The Division of Negros Occidental highlighted the Feb. 21st International Mother Language Day celebration by making the global event the focus of a competition simulating the editorial production process of campus publications during the Division Schools Press Conference held at Hinigaran National High School on Feb. 21.
IML Day is annually observed to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
To kick off the Collaborative Desktop Publishing contest, a simulated press conference was held focusing on the global observance. The press conference became the basis of most articles which the student editors included in their four-page newsletter contest output.
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Education Program Supervisor for Filipino, Sir Bonifacio Baroquillo of the Division of Negros Occidental, a most outstanding educator award recipient, emphasized that appreciation of languages, particularly the mother tongue, matters as “they are the tapestry of global communication” and serve as the cornerstone of sustainable communication.
Citing data from UNESCO, he pointed out that globally 40% of the population do not have access to an education in a language they understand.
He also mentioned that out of 8,324 languages in the world, about 7,000 are inactive and that every two weeks, one language disappears taking with it a cultural heritage. “The disappearance of languages is a loss to the entire world,” he emphasized.
While he lamented the discontinuance of the implementation MTB-MLE, or mother tongue-based multi-lingual education lessons from Grades 1-3 under the recently-implemented Enhanced K-to-10 Curriculum, he, however, explained that teachers “can still use it in instructional delivery.”
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Still on school-related matters, the alumnae of the Domingo Lacson National High School long-time Palarong Pambansa softball champion team held their first-ever reunion on Feb. 15 at St John Paul Resort at Lantawan, Barangay Guimbalaon in Silay City.
My friend, Coach Tony Oquindo, who mentored the DLNHS team from 1991 to 2011, said it was a great time for reminiscing and reconnecting ties among the softball players who belonged to different classes.
The DLNHS softball squad has the longest triumphant streak for any Western Visayas team by winning the Palaro title 16 times in 20 years – from 1991 to 2011, all under Tony’s mentorship. Many of these players became members of the national team and had the opportunity to represent the country in international tournaments.
Coach Tony continues to express gratefulness to civic-minded individuals and groups who supported the team as well as to school administrators.
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The softball team alumnae decided to organize themselves the following elected officers of the Softball Organization of the Philippines Inc.:
Josie Treyes, president; Virginia Asenita, vice president; Cheryl Capada, secretary; Rodelia Buatag, treasurer; Roselle Hulleza, PIO; and Aileen Cabaybay, auditor.
Also elected – as members of the board – are Emily Dela Rosa, Nerissa Gonzalez, Johnna Mae Marcial, Michelle Lentija, Claire Aquino and Charina Macabane.
We trust that the teams’ story will be an inspiration for local young athletes to excel in their dream for sporting excellence so that they can earn scholarships so that the y can pursue higher education, just like many of Coach Tony’s players.
We also hope that the get-together will encourage the former champs to pool their resources that they can pay forward and help the current breed of Negrense athletes regain and retain the lofty position they had held.
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Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6) | NWI
