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Wednesday, September 10, 1986

OPENING OF SESSION

At 9:52 a.m., the President, the Honorable Cecilia Muñoz Palma, opened the session.

THE PRESIDENT: The session is called to order.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

THE PRESIDENT: Everybody will please rise to sing the National Anthem.

Everybody rose to sing the National Anthem.

THE PRESIDENT: Everybody will please remain standing for the Prayer to be led by the Honorable Napoleon G. Rama.

Everybody remained standing for the Prayer.

PRAYER

MR. RAMA: Lord Almighty, You are the first Law-maker Who fashioned the fundamental laws for nature, which nature may not disobey, and for man — an insurgent atom could touch off a doomsday disaster and which, under Your scheme, only man with his gift of free will may accept or not accept at his own risk — touch us with a spark of Your wisdom in the making of laws so that we may shape the fundamental law of our land, true to the aspirations of the people and the common good and acceptable to them.

You wanted remembered and celebrated and acknowledged by all as special the event of Your decreeing the Ten Commandments — as a milestone in the history of mankind. It was not without a dash of drama. You sent Your servant Moses to Mt. Sinai before You handed him, amid thunder and lightning, the commandments inscribed in tablets of stone. Moses descended godlike from the summit, exploding in anger at an ungrateful and idolatrous people, smashing the tablets into small pieces — a scene the world will not likely forget. In a few weeks, Lord, we, too, will deliver the constitutional commandments to the people.

To Moses who led Your people out of the land of tyranny to the edge of the land of milk and honey, You gave the gift of leadership, wisdom, courage and anger. We need all of these gifts, Lord, and a little more for our mission is wider, our responsibility greater, than that of Moses, as lawgiver.

Moses came down the mountain to decree upon the people the laws he did not write. Your Constitutional Commissioners will come down from the Batasang Pambansa to render upon our people the fundamental law that we ourselves have written.

This we ask through Christ, Your Son. Amen.

ROLL CALL

THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary-General will call the roll.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, reading:

The President is present.

The roll call shows 30 Members responded to the call.

THE PRESIDENT: The Chair declares the presence of a quorum.

MR. RAMA: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: The Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. RAMA: I move that we dispense with the reading of the Journal of the previous session.

THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

APPROVAL OF JOURNAL

MR. RAMA: Madam President, I move that we approve the Journal of the previous session.

THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, I move that we proceed to the Reference of Business.

THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

The Secretary-General will read the Reference of Business.

REFERENCE OF BUSINESS

The Secretary-General read the following Communications, the President making the corresponding references.

COMMUNICATIONS

Letter from Ma. Felicidad Q. Lagarde, submitting Resolution Nos. 24 & 25 of the Senior Citizens Association, Tacloban City Chapter, P. Paterno St., Tacloban City, seeking, respectively, inclusion in the Constitution of a provision on the right of the elderly poor and aging persons to enjoy their right to social and material relief, free medical services, old age financial grants and other related terminal services; and a provision on the right of the potential elderly persons with knowledge, skills, experience and expertise, as reservoir of human resource, for involvement in cultural enrichment, social development, instead of being alienated, deprived and downgraded.

(Communication No. 800 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Social Justice.

Letter from Mr. Maimpok N. Ongchangco, 17 Osmeña Industrial Valley Subdivision, Marikina, Metro Manila, expressing doubts whether the new Constitution will be ratified because of the inclusion of controversial and divisive issues.

(Communication No. 801 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Amendments and Transitory Provisions.

Communication signed by twelve physicians from the U.S.T. Hospital, expressing objection against the retention of the U.S. military bases in the Philippines.

(Communication No. 802 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Preamble, National Territory, and Declaration of Principles.

Telegram from BAYAB PCCC Kamkem ACT Ozamiz, requesting for redeliberation of a provision on national economy and urging the Constitutional Commission to adopt a nationalist constitution to protect Filipino business industries against foreign competition.

(Communication No. 803 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on the National Economy and Patrimony.

Communication from Rev. Homer A. Clavecilla of Union Theological Seminary, Palapala, Dasmariñas, Cavite, opposing vigorously the proposed compulsory religious instruction in public schools, supporting instead the retention of the old constitutional provision on optional religious instruction.

(Communication No. 804 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Human Resources.

Letter from Ms. Amherstia Paez of the Institute of Public Health Student Council, University of the Philippines Manila, Ermita, Manila, containing specific recommendations for the proposed Article on Education, Science, Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture.

(Communication No. 805 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Human Resources.

Letter from Mrs. Ramona Rodriguez Tan, Associate Professor, University of the Philippines, and Mrs. Pura Tianco Badoy, President, PWU College of Education Alumnae Association, expressing support for a provision providing free and compulsory education up to the secondary level.

(Communication No. 806 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Human Resources.

Letter from Mr. Enrique L. Victoriano of 4427 Int. Old Sta. Mesa, Manila, submitting proposals which are believed to provide sufficient interpolation at the discussions to at least pave the way for modifications of the educational system by legislation.

(Communication No. 807 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Human Resources.

Communication from the Provincial Fiscal of Bohol, Enrique B. Inting, Tagbilaran City, containing comments as well as recommendations on Section 3 of the proposed Article on the Bill of Rights.

(Communication No. 808 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Citizenship, Bill of Rights, Political Rights and Obligations and Human Rights.

Letter from the Philippine Medical Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Inc., 10210 Norton Road, Potomac, Maryland, U.S.A., signed by its President, Dr. Cresenciano C. Lopez and fifteen (15) other officers and members, endorsing the resolution adopted by the Association of Philippine Physicians in America, Inc., seeking inclusion in the Constitution of a provision that would make a natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his/her Philippine citizenship a transferee of private lands.

(Communication No. 809 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on the National Economy and Patrimony.

Communications urging the Constitutional Commission to incorporate in the Constitution the provision that the separation of the Church and the State shall be inviolable as embodied in the 1973 Constitution and as understood historically and jurisprudentially in the Philippines, each from the following:

1) Rev. Ruth Barnard
    Christian Rendezvous, San Jose Street
    Dumaguete City

(Communication No. 810 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

2) Rev. Jose M. Artajo and one hundred one other
    signatories, Faith Tabernacle (Charismatic Center)
  Bayawan, Negros Oriental

(Communication No. 811 — Constitutional Commission of 1986) 

3) Rev. Hermes Guiritan and thirty-six other
    signatories, Foursquare Gospel Church,
    Tiguib, Ayungon, Negros Oriental

(Communication No. 812 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

4) Pastor Francis P. Anthony
    c/o Kabulusan Baptist Church
    Kabulusan, Pakil, Laguna

(Communication No. 813 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

5) Rev. Dioscoro P. Sales
    Faith Island Mission, Inc.
    P.O. Box 2, Bais City
    Negros Oriental

(Communication No. 814 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

6) Mr. Bonifacio Portugal, Jr. and three other
    signatories, Corpus Christi Community
    Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box AC-65,
    Quezon City

(Communication No. 815 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

7) Rev. Ernie P. Lao
    Davao Baptist Church
    Araullo Street, Tionko Subdivision
    Davao City

(Communication No. 816 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

8) Rev. Gideon B. Caselan and two hundred fifty-four
    signatories, Lagao Alliance Church, Lagao,
    General Santos
    City

(Communication No. 817 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

9) Mr. Efraim M. Tendero and two hundred forty-seven other
    signatories, Kamuning Bible Christian
    Fellowship, No. 4 11th Jamboree, Kamuning,
    Quezon City

(Communication No. 818 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

10) Ms. Antonia T. Corda and five hundred fifty-six other
    signatories, Philippine General Council of
    the Assemblies of God, P.O. Box 49, Valenzuela,
    Metro Manila

(Communication No. 819 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

11) Mr. Edgar delos Santos and twenty-seven other signatories,
    First Kalinga Alliance Church,
    Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga-
    Apayao

(Communication No. 820 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

12) Mr. William Su, Baptist Conference Church of Bacolod,
    P.O. Box 494, Bacolod City

(Communication No. 821 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on General Provisions.

Letters seeking to incorporate in the new Constitution a provision obliging the State to protect the life of the unborn from the moment of conception, from:

1) Mr. Eugenio S. Rosales and sixty-seven other
    signatories of Metro Cebu

(Communication No. 822 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

2) Ms. Amparo Pamela Fabe
    University of the Philippines
    Diliman, Quezon City

(Communication No. 823 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

3) One thousand two hundred forty-two
    concerned citizens of Bacolod, Negros Occidental

(Communication No. 824 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

4) Ms. Judy Razal and seventy other signatories
    of Legaspi City

(Communication No. 825 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

5) Mr. Ricardo M. Ravacio and one thousand forty-
    eight other signatories of Oroquieta City

(Communication No. 826 — Constitutional Commission of 1986)

To the Committee on Preamble, National Territory, and Declaration of Principles.

CONSIDERATION OF C.R. NO. 29
  (Article on Education, Science, Technology, Arts and Culture)
  Continuation

PERIOD OF AMENDMENTS

MR. RAMA: Madam President, I move that we take up this morning the continuation of the consideration on Second Reading of the Article on Education, Science, Technology, Arts and Culture.

THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

The honorable chairman and members of the Committee on Human Resources are requested to please occupy the front table in order that we may continue the consideration of the remaining sections of the proposed Article on Education.

We were discussing yesterday the section on National Language. Is the chairman, Commissioner Villacorta, ready to make any report to the body?

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, before we entertain more amendments, may I say a few words on behalf of the committee in defense of the committee report proposing Filipino as the national language and as the medium of official communication and instruction, because certain questions were raised by fellow Commissioners last night.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, there is an anterior business. This is the motion for reconsideration of Commissioner Foz, and he would like to present it now. This was with reservation.

MR. FOZ: Madam President, this is in connection with the reservation we made yesterday.

THE PRESIDENT: Which section is this, please?

MR. FOZ: This concerns the provision on Sports in connection with the promotion of physical education and encouragement of sports. We have an amendment which we would like to offer. We have already approved this provision.

THE PRESIDENT: Can we first read what we had approved? This is for subsection (d) of Section 2.

MR. FOZ: That is correct, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Does the Commissioner have the approved section?

MR. FOZ: May we ask the committee to read the approved provision before we submit our proposed amendment.

MR. VILLACORTA: May we be given one minute because we were not prepared for this, so we did not have the approved provision.

THE PRESIDENT: It is all right.

MR. FOZ: Anyway, I will read the provision as approved yesterday, Madam President.

It says here, and I quote:

The State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs to foster the values of self-discipline, teamwork and excellence, and for the total development of a healthy and alert citizenry.

That is the provision as approved yesterday, and which I propose to amend by insertion, if I may be allowed to proceed now.

THE PRESIDENT: The Commissioner may proceed.

MR. FOZ: I propose to amend the same provision. I would rather read the provision as would be amended by my proposal. So, I propose that the provision shall read in the following manner: "The State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, LEAGUE COMPETITIONS AND AMATEUR SPORTS, INCLUDING TRAINING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL AND OLYMPIC COMPETITIONS, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry." That is how the provision will read if my amendment would be approved by the committee. In other words, our amendment will consist of just inserting a few phrases in the very same provision.

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee suggests that we substitute the word "INTERNATIONAL" for "OLYMPIC." Would it be acceptable to the Commissioner?

MR. FOZ: Substitute the word "INTERNATIONAL" for the word "OLYMPIC"? It is already there. It says here: "TRAINING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL AND OLYMPIC COMPETITIONS."

MR. VILLACORTA: So, we are for the deletion of the words "AND OLYMPIC." Would it be acceptable to the Commissioner?

MR. FOZ: If the concept of Olympics would be part of the phrase "INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS," then I will agree. I accept the suggestion.

MR. VILLACORTA: It will be part of the sense of the word "INTERNATIONAL."

MR. FOZ: I accept that suggestion.

MR. VILLACORTA: In that case, Madam President, the committee accepts the amendment of Commissioner Foz.

THE PRESIDENT: Before we take a vote, will the Commissioner please repeat the amendment?

