Taking Pride in the Filipino Language

I wonder how my students can pass the UPCAT when they don't even know what mangangalakal is or sinamantala or kamangmangan.

Nevertheless, we do have an Araw ng Wika (not a Linggo or Buwan), actually, it was more of Oras ng Wika, so the kids were asked to make a poster related to the geographical regions of the Philippines.

Unfortunately, Filipino is just a third language here, as more emphasis is given to English and Mandarin. And their AP, which is my counterpart subject, is taught in English.

Yes, they do speak Tagalog, but their knowledge of deeper Filipino words such as those you find in Fili or Noli is a bit wanting.

It's a pity that in our society, to be considered upper class, or educated, you'd have to speak in English. The Italians don't. Have you ever heard Giorgio Armani or Miuccia Prada conduct an interview in English? I haven't. Their attitude is, "Go hire an interpreter and speak to me in Italian."

I wish we had that pride as well for Filipino.