Learning to appreciate the importance of our own language shows much of an expression of love and respect for our country.