MR. FOZ: So the provisions will now read: "The State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, LEAGUE COMPETITIONS AND AMATEUR SPORTS, INCLUDING TRAINING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry." That is the provision.

VOTING

THE PRESIDENT: As many as are in favor of this proposed amendment which has been accepted by the committee, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against the amendment, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)

The results show 30 votes in favor, 1 against and no abstention; the Foz amendment is approved.

Commissioner de Castro is recognized.

MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you, Madam President.

I was a little late to stand up before the Chair asked for a voting on the amendment of Commissioner Foz. But I would like to offer an amendment to the amendment, if Commissioner Foz would agree.

THE PRESIDENT: We have already approved the amendment; the Commissioner can still offer another amendment.

MR. DE CASTRO: I propose to add the following paragraphs after the approved amendment of Commissioner Foz which will read as follows: "ALL SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, SHALL UNDERTAKE REGULAR SPORTS ACTIVITIES, ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS IN ORGANIZED LEAGUES FROM BARANGAY, MUNICIPAL, PROVINCIAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS IN COOPERATION WITH ATHLETIC CLUBS AND OTHER SECTORS.

"THE PROMOTION OF AMATEUR SPORTS AS DISTINGUISHED FROM PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS SHALL BE PROVIDED BY LAW INCLUDING THE TRAINING OF NATIONAL ATHLETES FOR OLYMPIC GAMES."

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

MR. DE CASTRO: Madam President, may I ask for a suspension of the session so I can introduce these amendments to the committee?

THE PRESIDENT: The session is suspended.

MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you.

It was 10:16 a.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 10:20 a.m., the session was resumed.

THE PRESIDENT: The session is resumed.

May we know the parliamentary situation from the Floor Leader?

MR. RAMA: The parliamentary situation is that Commissioner Foz is asking for a motion for reconsideration with respect to the proposal of Commissioner de Castro.

THE PRESIDENT: We have just approved the Foz amendment. Is this another amendment?

MR. RAMA: This is another amendment for which Commissioner Foz is asking for a reconsideration.

MR. FOZ: Madam President, we would like to ask for a reconsideration of our action yesterday on the deletion of the second paragraph of the same provision. I refer to the provision which reads as follows: 

All schools, colleges and universities, public and private, shall undertake regular sports activities, athletic competitions in organized leagues, from barangay, municipal, provincial to regional to national sports programs in cooperation with other sectors.

That is the provision which was deleted in yesterday's proceedings. I would like to ask the body now to reconsider this deletion so that it may be reinstated as part of the provision on Sports. This will serve as a second paragraph to the first paragraph that we have already approved as amended.

MR. DE LOS REYES: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner de los Reyes is recognized.

MR. DE LOS REYES: May I offer an amendment to the amendment of Commissioner Foz by deleting the phrase "from barangay, municipal, provincial and national level" and substituting it with the words "THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY." Also we just put into the record that the meaning of that phrase "THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY" shall include the promotion of activities and athletic competitions in organized leagues in barangay, municipal, provincial and national level. So, we will not have a long amendment.

FR. BERNAS: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bernas is recognized.

FR. BERNAS: We have not yet voted on the motion for reconsideration and it is premature to propose another amendment.

VOTING

THE PRESIDENT: We will have to vote, as step one, on whether or not we shall reconsider this second motion of Commissioner Foz to reconsider the deletion of the second paragraph. Then, afterwards, if that motion is approved, this particular section will be open and we can proceed to determine what will be the phraseology.

So, let us vote on that motion.

As many as are in favor of reconsidering the action taken yesterday, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)

The results show 25 votes in favor, 1 against and 2 abstentions; the motion for reconsideration is approved.

MR. OPLE: Madam President, I voted for the motion for reconsideration, but I hope this will not establish precedence in the future when we will be asked to nullify our action of the previous day. This is entirely within the Rules, but I am referring to the stability of voting that is conducted within the Commission.

Thank you, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: So what is the Commissioner's proposed amendment now?

MR. FOZ: I propose to reinstate the second paragraph which was deleted yesterday with the amendment of Commissioner de los Reyes incorporated therein which will read as follows: "All schools, colleges and universities, public and private, shall undertake regular sports activities THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY in cooperation with ATHLETIC CLUBS AND other sectors."

MR. GASCON: Would the Commissioner be amenable to the deletion of the words, "colleges and universities, public and private," and instead we just say "ALL SCHOOLS" which means colleges, universities and high schools?

MR. FOZ: What about "ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS"?

MR. GASCON: Yes.

MR. GUINGONA: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Guingona is recognized.

MR. GUINGONA: Would the Commissioner accept an amendment to delete the words "in organized leagues" because it is understood when we undertake competitions these are organized?

MR. FOZ: That is not a part of our present amendment.

MR. GUINGONA: Has that phrase "in organized leagues" been removed?

MR. FOZ: It is already a part of the first sentence of the first amended paragraph.

MR. GUINGONA: So the Commissioner's proposed amendment will now read: ". . . shall undertake regular sports activities and athletic competitions THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. . ." if he accepts the de los Reyes amendment?

MR. FOZ: Yes, it only says: "ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS shall undertake regular sports activities THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY in cooperation with ATHLETIC CLUBS and other sectors." It is as simple as that.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, there are no registered speakers on this accepted amendment by the committee, so I ask that we take a vote.

MR. GUINGONA: Madam President, for the record, may we just request Commissioner Foz to elaborate on the phrase "ATHLETIC CLUBS and other sectors"?

MR. FOZ: To my mind the groups involved in the phrase "other sectors" would refer to some other private or public organizations, like for instance, the rotary clubs, the Jaycees, even the local government units which may be minded to support sports competitions in their own localities.

MR. GUINGONA: May we ask the Commissioner to read again the proposed amendment?

MR. FOZ: It reads: "ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS shall undertake regular sports activities THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY in cooperation with ATHLETIC CLUBS and other sectors."

MR. GUINGONA: Chairman Villacorta says that we accept the amendment. Hence, the committee accepts Commissioner Foz's proposed amendment.

VOTING

THE PRESIDENT: As many as are in favor of this amendment which has been accepted by the committee, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)

The results show 28 votes in favor, none against and 1 abstention; the amendment is approved.

MR. FOZ: Madam President, in connection with these two amendments, I would like to state that these two provisions have been cosponsored by Commissioners Suarez, Nieva, Monsod, de Castro and Padilla.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, just for the record, we would like to mention also that the amendments that were approved were based on the committee proposal.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, I move that we proceed to consider the amendments to the provisions on Language. The first registered speaker is Commissioner Tadeo.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Tadeo is recognized.

MR. TADEO: Ginang Pangulo, mga Kagalang-galang kong Kasama sa Constitutional Commission, sinikap kong ilagay ang aking sarili bilang pinakahuling tagapagsalita tungkol sa language dahil ako ang nagsasalita ng Pilipino sa kapulungang ito at malalagay ako sa alanganin sapagkat isa pa akong taga-Bulacan. Iginigiit ko ang wikang ito sapagkat ako ay Bulakeño at gusto kong mangusap dito bilang isang Pilipino, bilang anak ng aking bayan. bilang anak ng daigdig.

Uumpisahan ko ito sa sinabi ni Jose Rizal: "Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda." Bago namatay si Jose Rizal noong December 30, 1896, 90 taon na mula ngayon, ipinahayag niya ito sa El Filibusterismo. He foresaw the tragic effects of a colonial education. Hence, in his role as Simon he said: 

You ask for equal rights, the Hispanization of your customs, and you don't see that what you are begging for is suicide, the destruction of your nationality, the annihilation of your fatherland, the consecration of tyranny! What will you be in the future? A people without character, a nation without liberty — everything you have will be borrowed, even your defects! What are you going to do with Castilian, the few of you who will speak it? Kill off your own originality, subordinate your thoughts to other brains, and instead of freeing yourselves, make yourselves slaves indeed! Nine-tenths of those of you who pretend to be enlightened are renegades to your country! He among you who talks that language neglects his own.

What Rizal said about Spanish has been proven to be equally true for English.

Ang aking pangalawang katuwiran sa pagsuporta sa wikang Pilipino ay batay naman sa ginawang pagsasaliksik at pag-aaral ng Muslim scholar, si Najib Saleeby. In 1924, the eminent scholar, Najib Saleeby, wrote something on the language of education in the Philippines. He deplored the attempt to impose English as the medium of instruction. Saleeby, who was an expert on the Malayo-Polynesian language, pointed out that Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano and other Philippine dialects belong to the same linguistic tree. He said:

The relation the Tagalog holds to the Bisaya or to the Sulu is very much like or closer than that of the Spanish to the Italian. An educated Tagalog from Batangas and an educated Visayan from Cebu can learn to understand each other in a short space of time and without much effort. A Cebuano student living in Manila can acquire practical use and good understanding of Tagalog in less than three months. The relation between Tagalog and Malay is very much the same as that of Spanish and French.

This was said 42 years ago when Tagalog movies, periodicals and radio programs had not yet attained the popularity that they enjoy today all over the country.

Ang pangatlo kong batayan ay ang isinulat ni Renato Constantino na pinamagatang "The Miseducation of the Filipino People, " which says:

The first and perhaps the master stroke in the plan to use education as an instrument of colonial policy was the decision to use English as the medium of instruction. English became the wedge that separated the Filipinos from their past, and later was to separate educated Filipinos from the masses of their countrymen. English introduced the Filipinos to a strange new world. With American textbooks, Filipinos started learning not only a new language, but also a new way of life — alien to the tradition and yet a caricature of their model. This was the beginning of their education, at the same time, it was the beginning of their miseducation for they learned no longer as Filipinos, but as colonials.

English has created a barrier between the monopolies of power and the people. English has become a status symbol, while the native tongues are looked down upon. English has given rise to a divisive society of fairly educated men and the masses who are easily swayed by them.

Learning — Impediments to Thought. A foreign language is an impediment to instruction. Instead of learning directly through the native tongue, a child has first to master a foreign tongue — memorize its vocabulary, get accustomed to its sound, intonations, accent — just to discard the language later when he is out of school. This does not mean that foreign languages should not be taught. Foreign languages should be taught and can be taught more easily after one has mastered his own tongue. Language is a tool of the thinking process. Through language, thought develops and the development of thought leads to the further development of language. But when a language becomes a barrier to thought, the thinking process is impeded or retarded, and we have the resultant cultural stagnation. Creative thinking, analytical thinking, abstract thinking are not fostered because the foreign language makes a student prone to memorization.

Gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo ang karanasan naman ng paaralan na sinabi kahapon ni Commissioner Davide na ang nagpasimula lamang nito ay U.P. Tanggapin natin ang katotohanang ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay isa nang institusyon sa pagtuturo. At ako bilang agriculturist o magsasaka ay hindi makapagkakailang sinasabi ng mga taga-ibang bansa na kaya sila maunlad ay sapagkat nagtapos sila sa University of the Philippines sa Los Baños. Kaya hindi natin pwedeng iwasan ang pagiging isang institusyon ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

I just want to read a letter we have received, entitled: "Barrier to Effective Teaching of Science and Math Identified.

The effective teaching of Science and Mathematics in the country hinges on the recognition of at least three major factors according to a researcher from the Institute of Science and Mathematics Education Development. These factors, said Dr. Jasmin Acuña, are the bilingual educational policy, the learning capabilities of Filipino children and the importance of nonlinguistic communication.

Dr. Acuña implied these factors are identified basically with communication processes. The bilingual education policy, for example, has to be clarified from the standpoint of science education. Dr. Acuña said that the use of English for science instruction may preclude the development of thinking processes that could be most useful for our population. An earlier survey done by Dr. Acuña showed that not only students, but teachers as well, find teaching physical sciences in English difficult. As a result, the barrier to effective communication is doubled.

Ang pinakamalaking balakid ng mga kabataang Pilipino sa pagkatuto ng mga araling agham ay dahil sa kailangang pag-aralan niya ito sa wikang dayuhan. Walang malayang bansa ang gumagawa nito. Sa pag-aaral ng agham, kailangang sanay muna sa wikang dayuhan ang isang mag-aaral. Ngunit dahil sa mga likas na dahilang marami sa kanila ang hindi natuto ng English, ang tunay na nangyayari ay pinag-aaralan nila ang agham samantalang nagsasanay pa lamang sila sa English. Nakapagtataka ba kung paunti nang paunti ang nagkakahilig magpakadalubhasa at magturo ng mga araling agham? Idagdag pa natin ang pangkalahatang napakababang pag patingin sa mga guro natin. Nakapagtataka ba na pasama nang pasama ang kalagayan ng agham at teknolohiya sa ating bansa? Isinulat ni President Eduardo Angara: ". . . para ang kulturang agham ay malayo sa pag-uugat sa kaluluwa ng ating bansa." Kung pag-aaralan ang ating pambansang kilos mapapansin na bilanggo pa rin tayo ng mga karaniwang pamahiin at mga maling haka-haka. Sa aking palagay, magkakaroon ng kalutasan ang maraming suliranin natin kung gagamitin ang Pilipino sa pagtuturo, lalung-lalo na sa pagtuturo ng agham sapagkat ang pagkatuto ng mga araling agham ang pinakamahalagang bahagi ng mga araling dapat matutuhan ng lahat ng kabataan.

Narito naman ang aking kongkretong karanasan bilang isang pambansang lider ng mga magbubukid. Ang nalalaman kong wika ay Pilipino na sinuso ko sa aking ina. Nagpunta ako ng Luzon, Bisaya at Mindanao. Nakarating ako sa Kinuskusan, Davao del Sur, sa Talomo at sa Kidapawan. Nakarating din ako sa Surigao, Agusan, Iloilo, Cebu, Samar, Daet, Sorsogon, Kalinga-Apayao, Isabela at sa Cagayan. Ang aking ginagamit na wika ay Pilipino. Gayon din naman sa lahat ng pagpunta ko rito, hindi lamang ako minsang pinalakpakan, bagkus maraming beses. Masasabi nating hindi sila puwedeng pumalakpak nang hindi nila nauunawaan ang aking sinasabi. Sa lahat ng kumbensiyon ng regional chapter ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Pilipino ang aking ginagamit at nauunawaan nila ako. Nagkaroon kami ng kumbensiyon noong July 24, 25, 26 and 27, kung saan mula sa kinatawan ng Luzon, Bisaya at Mindanao ay ginamit namin ang wikang Pilipino at nagkaunawaan kami. Sa lahat ng regional council na pagpupulong namin, ang ginagamit namin ay ang wikang Pilipino. Kapag nagtagpo ang mga Ilokano, Bicolano at Cebuano sa pagpupulong na ito ang ginagamit na wika ay ang Pilipino.

Naiintindihan ko ang sinabi ni Commissioner Davide na sa kaniyang pakikipag-usap ang ginagamit niyang salita ay wikang English. Tinatanggap ko iyan. Sa sampu, maaaring nangyayari ang isa o 10 porsiyento, pero sinasabi ngang "The truth is the whole." Ang kabuuan ay ang katotohanan. Tanggapin nating ang wika ng masa, mga magsasaka, manggagawa, urban poor at mga kabataan ay ang wikang Pilipino. Ang Pilipino ay hindi lamang wika ng masa. Ito ay wika rin ng middle class at ng upper class. Diyan makikita nating ito ang ginagamit na salita. Hindi na dapat pagtalunan pa ang sinasabi nating pambansang lingua franca. Tanggapin natin ang sinabi ni Jose Rizal 90 taon na ang nakaraan at ito ang isinasaad: "Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda." Simula noon sa 90 years na iyan, ang wikang Pilipino ay umunlad na. Umunlad na ito sapagkat naimpluwensiyahan nito ang kanyang kapaligiran. Nagkaroon na ito ng "contact" sa iba't ibang wika. Sinasabing ang wikang Pilipino ay maka-masa, maka-bansa, siyentipiko, hindi elitista at mapagbuklod. Kaya para sa akin, itong nakasaad dito sa committee amendment ay totoong napakahalaga. Kung ako lamang ang tatanungin ninyo, itinatanong ko sa saking sarili: Kung ang bumubuo kaya ng kapulungang ito ay pawang mga magsasaka, mga manggagawa, mga urban poor at mga kabataan at kung ang pag-uusapan ay wikang pambansang nakalagay dito sa kanilang proposed amendment, pagbubutihin kaya nila? Hindi ito magiging madugong usapin at siguradong ang pangunahing wikang pambansa ay Pilipino sapagkat ito ang wika ng masa. Pero ang nakikita ko lamang na suliranin kapag ito ay pinag-uusapan na at nakararami ang naghaharing uri, nagdadaan sa butas ng karayom ang wikang Pilipino. Ngunit gusto ko lamang banggitin sa inyo kung ano ang pamamaraan ni Kristo sa wika. Ito ang Kanyang pamamaraan:

Jesus Christ took pains first to learn how to speak Aramaic, the lowly dialect of the poor and the backward people whom he came to live with and to teach. He adopted their idioms and their accent.

Ang ating pinakamahalagang pinag-uusapan ngayon sa seksiyon sa Language ay ito: Kailangang magkaroon na tayo ng pangunahing wika at pangalawa lamang ang wikang English kaya tama ang nakalagay dito sa kanilang panukalang provision on Language. Sinasabi nating ang wika ang kaluluwa ng bansa. Kung ang wika ang kaluluwa ng isang bansa at English ang ating gagamitin, ano ang kaluluwa ng bansang Pilipinas?

Mga kasama, siyamnapung taon na ang nakaraan, para umunlad ang wikang Pilipino kailangang gamitin natin itong medium of communication sa three branches of government: sa judiciary, sa legislative at sa executive. Gamitin natin itong medium of instruction. The Pilipino language is in the people and in their experiences. Kaya ako ay naninikluhod sa inyo. Ang wikang ito ay hindi ko bibitiwan, pero dahil ang pinag-uusapan ngayon ay ang wikang Pilipino, bibitiwan ko na. Ano ang sinasabi ng masa? "Kaming masa, kailan man ay hindi ninyo pakikinggan pero kapag may hawak na kaming baril ay saka pa lang ninyo kami pakikinggan."

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Natividad is recognized.

MR. NATIVIDAD: Madam President, can I add just a few peaceful words to the words of my provincemate? I will not exacerbate the situation.

Naaalala ko na maski na sa Banal na Kasulatan ay mayroong nakatitik diyan na noong panahon ang mga tao ay nakalimutan na ang Panginoong Diyos at itinayo nila ang Tore ng Babel. Nagkasundo ang mga taong iyon na kalimutan na ang Diyos sapagkat sila ay nagkakaisaisa na at iisa ang wika nilang ginagamit. Kaya nang mapansin ng Panginoong Diyos na gusto na Siyang lagpasan pa noong mga gumagawa ng toreng napakataas, ang ginawa ng Panginoon ay binigyan sila ng iba't ibang wika upang matapos ang kanilang paglaban sa Panginoong Diyos. Nang hindi na sila magkaunawaan sapagkat iba't iba na ang kanilang wika, hindi na natuloy ang kanilang paglaban sa Panginoong Diyos.

Kaya raw hindi tayo umuunlad ay sapagkat ang mga Pilipino ay may iba't ibang wika sa pananalangin sa Panginoong Diyos. May nananalangin sa English at sa iba pang wika. Kaya kung dumarating sa Panginoon ang panalangin natin, ang akala ng Panginoong Diyos ay mga Amerikano ang nananalangin. Kaya kapag naghuhulog ng biyaya ang Panginoong Diyos, tumutuloy sa Amerika ang biyaya. Ang yumayaman tuloy ay ang Amerika; ang naghihirap ay ang Pilipino. (Laughter) Kaya kung ako ay magdasal dito sa kapulungang ito ay sa Pilipino upang makarating sa Panginoong Diyos at nang malaman Niya na ang mga Pilipino ang nananalangin at humihingi ng awa at biyaya para kung magbigay Siya ng biyaya, tiyak na sa Pilipinas ang lagpak. Kaya kung puro English ang ating panalangin, sa Amerika ito mapupunta, Madam President. Kaya ako ay nagpapasalamat. Ito ang itinuturing kong pinakamalaking nagawa ng ating Con-Com — na ipahayag sa buong sambayanang Pilipino na mayroon tayong wikang pambansa. Ang wikang iyan ay Pilipino. Naging "F" ang titik "P" sa salitang Pilipino. Itinuturing kong pinakamalaking tagumpay natin ito, Madam President, na kahit tayo ay hindi halal ng bayan, itong ating Komisyong Pansaligang-Batas ang siyang nagpahayag na sa unang pagkakataon ay tiniyak natin na mayroon tayong wikang pambansa.

Naalaala ko, Ginang Pangulo, noong kami ay nasa Kongreso, kami ay halal ng bayan. Nanonood ang mga Amerikano sa galeriya noong kami ay mga Congressmen. Natatandaan ko na tuwing ako ay tatayo at gusto kong ipahayag ang aking damdamin, adhikain at mga pithaya ng mga kapwa ko Pilipino ito ay sinasabi ko sa wikang Pilipino. Hindi tayo ang mga kinatawan ng mga Amerikano. Tuwing magsasalita ako noon gusto kong ginagamit ang wikang sinuso ko sa dibdib ng aking magulang. Sasabihin ng mga kapatid kong mga Kinatawan noon: "We will walk out if you will not stop speaking in the national language or wikang Pilipino." Indeed they walked out. That is how we were divided at that time. Nanonood po noon ang mga Amerikano. Nakikita nila na umaalis ang ibang Kinatawan kapag ang mga halal ng taong bayan na katulad ko ay nagsasalita sa sariling wika.

Kung tayo naman ay nasa international conference, ang lahat ng Kinatawan ng bansang Pilipinas ay pawang English ang ginagamit. Ang akala tuloy ng iba ay nasa ilalim pa tayo ng Amerikano. Minsan, nagsalita si Minister Ople sa ILO sa wikang Pilipino. Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. Tuwang-tuwa siya noong siya ay bumaba. Sinabi niya, "Sa wakas, nakikilala na ang bansang Pilipinas na may sariling wikang Pilipino." Ngunit noong kamayan siya, ay may nagsabi sa kanya: "We congratulate you for speaking good Spanish." (Laughter) Hindi pala tama ang "impression" ni Commissioner Ople.

Kaya ito pong ating ginagawang panukala ay huwag na nating masyadong tutulan. Pagtibayin na natin kaagad ang panukalang ito at nang magkaroon tayo ng sariling wika sapagkat maraming Pilipino ang nagtuturing na ang wika natin ay may taglay na tamis ng pulot-pukyutan. Kung ang wikang ito ay ginagamit sa pagsungkit ng puso ng isang dilag, ang wikang Pilipino ay may bulong ng pusong lihim na umiibig. Ngunit kung ang wikang Pilipino naman ay ginagamit sa pagtatanggol ng ating karapatan, pagtataguyod ng ating kapakanan, ang wikang Pilipino ay may taglay na talim at kislap ng mga sundang ng ating mga magulang sa paghanap ng katarungan at magandang pag-asa para sa ating bayan.

Salamat po. (Applause)

MR. VILLACORTA.: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Villacorta is recognized.

MR. VILLACORTA: Maaari po bang tumugon ang komite? Kami ay sumusuporta sa mga sinabi ng aming kasamang sina Commissioners Tadeo at Natividad. Tunay nga na tayo lamang ang bansa sa mundo na parang ikinahihiya ang wikang pambansa. Tayo ay nagdarasal, nag-iisip, nagsusulat, nag-aaral sa isang wikang banyaga. Kasama rito sa aking tugon ang aking paghingi ng paumanhin sa buong Constitutional Commission sa pag-init ng aking ulo kagabi. Ipinahayag ko po ang dahilan sa aking mga Kasama sa Constitutional Commission. Noong tayo ay nagtatalo rito at hindi nag kakasundo dahil sa pagtalakay ng usapin tungkol sa wikang pambansa, ang ating magiting na "Big Brother" na laging sumusubaybay sa atin sa gallery ay napapangiti at napapatawa na parang nililibak ang hindi pagkakaisa ng bansang Pilipinas at iyan ay isang simbulo lamang ng ating kahinaan bilang isang bansa. Tayo ay nagkakaroon ng hidwaan ng pagkakawatak-watak at ang isang dahilan nito ay sapagkat tayo ay hindi pinagbubuklod ng isang wikang pambansa.

Kagabi po, Madam President, ay mayroong mga katanungan ang ating mga Kasama sa Komisyon at ako ay inatasan ng Komite sa Edukasyon na sagutin ang ilang mga katanungan na kailangang linawin upang magkaroon tayo ng maayos at matalinong botohan tungkol sa usapin sa wikang pambansa.

First of all, the committee reiterates its stand that there is a living lingua franca which we can call Filipino. According to linguists, I think we should listen to them because not one of us here is a language expert. Filipino is not based on Tagalog or Pilipino alone, but it has incorporated the contributions of other Philippine languages and dialects, as well as Spanish and English. At dahil po rito, ibig kong ipaalam kay Commissioners Tadeo at Natividad na ang kampeon ng Pilipino, with letter "P" na si Direktor Ponciano Pineda, on behalf of the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa, ay nakiisa na rin sa mga advocates ng Filipino with an "F." At ito ay ipinahayag niya sa kanyang sulat dated August 29, 1986 na ngayon ay ipinamahagi sa Constitutional Commission. Ang sabi ni Direktor Pineda ay nakikiisa ang Surian ng Wikang Pambansa at ang mga ibang tagapagtanggol ng Pilipino upang magkaisa ang kilusan para sa pagpapaunlad ng wikang pambansa. Ito ay nangyari noong "National Language Week" na ginanap noong nakaraang buwan sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Madam President, the committee contends that Filipino is a lingua franca that has evolved through the decades — spoken, especially by non-Tagalogs when they speak with their countrymen who are from other regions or language groups.

English remains the favorite language of the elite, whether Tagalog or non-Tagalog for obvious reasons. But we are referring to the masses of our people — the ones we came in contact with in our public hearings. They are the ones who say, "Sain kayo maglakad tapos dini? " instead of the purist saying "Saan kayo magtutungo pagkatapos dito?" But we understand what they mean when they say, "mas guapo giud ang bana ko sa bana mo" or "guapa kuno ang kanyang amiga" o "yawa kawatan pala ang soltero" or "huwag ka man magtapo sa road" or "mayroon pa ngani." These speakers of the lingua franca throughout the country make themselves clearly understood because consciously or unconsciously, they use words that most Filipinos can comprehend.

According to the linguist we have consulted, all Philippine languages, without exception, have the same etymological roots, grammar and syntactical structures. It is much easier for any Filipino to learn another Philippine language than to learn English or other foreign languages.

The committee would also like to point out that the resource persons we consulted were not Tagalogs only but mostly non-Tagalogs; namely, Dr. Ernesto Constantino and Dr. Consuelo Paz who are Ilocanos; English Professor Teresita Maceda who is a Cebuana; Dr. Bonifacio Sibayan, an Ilocano; Dr. Andrew Gonzales, a Pampangueño, Professor Jesus Ramos, a Bicolano and Professor Anicia del Corro, a Pampangueña.

As we said, the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa sent us a letter supporting the committee proposal. As we can see from the copy that we have, it was signed by the leadership and staff of the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa who represent all major Philippine language groups.

Madam President, I would also like to mention that our committee is composed of an Ilocano, Commissioner Bennagen; three Ilonggos, Commissioners Treñas, Gascon and Guingona; one Kapampangan, Commissioner Tan: one Maguindanao, Commissioner Uka; a Cebuana-Tagala, Commissioner Quesada: a Pangasinense, Commissioner Rosario Braid: and two Tagalogs, Commissioner Rigos and this Representation.

What we are stressing here is that consultations with non-Tagalogs have not been wanting in the process of consolidating the committee's proposal on language. We exhort our fellow Commissioners not to go by the premises of prewar times.

We would like to point out that there has been dynamism in language development in our country and several significant changes have taken place. These significant dynamic changes are the ones that we should take into account in our deliberations.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

MR. BENNAGEN: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.

MR. BENNAGEN: Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to support the other Commissioners who have spoken in favor of making Filipino a national language and a medium of instruction. I shall draw my arguments from the provisions that have already been approved in the Constitution and I shall mention only a few but essential provisions. We are saying that the State shall foster nationalism and, therefore, we need to have a national language in the same manner that we need a national flag and some other things that we associate ourselves with in the pursuit of national identity and national unity. We are also saying that the State shall foster creative and critical thinking; broaden scientific and technological knowledge; and develop a self-reliant and independent economy to industrialization and agricultural development. We have also said earlier that we shall have a consultative government and that people's organization shall be protected in terms of their right to participate more fully in the democratic processes. In all of these, we need to have a unifying tool for communication which is, of course, Filipino. defined by a group of language scholars and organizations as an expanding version of Pilipino. There is an increasing body of literature which argues very well for the use of Filipino and there are studies made by the Institute of Science and Mathematics Education Development, formerly the Science Education Center of the University of the Philippines. I will mention three studies which were done after the adoption of bilingual policy in education in 1974.

One was a study of about 40,000 secondary pupils in three regions using 800 words which are nontechnical but are used in science lessons. In that study, it was found out that of 90 percent of these words used as the level of mastery, only 1 percent has been mastered. So, we cannot expect to have scientific thinking and scientific mastery using a foreign language. Proceeding from some technological inadequacies, a study was again conducted in 1983. This was a study involving 40 students and subjects like English, science, mathematics, social studies and Pilipino. Except for Pilipino, all the mastery levels were below 50 percent. English has the mastery level of 43.8 percent; science has 36.4 percent, mathematics has 43.4 percent and social studies has 40.5 percent; Pilipino has a mastery level of 53 percent. In 1985, another study was made. The conclusion was that there seems to be an agreement that the child learns faster in a language familiar to him and that the foreign language limits and even deters the learning process. In terms of the technical problems of developing further Pilipino, I think we must learn the lessons from Malaysia and Indonesia. Within the span of 25 years, they were able to move from the adoption of Bahasa Malaysia as an official and national language for its actual use in government, commerce and industry and as a medium of instruction up to the tertiary level. I think if Malaysia and Indonesia had the political will to do it, I do not see any reason why we cannot. It is high time that we should do it.

Thank you, Madam President.

MR. OPLE: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: May I just say my last few words on this subject before the committee takes action on the proposed amendments. I want to thank Commissioner Natividad for making reference to an event that happened some years ago which I have already forgotten but the records of the Philippine government will show that as a delegate to the conference of the International Labor Organization and later on president of that distinguished body, I was the first national official of this country to speak entirely in Pilipino in that international conference, and indeed the ILO conference is probably the biggest of this type because the delegations were tripartite. Governments' employers and workers of all countries sent their delegations there.

Also, I want to confirm what Commissioner Natividad said. After delivering my speech entirely in Pilipino, a certain delegate from the United States walked down to my place in the conference to congratulate me on my brilliant speech "in Spanish." Of course, I had to explain to him that the speech was not in Spanish, but it was in Pilipino. Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Father Chirino, isang pari na tumira at nagsulat dito sa atin may 400 taon na ang nakaraan, na ang wikang Pilipino ay higit na malambing kaysasa Pranses, higit na matipuno kaysasa Ingles at Aleman at higit na malinaw kaysasa Latin at mabunyi na katulad ng Griyego. Samakatuwid, iyan ang dahilan kaya ang wikang Pilipino ang aking ginamit.

Madam President, as earlier pursued in the interpellations of Commissioners Tadeo, Natividad and Bennagen, at this point I would like to develop very briefly what I consider to be the major nexus between language and democracy, and language and economic development.

For the benefit of the Commission, may I recall a very strange convergence of events over 15 years that I had served in the Cabinet. Three Japanese ambassadors made their call on me during that time. Ambassador Urabe was the first when he was saying farewell. Over a space of 15 years, I once asked the departing Japanese ambassadors; "What do you think of us, of our future? Can we ever be a new Japan?" And as though on a signal from some invisible foe, the three Japanese ambassadors, over that period of time, did not differ in their evaluations of us. They said:

You have the talent; you have the literacy rate; you have the potentially first-rate human resources; you have the bounty of God, both above the ground and below the ground, in natural resources. You are more fortunate than we are in that sense.

But each one of them said:

Until you develop a language of your own, you will never achieve that depth of national cohesion necessary for you to achieve real industrialization and sustained economic growth.

I could never forget that.

My friends, there is indeed that nexus between economic development and social justice. Commissioner Tadeo is right. So long as we have not developed this national language to which we now give the code name "Filipino," this, being a more liberalized and open-ended language than what it replaces, "Pilipino" with a capital "P," then the structure of society and politics will remain so skewed that the rest of the country would have to depend on a narrow-broker class of English-speaking people who would have to stand between the masses of the people and their government to interpret to the people what the government is doing and to raise to the attention of government what the people are doing. The possibilities of direct dialogues of the type that we hope to institute through the various provisions of this Constitution will not be achieved until such a common bond emerges.

Therefore, the interest of economic growth and the interest of equity and justice among our people require that we take action on this committee report. The approval of a national language will be remembered down the corridors of history in the coming centuries as one of the real and enduring achievements of this Commission.

Thank you, Madam President.

MS. ROSARIO BRAID: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Rosario Braid is recognized.

MS. ROSARIO BRAID: May I speak on why the committee feels that we should mandate in the Constitution a national language and why should there be a need to have a medium of communication for economics, for public and business administration. Of course, the more important objective is two-fourths national integration. As we know, about 10 to 20 percent of the elite speak in a different language and this has further widened the disparity between the culture of the elite and that of the majority. Since economics and business transactions are in English, this has polarized even economic policies.

I remember we had this problem when we discussed the Article on National Economy and Patrimony because the issues were not translated into the national language which majority of the people can understand.

To reinforce Commissioner Ople's statement, the children in Japan learn science and technology in their own national language at an early age. This is true in the USSR and in Australia. They are, of course, advanced in terms of productivity.

Let me quote in final what Gunnar Myrdal says in terms of his support on why we should have a language of communication in public administration. He says:

No real emotional integration of the new nations and, therefore, no secured national consolidation is possible as long as the members of the tiny upper class in charge of administration, law enforcement and modernized business and industry communicate in European tongue and the masses speak only in their native tongue.

An elected assembly must be narrowly selective on a class basis, rather truly representative, as long as a law or custom decrees that the language of debate be foreign. The people cannot be brought to accept responsibility to their own local and provincial affairs and community cooperation. That democratic planning is so essential for development unless they can deal with an administration that does its speaking and planning in their own language.

So, it is important that we begin to move towards having our own national language in public, business and economic transactions if we have to forge a nation. It is about time that we mandate this now in our Constitution.

Thank you, Madam President.

MR. ROMULO: Madam President, may I ask that Commissioner Bacani be recognized?

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bacani is recognized.

BISHOP BACANI: Thank you.

First of all, I agree with the Commissioner that we need a national language, but I would like to ask the committee two questions. First, regarding the language used by Commissioner Tadeo, would that be Filipino?

MR. VILLACORTA: That would be more Pilipino with a "P" because he, being from Bulacan, speaks beautiful and literary Tagalog.

BISHOP BACANI: Second, the Commissioner has mentioned some phrases which were obviously not Tagalog. Is that meant to be an example of Filipino?

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes.

BISHOP BACANI: The Commissioner has mentioned some words like "dini" or "bana."

MR. VILLACORTA: I also mentioned "Sain ka maglakad pagkatapos dini?" That was actually said in the public hearing in Sorsogon. Someone asked the three of us, Commissioners Tingson, Tadeo and myself, who were present in that public hearing where we were going after our stay in Sorsogon. It was stated in such a manner. Commissioners Gascon, Sarmiento and I went to Masbate and we learned that Masbateño is actually a mixture of different dialects, like Bicol, Samar, Visayan, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Tagalog and some other languages. I remember I attended a mass there and the parish priest gave his sermon in Masbateño. I understood most of it because there were many words, not just Tagalog but other words, that could be popularly understood in most parts of Luzon and Visayas. I was then thinking probably this is the future Filipino, the integration, natural, not contrived, evolution of the national language that will incorporate the different words of our languages.

BISHOP BACANI: I notice that when the Commissioner was speaking, I could understand the words but I could not easily get the sense. That is the reason I ask these two main questions: Is the language of Commissioner Tadeo Filipino? Were those phrases mentioned by Commissioner Villacorta mean to be Filipino? Let us have a national language which is Filipino. Thus, it will be either of these two. In other words, is Filipino not yet an existent national language? Is it a language that is still to be formed?

MR. VILLACORTA: It is an existent national language and the nucleus is Pilipino with a "P." The contemplation of the committee is that the nucleus is still Pilipino because it is already a widespread existing language — Pilipino with a "P." We also said that there is an existent broadened, expanded language called Filipino and its formalization has to be done in the educational system and others but it does not mean that since it is not yet formalized, it is nonexistent. It is a lingua franca.

BISHOP BACANI: So when we say the national language of the Philippines is Pilipino, are we not saying that the national language of the Philippines is the language spoken by Commissioner Tadeo?

MR. VILLACORTA: It is part of that national language. Commissioner Bennagen, who is an anthropologist, will be able to expound on this issue.

MR. BENNAGEN: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.

MR. BENNAGEN: There seems to be an assumption that a language comes fully blown at a particular point in time. That is not the case. I think even we, who speak our own native language,. cannot pinpoint a specific period in history when it emerged full-blown. So we should look at language as a growing organism and that it grows in at least two identifiable ways: First, it is unplanned — that which is used in everyday life by people of all sorts with different first languages who come into contact with each other. Second, through a planned manner which we hope should be mandated by this Constitution. For instance, in 1957, the people of Malaysia decided to have Bahasa Malaysia as their national language. They undertook a great deal of studies. But it was only sometime in 1972 or around 1973 when they had to systematize the spelling. In 1973, it finally became the medium of instruction up to the tertiary level although it was already being used in government, in commerce and in industry. So we should look at Filipino as a growing language which partakes of the various languages, some of which are already being manifested in the discussions on the floor. For instance, if I go to Mindanao, as in fact I did in early April, a language that you would call Filipino would rely on Tagalog and partly on Cebuano and English. A language that one would speak in the North would partake of other languages and these have to be codified in a planned manner to accelerate and facilitate the growth of this emerging language. That is why we say that in the proposal it should be further developed on the basis of Philippine and other languages and that step shall be taken by the government, et cetera, to accelerate this law.

BISHOP BACANI: Thank you very much for the clarifications.

MR. COLAYCO: Madam President, may I ask the committee a question?

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Colayco is recognized.

MR. COLAYCO: Thank you very much, Madam President.

I understand that the committee distinguishes the words Pilipino with a "P" and Filipino with an "F." Is that correct?

MR. VILLACORTA : Yes, Madam President.

MR. COLAYCO: I am confused on the meaning of the two. What is "Pilipino" and what is "Filipino"?

MR. VILLACORTA: "Filipino" with an "F" is an expansion of Pilipino. It is the name for the lingua franca that has naturally evolved throughout the country. It is not purely based on Tagalog. It has incorporated words from other Philippine languages and dialects as well as from English and Spanish.

MR. BENNAGEN: Madam President.

MR. COLAYCO: May I finish, please?

The Commissioner's own recommendation is that the language should evolve not only from Tagalog but also from all the rest of our spoken dialects.

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes, Madam President.

MR. COLAYCO: Does not the Commissioner think that it would be more historically correct to use "Filipino" because it comes from "Filipinas" which comes from "Felipe"?

MR. VILLACORTA: Exactly, we are for F.

MR. COLAYCO: Precisely. So, I could not use the term "Pilipino" and just refer to our national language as "Filipino," whether it is broken Tagalog or otherwise.

MR. BENNAGEN: "Filipino," yes.

MR. VILLACORTA: That is our proposal, Madam President.

MR. COLAYCO: My proposal is to use the term "Filipino" only because that is the correct term historically.

MR. BENNAGEN: We are using "Filipino."

MR. VILLACORTA: With an "F," Madam President.

MR. COLAYCO: So, we are going to discard "Pilipino."

MR. BENNAGEN: Yes.

MR. VILLACORTA: We are discarding "Pilipino."

MR. COLAYCO: For me it sounds "pilipit."

MR. VILLACORTA: I beg the Commissioner's pardon.

MR. COLAYCO: It sounds "pilipit," if we use "Pilipino." So, we are now retaining "Filipino" officially.

MR. BENNAGEN: Yes.

MR. VILLACORTA: That is right, Madam President.

MR. COLAYCO: Thank you.

MR. BENNAGEN: Madam President, just a little footnote to the comment of Commissioner Colayco.

There is one other reason why the shift was made from "P" to "F" because "Pilipino," as officially evolved, was used to refer to an improvement of Tagalog; it is really Tagalog-based. Then, eventually, it said that Tagalog, of course, has no letter F, and to reflect this expansion, this liberal move towards the adoption of other languages into an emerging national lingua franca, maybe it should be "F" instead of "P." That is really the immediate reason for this.

Incidentally, I would like to quote from the position paper sent to us by the executive council of the Language Educational Council of the Philippines, which is made up of 12 organizations of language scholars: 

We accept that the national language be called "Filipino" with an "F" instead of "Pilipino" with a "P" with the meaning that Filipino is the expanding and spreading Pilipino because that is what is really happening now in the elaboration and intellectualization of our national language especially from the other debates that have to do with intellectualization and elaboration.

I think that is a very strong support for the adoption of "Filipino" not only as an official and national language but as a medium of instruction. These are scholars that are indeed active in the advancement of Filipino as a national language.

Thank you, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Chairman.

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yesterday there was a new formulation of the first sentence, I believe, of Section 1. Is that still the statement that will be submitted to a vote? Is it the one that was read yesterday by Commissioner Davide?

MR. VILLACORTA: Commissioner Rigos will reply to that, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Rigos is recognized.

REV. RIGOS: Madam President, last night, it was agreed that we would sleep over this. After the session, the committee had a brief meeting and in that meeting we felt that since there was really no substantial difference between the proposal of Commissioner Davide and the formulation of the committee, we would rather stick to the committee recommendation, copies of which have been distributed earlier. So the committee is quite divided on the Davide proposal and, therefore, the consensus was that we would stick to the committee recommendation.

THE PRESIDENT: Is Commissioner Rigos referring to the committee report on this colored paper?

REV. RIGOS: Yes, Madam President.

MR. ROMULO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: I ask that Commissioner Aquino be recognized.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Aquino is recognized.

MS. AQUINO: Madam President, I fully support the committee recommendation on the adoption of Filipino as the national language. However, I requested for this chance because I differ with the perception of Commissioner Tadeo when he presented an analysis on the underdevelopment of Filipino as a national language. He said that the reason for the underdevelopment of Filipino as a national language is the indecision of government to adopt a policy to use Filipino as the medium of instruction. I would submit that it is not so much that as it is actually the undercurrent of the historical baggage which was decisively and unjustly imposed upon us by the Spanish colonial masters. It was, after all, the Spaniards who in their policy of "divide and rule" thought that the Filipinos are not worthy of learning Spanish. In fact, the linguistic policy of the Spaniards is still very much felt today. We have the rare spectacle of the same people, the Tagalogs and the Pampangos, living within the Tambongbong area near Baliwag, Bulacan, and divided only by a bamboo fence, speaking different and distinct dialects. This is the kind of policy that was aggressively pursued by the Spaniards. In fact, it was described by scholars as linguistic anarchy which presented a problem for the spread of Catholicism. The Spaniards were confronted with a dilemma because the teaching of Catholicism required a certain measure of intellectuality and understanding of fundamental precepts which would require, likewise, a certain measure of literacy. So the Spaniards had to decide. Do we teach the Filipinos Spanish or do we allow them to use their own dialect? They decided on the latter option.

It was because here in the Philippines they were not confronted by the elaborate, sophisticated and dazzling cultures of the Aztecs and the Incas the way they were confronted in Latin America. Instead, what they saw here was the vestigial influences of the Shrivijaya and the Madjapahit Empire, a culture which was unable to imbed influences in the Filipino psyche. What they saw was a Filipino people divided in terms of its cultural moorings and cultural traction. So, at that moment, they did not see the need to teach Spanish to the Filipinos the way they saw it in Latin America. They did not feel threatened by a unified people bounded by one culture.

This is the kind of historical baggage that has to be addressed decisively and this is where the indecision of government policy in terms of correcting this historical injustice becomes an imperative. In the context of this perception, this is where we see the need for a policy that is not ambivalent and hermaphroditic, rather, a policy that addresses itself to the necessity of imposing Filipino as a medium of instruction. We cannot wait for the impossible day when the Institute for National Language, for example, would come up with a pronouncement that they have devised a language that will best suit the tempers and the aspirations of the Filipinos. The development of the language is not the task of scholars and researchers. Language is a developmental process. We have to learn to accept that it takes years or even decades for language to see its full fruition in the way of Bahasa Indonesia. We cannot also wait for the impossible day when an institute or a university will tell us that they have already designed Filipino. It is not the function of a university or an institution because it does not have the means nor the power to act as some kind of a midwife to a vibrant language. The law of language is the law of adaptation and growth. The law of growth could apply to English. English was for a time severely restricted even before the scholars and the writers like Hume and Milton used it to express their profound language; their profound thoughts; Japanese was severely restricted even before Admiral Perry brought Japan to the influence of the West; Bahasa Indonesia had the same problem before the Indonesians compelled themselves to adopt Bahasa Indonesia. If the same law of growth could apply to these languages, it could apply also to Filipino but it requires a definitive and decisive policy on the matter.

MR. ROMULO: Madam President, I ask that Commissioner Rama be recognized for his amendment.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Rama is recognized.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, we are in the period of amendments and we have an amendment here which was formulated by several groups belonging to different linguistic areas. The amendment, strictly speaking, if we follow the Rules, would be an amendment to an amendment which was already presented by Commissioner Davide. The amendment simply says: "Section 1. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino," with an "F." And then we would like to delete the rest of the sentences from line 2 up to line 10.

May I ask Commissioner Davide if he accepts the amendment to his amendment?

MR. DAVIDE: Madam President, may I hear first the proposed amendment? By the way, yesterday the committee had already accepted my proposed amendment as borne out by the Journal, but a few minutes ago, Commissioner Rigos stated that the committee will stick to its original proposal. Does it mean that the committee had changed its position?

REV. RIGOS: Yes, Madam President.

MR. DAVIDE: So, I am ready to accommodate amendments to my proposal. May we hear further the proposal of Commissioner Rama?

MR. RAMA: The amendment simply reads: "Section 1. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino." And we request the rest of the section to be deleted.

THE PRESIDENT: But Commissioner Rama has additional words.

MR. RAMA: There are additional words but there is a request from the committee that first we vote.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, we just like to point out that the Rama proposal is basically the same as the first sentence of the committee proposal. What the Rama proposal did was to break the first sentence of the committee proposal into two sentences.

MR. RAMA: Yes. By the way, there is a second sentence, Madam President.

MR. DAVIDE: May I request Commissioner Rama to read the entire substitute proposal.

THE PRESIDENT: The entire Section 1, yes.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, I am sorry. The proposal reads: "Section 1. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. IT SHALL EVOLVE AND BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES." That is the end of Section 1.

MR. DAVIDE: Before accepting or rejecting the proposal, I seek some clarification. When the Gentleman states "ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES," does he refer to the native or regional languages as the Philippine languages?

MR. RAMA: Yes, Madam President.

MR. DAVIDE: And other languages may refer to foreign languages?

MR. RAMA: Yes.

MR. DAVIDE: If that is so, I am happy to accept the proposed amendment.

MR. RAMA: May I know what is the thinking of the committee with respect to this amendment?

MR. VILLACORTA: These first two sentences of Section 1 are acceptable to the committee. However, we do not approve the deletion of the rest of the sentences in the committee proposal, so we would like to request the proponent to ask for a voting only of these first two sentences in the Rama proposal and grant the committee the right to submit for voting the rest of the sentences in the committee's Section 1.

THE PRESIDENT: We understand from lines 3 to 10.

MR. VILLACORTA: That is right, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Would the committee keep those sentences there?

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Rodrigo is recognized.

MR. RODRIGO: Ginang Pangulo, puwede po bang magsalita bilang pagkatig sa susog na ito ni Commissioner Rama? Nais kong ilagay sa Rekord ang aking pagkaintindi sa salitang Filipino — "F" ang unang letra. Ang unang mahalagang malaman natin ay itong "Filipino" ay hindi isang bagong kinatha o kakathaing lenggwahe. Ito ay batay sa "Pilipino." Palalawakin lamang natin ang saklaw ng "Filipino." And "Pilipino" naman, with a "P," saan nanggagaling iyan? Noong 1935, sa ating Saligang Batas ay ipinag-utos:

The Congress shall take steps towards the development and adoption of common national language based on one of the existing native languages.

Iyan ay nagkaroon ng implementasyon at ang pinagbatayan ay ang Tagalog. Kaya nga't ang "Pilipino" ay batay sa Tagalog at ang "Filipino" ay batay sa "Pilipino." Kaya't hindi natin buburahin ang mga nakamtan na nating mga developments sa "Pilipino."

Ngayon, ano ang nangyari roon sa "Pilipino"? Bakit tinalikdan iyang "Pilipino" at ginawang "Filipino"? Palagay ko, ang isang dahilan ay sapagkat noong nagkaroon ng Surian ng Wikang Pambansa na pinamunuan ng nasirang Lope K. Santos, sumalangit nawa siya, ang kanyang sinunod na patakaran ay yaong tinatawag na purismo. Mayroon tayong maraming salita sa wikang Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Bikolano na hango sa wikang Kastila. Mula sa 6,000 hanggang 10,000 mga salita ang hango sa wikang Kastila — libro, mikropono, sapatos, pantalon, bintana, silya — nguni't ang ginawang patakaran ng Surian ay purismo. Umimbento ng mga bagong salita. Halimbawa, kapag sinabi mong "gramatika" ay maiintindihan na ng lahat, maging ng mga Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano o Bikolano. Pero ang Surian ay kumatha o umimbento ng bagong salita — "balarila." Iyong salitang"diksiyonaryo" ay alam na ng lahat ngunit muling kumatha ng bago — "talatinigan"; "bokabularyo" — alam na ng lahat, pero kumatha ng "talasalitaan." Kaya't may nagsabi na iyon daw silya ay ginawang "salumpuwit." Mga kaibigan, noong ako ay nasa Senado at araw ni Balagtas, Abril 2, ako ay nagtalumpati on a privilege speech at binatikos ko iyong purismo. Ang sabi ko ay hinirapan natin ang wikang Tagalog maging para sa Tagalog. Ako ay sumusulat sa Tagalog; tumutula pa ako kung minsan sa Tagalog. Nguni't alam ba ninyo na iyong aking mga apo ay natutulungan ko sa homework nila sa arithmetic at history pero hindi ko matulungan sa wikang pambansa o national language? Napakaraming bagong mga salita na ni ako ay hindi ko naiintindihan. Kaya noong ako ay nagtalumpati, sinabi kong pati iyong "silya" ay gusto pang gawing "salumpuwit." Nais kong liwanagin naman, Ginang Pangulo, na hindi galing kay Lope K. Santos iyan. Iyan ay katha ng ibang tao.

Noong nag-recess kami sa Senado, lumapit sa akin si Don Claro Recto. Alam ninyo medyo pilyo iyang si Recto. Sabi sa akin, "Hoy, Soc, binabati kita. Mayroon lang akong itatanong sa iyo." "Ano ho iyon? " wika ko. Ang sabi niya, "Kung 'yong 'silya' ay 'salumpuwit,' iyong 'bra' ng mga babae ay salong ano?" (Laughter)

Minsan naman, sinabi ni Raul Manglapus, "Hindi ba iyong telegrama ay gusto pang gawing 'pahatid-kawad'? "Oo," wika ko. Sabi niya, "Eh, kung iyong telegrama ay pahatid-kawad, iyong 'wireless' ay ano?" "Aba, eh, siyanga pala," ang wika ko; sabi ni Raul, "Siguro iyon ay pahatid-kawad-na-walang-kawad." (Laughter)

Kaya nga naantala ang paglaganap ng ating wika. Natakot ang mga estudyante. Kahit ang mga Tagalog ay natakot. Ang mga Tagalog ay lumalagpak sa national language. Kaya nga iyan ang isang dahilan kung bakit ginawang "Filipino." Ako ay nagagalak sapagkat akalain ba ninyong inalis iyong napakaraming letra sa ating alphabet. Inalis ang letters "c," "f," "j," "q," "y" at "x." Kawawa naman ako. Ako ay Francisco, nawala iyong "f," iyong "c" ay magiging "k," kaya ako ay "Prankisko." (Laughter) May nagsabi pa sa akin, kung ang lahat ng "c" ay magiging "k," iyong "Cecilio" ay ano? Di 'Kekilyo,' wika niya. (Laughter)

Kaya't ako ay kumakatig na ang ating gawing wikang pambansa ay ang Filipino. Marami pong salamat at ako ay lumabis ng dalawang minuto sa tatlong minutong toka sa akin.

Salamat po.

THE PRESIDENT: Salamat po.

MR. RAMA: Madam President.

MR. TINGSON: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Tingson is recognized.

MR. TINGSON: May I speak as an Ilonggo, Madam President, to support the amendment using the word "Filipino."

THE PRESIDENT: Please proceed.

MR. TINGSON: Commissioner Rama is wanting to speak first, and I cannot disobey his request. I yield to wait, Madam President.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, I think I owe the body an explanation as to why I am deleting the rest of the sentences. The reason for this is that the issue of language and the selection of the national language in a country like ours which has several languages is a very emotional one. I remember that there was almost bloodshed in the Constitutional Convention of 1971 because of this issue. In other countries this has triggered revolutions. It is really very emotional. My premises and the plea that I am making now are a plea for sobriety and national unity in the discussion of this very emotionally charged issue.

We have certain premises here for this amendment, Madam President. The first premise is that whether we like it or not, a nation should have a national language. That is why we started with the premise that the national language of the Philippines is Filipino.

There are other realities, Madam President. The other reality is that there are millions of Filipinos who cannot speak Filipino, whether we like it or not. The other premise is the headstart that Filipino has gained and the advantages that have been obtained by its cultivation as a language which was enshrined in the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions. Whether we like it or not, Filipino will be the only language in the future for the Philippines. Inexorable is the march of Filipino. So, we must realize that.

On the other hand, there are realities which we cannot ignore — the reality of the difficulties that could be inflicted upon the people, if we rush this acceptance or this imposition of Filipino as the national language. For instance, if we require that the medium of instruction be Filipino, that would impose a constitutional handicap on the non-Tagalog speaking students. They would be coping with a language that they cannot understand in learning the basics of education. That would be a handicap on them, and it is unfair. My point is that this can be done later because it is a fact now that the Cebuanos are learning more and more Filipino or Tagalog for the simple reason that it is there already; it has a headstart of 50 years and the Cebuanos, I think, are reconciled to the fact that Cebuano, although we contend more Filipinos speak Cebuano, cannot at this stage become the Filipino language. But we are seeking understanding, and I thought that the unity of the Philippines or the Filipinos is more important than the language issue that we are now discussing.

MR. TINGSON: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Tingson is recognized.

MR. TINGSON: Likewise, may I add something positive for I also believe that the issue of language should not be divisive. It should really unite us. Alam ninyo, mahal na Presidente, pinipilit po naming mga Ilonggo ngayon na mag-Tagalog o magsalita sa ating wikang pambansa. Sometimes we hesitate to do that in Manila because the purists laugh at us. But we are happy to hear here that we are now wanting to refer to Filipino as isang salita po, at halu-halo ang pinakamagandang palabra from Tagalog, Ilonggo, Cebuano and Ilokano. And this is beautiful.

Alam ninyo, mahal na President, sa amin po ay mayroong palabra for "heart," which is more romantic than the Tagalog pure word. Ang ginagamit po ninyo rito ay "puso"; sa amin po, kinakain namin ang puso ng saging. As an Ilonggo, I would say "amen" to this. Let us use the more romantic word "kasing-kasing" which the wife of Commissioner Romulo, I am sure, must be using when she refers to her love for him, she being an Ilonggo. Ang ibig po naming sabihin ay mukhang maganda yata if we express it like "irog ng buhay ko," "Inday na mahal ng buhay ko, iniibig kita sa tanan ko nga kasing-kasing." It really would sound very romantic, Madam President. And I would support this particular amendment to the extent of deleting the other sentence which reads: "Steps shall be taken by the government to further develop, enrich and use it as a medium of communication in all branches of government and as the language of instruction at all levels of the educational system."

Madam President, I submit that it is already understood if we approve the first sentence which says that the national language shall be Filipino. The regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction in the respective regions. English shall be maintained as a second language and as an alternative medium of instruction until otherwise provided by law.

I submit, Madam President, that those are all really understood if we will be doing this. And may I close by saying that we have a prayer in Ilonggo that would sound good in my pure Ilonggo. But if I would put it in Filipino, it will be: "Panginoon, bigyan mo po kami ng mga Filipinos nga may kasing-kasing na mahinulsulun. Nga nagahigugma sang katarungan apan nagasabdung sang kalainan. Kay Ginoo, ito pong mga Filipinos ang aming bayan ngayon may kailangan kay amo ining mga Filipinos nga may matuod nga sadsaran."

How beautiful that is, Madam President. That is Filipino.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Villacorta is recognized.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, just a reaction of the committee. First of all, we would like to express our appreciation to Commissioner Tingson. He has just demonstrated what Filipino is all about. but using his words: "Nagahimo kami sa mga Commissioners na hinigugma ang katarungan." We want justice for the committee. I do not think there is this threat of bloodshed that we found in the 1971 Constitutional Convention. Basically, the Rama proposal is for the first two sentences of Section 1, which is the formulation of the committee. We will grant the credit to Commissioner Rama that this is his brainchild. Let the record show that. So, there is unity. What are we afraid of? Why do we want to delete these sentences of lines 3 to 10? If we must lose, let us lose honorably.

MR. RAMA: Yes.

MR. VILLACORTA: Give us the chance to argue this case, to have a vote on this and if we lose, we lose. Pero bigyan ninyo naman kami ng esperanza. Hindi lamang iyong esperanza party ang may esperanza, para naman pagkatapos ng Constitution ay makatulong din kami sa pag-campaign for its ratification; hindi iyong masama ang loob namin dahil hindi ninyo kami binigyan ng esperanza na mapagbotohan iyong pinaghirapan namin sa loob ng ilang buwan. Pinag-aralan din naman namin itong lines 3 to 10.

MR. RAMA: I think the Gentleman is under the misimpression that just because I asked for a deletion of these words or sentences, he will not be allowed to argue. Precisely, he will have his full say about why he is in favor or why this should be retained. So may I wind up, as I meant to, before I was joyfully interrupted by Commissioner Tingson that the point is that all these objectives and aims of the committee will be achieved in the future. I already see it in Cebu which is the most chauvinistic of our linguistic groups. The young people there are learning Filipino. These aims will be achieved, but we cannot rush this thing. And as to the concern of Commissioner Aquino, I would tell her that the objective is being achieved already and it is not necessary for us to court an upheaval regarding this language because we realize that there must be a Filipino language.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President, parliamentary inquiry.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: I believe the issues have been joined. The committee has already said that it would prefer to vote on the first two sentences and then tackle the issue of the next three sentences. So, may we have the vote now on the first two sentences, Madam President?

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Aquino is recognized.

MS. AQUINO: Subject to the Chair's ruling on that motion, I would like to speak against the motion to delete lines 3 to 10, but I would submit to the ruling on the first motion.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Aquino may proceed on her argument.

MS. AQUINO: Madam President, I would like to speak against the deletion of lines 3 to 10. I think that the arguments being presented are very sensible. In fact, they have their own historical moorings but for the moment they may seem to be very superficial already.

Language is a process of growth and its development, even under the best and the most ideal circumstances, takes time. It even takes decades. We have to learn to accept that truth and in accepting that truth, we should not lose time in adopting and using one language as the medium of instruction whatever are its imperfections; that is, if we are agreed that we want to adopt our own instead of eschewing our own and embracing something which is alien. Otherwise, if we cannot agree on that, we might as well cease all of these hypocrisies and adopt English as the medium of instruction. The only limitation to that, however, is that we have already lost time, and we will cut a pathetic figure if at this moment we will make that atavistic move in adopting a foreign language instead of adopting Filipino.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, may I now read my proposal which, as the committee has asked, is to be voted on: "Section 1. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino."

There is a small amendment presented by Commissioner Bernas which is a matter of form. Instead of "IT SHALL EVOLVE," it shall read: "IT SHALL BE ALLOWED TO EVOLVE AND BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES."

MR. SARMIENTO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized.

MR. SARMIENTO: Before we vote, may I just say a few words? Asking the kind indulgence of the body last night, I objected to the committee's formulation: I insisted that we use the words "SHALL BE" instead of "IS." So, Madam President, may I retract my previous stand and support the committee's formulation. I did not elaborate my position; all the things were stated by my colleagues. All I can say is that we have an evolving, active and dynamic lingua franca and this is Filipino. So, I am supporting the committee's formulation.

REV. RIGOS: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Rigos is recognized.

REV. RIGOS: I think Commissioner Monsod was suggesting that we first vote on these first two sentences, as amended by Commissioner Bernas, without prejudice to further discussion of lines 3 to 10 regarding the use of the language as a medium of instruction. So, the committee is prepared to vote on this.

THE PRESIDENT: This proposed amendment of Commissioner Rama and the others would actually be a substitution of the committee's formulation of Section 1.

REV. RIGOS: That is right, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: In other words, this will just be the sentences to compose Section 1, according to Commissioner Rama. Is that not correct, Commissioner Rama?

MR. RAMA: And which was accepted by the committee.

THE PRESIDENT: No, can we just have this clarified because that will affect the voting? Is this only a substitution of the first sentence of Section 1?

MR. RAMA: The amendment in full will read: "Section 1. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. IT SHALL BE ALLOWED TO EVOLVE AND BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES."

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, the committee is not accepting "IT SHALL BE ALLOWED TO EVOLVE." What we are accepting is "IT SHALL EVOLVE" because that is watering down the intention. Who will allow the evolution? Why do we have to say "SHALL BE ALLOWED TO EVOLVE"?

FR. BERNAS: Madam President, actually, my proposed amendment was to delete the word "EVOLVE" because one does not legislate evolution. Evolution just happens. When one says "it shall evolve," he is just making a statement that in the natural course of things it shall evolve. But what one really wants to do is more than just allowing it to evolve or more than just to watch it in its natural evolution but rather to help it in its evolution.

THE PRESIDENT: So, how is it to be formulated?

FR. BERNAS: My proposed amendment would be just to drop the word "EVOLVE."

THE PRESIDENT: How is it?

FR. BERNAS: "IT SHALL BE FURTHER DEVELOPED . . ."

MR. OPLE: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: May I be allowed a brief comment concerning this? I think the word "EVOLVE" should be retained. It is a recognition of the fact that the people themselves have the right to shape their own language as they choose freely outside any framework of law or a constitution, that we merely acknowledge by saying that "IT SHALL EVOLVE."

But, then, there is a volitional content immediately after that which is "BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES." So, there is an acknowledgment of a historical fact that languages do evolve in what economists call "the free marketplace of ideas." The transactions are not hindered but, at the same time, a law must be utilized to further develop these languages. That is why, later on, we call for a languages commission that will represent the use of state power in order to assist in the evolution and bring about the further development and enrichment of this language. So, may I support the retention of the word "EVOLVE" in its present form and, in fairness to the committee, may I say that nothing in this new formulation detracts from the original formulation of the committee. I do not want Chairman Villacorta to harbor any thought that the committee had been deprived of any credit. As restyled, this is essentially the same formulation as that of the committee.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, we were protesting the words "IT SHALL BE ALLOWED TO EVOLVE." We were in favor of "IT SHALL EVOLVE."

MR. OPLE: I also support the committee's position on that matter.

MR. RAMA: I accept the committee's position, so we delete the words "BE ALLOWED TO" which is the Bernas proposal. Therefore, I insist that we take a vote on this.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, but I want a clarification, Mr. Chairman. The committee accepted the formulation of Commissioner Rama. Does the Chair understand that with the acceptance of this, the committee is foregoing lines 3 to 10?

MR. VILLACORTA: No, Madam President, on the contrary.

THE PRESIDENT: That is clear then.

MR. SARMIENTO: Madam President, may I make a humble suggestion. May I suggest that we vote on the first line before voting on the second line. We have done this in the past. There are comments on the second sentence; like, for instance, I heard a comment that we should delete the word "EVOLVE" and adopt the original.

VOTING

THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; we will proceed as suggested.

As many as are in favor of the first line of Section 1 of the Rama amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 43 votes in favor and none against; the first sentence is approved. (Applause)

MR. AZCUNA: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: May we request our guests at the gallery to please refrain from applauding or making any other demonstration.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, the second sentence reads: "IT SHALL EVOLVE AND BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES."

MR. AZCUNA: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Azcuna is recognized.

MR. AZCUNA: I propose that instead of "IT SHALL EVOLVE," we use the words "AS IT EVOLVES, IT SHALL BE FURTHER DEVELOPED."

THE PRESIDENT: How is that, Commissioner Rama?

MR. RAMA: I accept the amendment, Madam President.

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee accepts.

MR. AZCUNA: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection?

MR. SUAREZ: Madam President, may we be recognized?

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Suarez is recognized.

MR. SUAREZ: Thank you.

May we clarify a point with the Honorable Rama.

THE PRESIDENT: Please proceed.

MR. SUAREZ: Thank you, Madam President.

Commissioner Rama uses the word "EVOLVES" as distinguished from "DEVELOPED" and "ENRICHED." Can he tell the Commissioners the significance, the thrust and the meaning of the word "EVOLVES" as compared with the words "DEVELOPED" and "ENRICHED"?

MR. RAMA: I should like to answer Commissioner Suarez. I have my answer, but this word came from Commissioner Ople and I would not like to preempt the explanation of Commissioner Ople.

MR. OPLE: Madam President, in the first place, I think Commissioner Rama has already accepted a proposed amendment of Commissioner Azcuna, and I believe the committee has similarly accepted this new proposal, so that instead of saying "IT SHALL EVOLVE," the new phrase is "AS IT EVOLVES." This is just an acknowledgment of the historical fact that languages do evolve independently of what lawmakers say. It is a kind of recognition of the point very often made by others who do not believe in State intervention on the matter that a language is something organic that evolves according to the people's own preferences. But as now stated, I think any kind of controversial tinge is eliminated by the Azcuna amendment; and Father Bernas is himself accommodated in the sense that the amendment now reads: "AS IT EVOLVES, IT SHALL BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES."

Thank you.

MR. SUAREZ: Madam President, we are seeking clarification precisely because of the impression that the expression "EVOLVES" may convey because the first sentence is a declarative positive statement. It already states here that the national language of the Philippines is Filipino. That means it had already evolved as a national language.

MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, but still growing.

MR. SUAREZ: So, I agree with the Gentleman that it is still in the process of evolution in the Darwinian concept.

MR. OPLE: Yes.

MR. SUAREZ: I just would like to clear up that matter.

MR. OPLE: Yes, it is a Darwinian concept — evolution, natural selection. And in the process, if the Pampango language succeeds in contributing a disproportionate volume of words into this evolving Filipino language, then that will be a tribute to the Pampangueños who, in any case, representing only three percent of the Philippine population, are already disproportionately represented in the arts, letters, journalism and in all the creative branches.

THE PRESIDENT: Is Commissioner Suarez already satisfied?

MR. SUAREZ: Yes, I am satisfied. Thank you for the clarification.

MR. RAMA: May I read the sentence again, Madam President, as amended by Commissioner Azcuna and accepted by the committee: "AS IT EVOLVES, IT SHALL BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AND ENRICHED ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING PHILIPPINE AND OTHER LANGUAGES."

VOTING

THE PRESIDENT: As many as are in favor of the second sentence, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

Is Commissioner Davide voting against? Just to clarify.

MR. DAVIDE: In favor.

THE PRESIDENT: The results show 44 votes in favor and none against; the sentence is approved.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, may we request a voting of the continuation of Section 1 from lines 3 to 10. May the committee support the position manifested by Commissioner Aquino that in the development of the national language, our approach must not be hermaphroditic, which was the case in the past. There was this half-hearted intention to develop the national language. And as a result of that, we have a case of an arrested development of Pilipino and Filipino in the 1973 Constitution.

The reason, Madam President, the committee feels that steps should be taken by the government to use "Filipino" as a medium of official communication and as a language of instruction is that as borne out by the experiences of other countries, as well as of our own country, a national language is useless if it is not used as the language of instruction and a language of official communication. Moreover, as the materials that we distributed to the body show, a small percentage of our population has mastered the English language. Science and technology, which are usually transmitted in the English language, do not manage to reach the masses of our people who remain semiliterate and ignorant about scientific concepts, skills and principles and this has adversely affected the economic and social development of our people.

That is why, Madam President, we thought that we should stipulate clearly in the Constitution that resolute steps shall be taken by the government. Anyway, this is stated in the future tense and it does not really require the government to immediately implement it. Moreover, for those who are worried about the status of English, it says here that English shall be maintained as a second language because we, in the committee, still acknowledge the fact that the English language is our bridge to the outside world and it must not be shelved as a second language. And it says here also in our proposal that English shall remain as an alternative medium of instruction.

In addition to English, regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction in their respective regions. This is in recognition of the importance of developing our regional languages which have their own historical and rich literature that is worth preserving. And we know also that the language that is closest to the heart of any individual is that which is most effective in transmitting knowledge.

That is why, Madam President, with this guideline, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports can come up with a scheme in which the regional languages will be more extensively used in the lower levels of education.

FR. BERNAS: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: I will just propound a question to the committee. Will the committee agree that we take these different sentences separately? Let us say lines 3 to 6 or all of them would be taken as a whole.

MR. RAMA: Madam President, there is an anterior motion starting from line 3 — delete all the words beginning with "steps shall be taken" up to the end of this section which is on line 10. The motion to delete is the parliamentary situation.

MS. QUESADA: Madam President.

FR. BERNAS: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Quesada is recognized.

MS. QUESADA: Bago kami nagbotohan, ang pagkaintindi ng aming komite ay tatalakayin pa iyong mga susunod na pangungusap dahil batay doon sa mga paliwanag kangina malinaw na kinakailangan ang pagsasakatuparan ng ating mga paniniwala. Iyong lines 1, 2 at 3 ay mga intention na hangga't hindi isinasa-kongkreto sa pamamagitan ng paggamit nito sa instruction at sa gobyerno ay talagang empty rhetorics na naman iyan dahil iyan ang istorya noong mga nakaraang taon. Naroon na iyon sa ating Konstitusyon, pero hangga't hindi isinasagawa ito sa ating ordinaryong araw-araw na buhay, sa loob ng gobyerno sa administrasyon at saka sa ating edukasyon, sa palagay ko lahat ng iyan ay rhetorics na naman. Kaya ang appeal talaga namin sa body ngayon ay kung dadaanin na naman ito sa botohan, hindi na natin mailalaman ulit dito sa ating Konstitusyon sa section ng language ang napakahalagang probisyon at hindi na natin mabibigyan ng kahulugan ang mga pronouncements natin sa pamamagitan ng pagboto sa lines 1 to 3 on national language. Kaya sa palagay natin, ang dami na ng mga nagpaliwanag tungkol sa kahalagahan ng pagbibigay natin ng ganitong probisyon. Tayo ay naging napaka-generous sa ibang provisions. Sa mga nakaraan, naging madetalye tayo sa sports, sa suweldo ng mga guro, pero bakit hindi natin detalyehin iyong kung ano ang isasagawa ngayon nating lahat dito sa ating bayan kung totoo nga ang ating paniniwalang may political will tayo, na gamitin na natin ang Pilipino para ito ay madevelop further, hindi by mandate kundi iyong sa ating pagsasagawa ngayon sa ating gawain sa loob ng gobyerno at sa ating institusyon. So we hope that it will not just be an issue to be thrown to the body for voting because it is now being presented as an anterior proposal or amendment to the body.

FR. BERNAS: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bernas is recognized.

FR. BERNAS: Madam President, I just wanted to pose some questions for clarification to help me decide on what is on the floor now because there seems to be a contradiction between Section 2 and lines 3 and 4. Lines 3 and 4 say that "steps shall be taken by the government to use it as a medium of communication in all branches of government." That, to me, is a definition of what an official language is. So, whereas in Section 2 we are saying that Filipino is an official language, it seems to me that on lines 3, 4 and 5, we are saying that steps shall be taken to make Filipino an official language. There seems to be a contradiction there. We step backward. Already in Section 2, we say that Filipino is an official language and yet in Section 3, lines 3, 4 and 5, we seem to be saying that steps will be taken to make it an official language, because an official language means the language of communication in government.

MR. VILLACORTA: That point is well taken. What we really meant here was to reinforce it. We are open to suggestions, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Is Commissioner Bernas through?

FR. BERNAS: Madam President, I would just like to speak against the deletion. I think we should give this a chance to be discussed. There are several concepts here — official language, language of instruction, auxiliary medium of instruction and all these. So, if at all we must have a deletion, let us move sentence by sentence rather than by one fell swoop, as they would say.

MS ROSARIO BRAID: Madam President.

MR. BENNAGEN: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.

MR. BENNAGEN: Let me just respond very briefly to the observation of Commissioner Bernas on the provision on Section 2 and the steps that shall be taken. I think the sentence in Section 2 merely underscores the status of Filipino and English as official languages, but our observation is that Filipino, as an official language, has been mostly practiced in stationeries and in government buildings as names and in titles as well as in posts of offices. We are saying on lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 down to line 10 that it should be actually utilized in government as well as in communications and in all levels of the educational system. When we go into the discussion of the sentences in detail, we will underscore the need for this by reference to other studies that already clearly show that unless we mandate government to implement this call for Filipino as a national language, it shall be nothing more than rhetoric.

MR. OPLE: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: May I just take issue with some of the members of the committee who have tended to underrate the significance of the decision already taken by the committee and the Commission declaring Filipino as the national language of the Philippines. There is a sense in which having made this decision the rest follows. I do not want the committee to denigrate its own achievement in putting forward this historic proposal which the Commission has approved. It is not empty rhetoric; it is the settlement of a long, pending and nagging issue on the historical agenda of the Filipino people. I think we should not deny the committee and the Commission the credit for that.

Proceeding to lines 3 to 10, the proposal is for the Commission to vote on these two sentences step by step and separately, but before we do that, may I just say I have not conferred with the proponents of the amendment to Section 1 and lines 8 to 10. I am using the committee amendment draft. But I think we should grant the sincerity of those who profess a great unease about these sentences which will, in effect, prescribe immediately that Filipino shall be the medium of communication in all branches of the government and the language of instruction at all levels of the educational system. Let us grant the Members of the Commission who have some doubts about the feasibility of this statement the sincerity and conviction that they undoubtedly possess. Having declared Filipino as the national language of the Philippines and that as it evolves, it shall be further developed on the basis of Filipino and other languages, I anticipate at this point a later amendment constituting a language commission which, I think, nobody will reject.

Then there is some doubt about the practicality of mandating this as something immediate. Will the insertion of just a phrase ease the burden on the minds of those who are for deletion? For example, "AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, STEPS SHALL BE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO USE IT AS A MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION IN ALL BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION AT ALL LEVELS OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM."

It is a mandate but, at the same time, we leave to Congress the practical task of determining how this mandate will be implemented.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, is that not implicit in the committee proposal that Congress as well as other agencies of government will take steps? So, would it not be a surplusage if we say "AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW"?

MR. OPLE: Actually, I have no difficulty at all in accepting the committee formulation, but I defer to the sensibilities of colleagues who feel that when we state that Filipino is already the national language — Filipino with a capital "F" — then the rest follows. But if we do incorporate some provision of this sort, that will leave a large margin of discretion to the future Congress to implement the mandate of the Constitution. I do not know; I am merely projecting the idea that this sentence or the two sentences may be acted upon favorably by a good number of Commissioners who otherwise are plagued by doubt about the readiness of this Commission to act on this immediately. So that it can only say "AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, the government shall take steps to use it as a medium of instruction."

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, may I just point out that in the 1935 Constitution, Section 3 states that:

The Congress shall take steps towards the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages.

And we know that since then there were a few advances in the development of Filipino as the medium of instruction but from our point of view it was not; these steps were not adequate.

In the 1973 Constitution, Section 3 subparagraph 2, says that:

The National Assembly shall take steps towards the development and formal adoption of a common national language to be known as Filipino.

And as expressed in the deliberations of this body, it was agreed that hardly anything significant was done by the government to develop Filipino.

In our formulation, Madam President, we used the same expression — "steps shall be taken" — but it is more forthright in the sense that we are not just talking about steps to be taken in developing the national language but in using it or reinforcing it as a medium of communication and as the language of instruction. As we had pointed out, the development of a national language becomes empty if we do not use it eventually as the medium of instruction. This was borne out by the experiences of Malaysia and Indonesia. It was only when these two countries developed Bahasa Malaysia in Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia in Indonesia that the national language became very meaningful, because the national language was not used only in comedies, shows and in some newspapers, but it was used extensively throughout the school system and the government. Only at that point in time did the Bahasa language in these two countries become real as the national language.

MR. OPLE: Apropos of that, may I just comment briefly on the statement of the committee.

Of course, I think the committee is right in pointing out the relatively successful approaches to the national language in our two ASEAN partners and kindred nations, Malaysia and Indonesia. They have followed a course which was adopted to their own unique historical circumstances. In the case of Malaysia, there was no problem because the Malay language was common and universal to almost all of the Malayan states that later on were joined by Sabah, Sarawak in the Malaysia Federation of 1963. In other words, the historical equivalent would be if Filipinos spoke Tagalog already from north to south.

In the case of Indonesia, in 1927, when Sukarno launched the Independence Movement in Indonesia, one of the main items of his platform for Indonesian independence was the designation of Malay as the core language or the Bahasa Indonesia of the future. And in 1945, we had exactly opposite experiences with Indonesia. In Indonesia, the Dutch rule was ending the language of the Dutch as an international language and as an official language of Indonesia had lost such importance that it could be easily thrown into the Java sea without any loss whatsoever in Indonesia. In our own case, English, the language of the United States and the Anglo-Saxon countries of the world was just rising to the fore as the lingua franca of mankind. And so, the burden on the Filipinos for developing a national language was a hundredfold greater than in the case of the Indonesians and the Malaysians. I do not think we should deplore the way the national language has evolved because I do not call our national language policy a failure relative to Indonesia and Malaysia. I think the governments of the past since Quezon ought to be given some credit for having brought us this far in this search for a national language.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President.

MR. OPLE: I will terminate my intervention now simply by reiterating the insertion of this clause: "AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW," if this satisfies the concerns of those who otherwise would vote for the deletion of these sentences on the ground that fundamentally the mission of the Commission has been accomplished already in the first two sentences of Section 1.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President, I believe there is a motion to delete. I am one of the proponents. I just wanted to say that there is a big difference between the Constitution of 1973 and this one because in the latter they were talking about steps to adopt a common national language to be known as Filipino. We are already adopting it here. The reason why we are asking for a deletion is that the following sentences seem to make a distinction between a primary and a secondary medium of instruction and communication, whereas Section 2 talks about official languages as both Filipino and English and, therefore, there is an inconsistency there. We are moving for deletion because the adoption of the national language in its full implications is already understood. Secondly, on Section 2 where official languages are mentioned as Tagalog and English, again, the implication of that rule is all-encompassing but there is no distinction between primary and secondary or primary and supplementary because in reality we need both and it is to our advantage to be bilingual. We are now moving for the deletion of those sentences from lines 3 to 10 under Section 1 as proposed by the committee in order to avoid confusion. Since that is on board, and I believe we have had so many speakers already that have spoken on both sides, is it possible to already have a vote?

MR. SUAREZ: Madam President.

MS. AQUINO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Let us hear Commissioner Suarez first.

MR. SUAREZ: Thank you, Madam President.

May I speak briefly against the motion to delete lines 3 to 10, Madam President. I have read these three lines and I can detect five gut issues involving national language in these three sentences. The first is the matter of determining the medium of communication and this appears on line 4. The second is the matter of language of instruction and this appears on line 5. The third is the matter of auxiliary media of instruction and this appears on line 7; then the matter of a second language and this appears on line 8. Finally, the matter of alternative medium of instruction and this appears on line 9, Madam President.

These are all gut issues that we feel should be ventilated, debated upon and discussed thoroughly before this Constitutional Commission. And it is for this reason that we are appealing to the Members of the Commission to allow a free debate and discussion on these five gut issues, without the formality of going into the deletion of these matters.

We realized the point raised by the Honorable Monsod that perhaps some of these points may already have been covered by the first sentence of Section 1 and the two sentences appearing in Section 2, but this is a matter of appreciation on the part of the Commission. So, we reiterate our appeal that these matters should be discussed and should not be deleted.

Thank you, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Suarez, what is going on now is that we are, in fact, discussing the merits of the committee report. I mean in discussing whether we should delete or not, we are, in effect, discussing also the merits of the committee report. That is why we have been allowing speakers to speak for and against.

MR. BENNAGEN: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.

MR. BENNAGEN: Thank you, Madam President, and also for the concern for more debate because, if we do not do that this might become a missed opportunity.

I think we of the committee insist that we retain those specific provisions that steps shall be taken by the government to really implement the essence of the first section. We do this in the same sense that we gave in to the Ople, et al amendment with respect to teachers. For instance, in our own formulation in the committee, we said that the State shall promote and protect the status and standards of the teaching profession. Teachers, researchers and nonteaching academic personnel shall enjoy the special care and protection of the State. That is the spirit that we wanted to be incorporated in the Constitution. But a more concrete proposal was that of Commissioner Ople, et al which says: "THE STATE MUST ASSIGN THE HIGHEST BUDGETARY PRIORITY TO EDUCATION AND ENSURE THAT TEACHING WILL ATTRACT AND RETAIN ITS RIGHTFUL SHARE OF THE BEST AVAILABLE TALENTS. . ."

What we are saying, in fact, is that the first sentence of Section 1 provides us the essence of the provision on the national language. But because of the rather sorry experience that we have had on the development of the national language and more importantly its actual use, we feel that the subsequent sentences are absolutely necessary to put flesh into the intent of the first section.

Let me quote one of the studies given to us by one group which calls itself "Multi-Ethnic Citizens Committee for CON-COM Resolution No. 286" and it lists down what the Institute of National Language as a body has done to develop the national language. In 1940, after five years of the 1935 Constitution, the INL published the National Language — An English Vocabulary, and this is pure Tagalog. This was in 1940. Ten years after that, in 1950, and 15 years after the 1935 Constitution, the National Language — An English Vocabulary had its fourth printing. It still did not contain any non-Tagalog dialectal words. Ten years again after that, meaning 25 years after the 1935 Constitution, 13,000 copies of the English-Tagalog Dictionary was published — still no other languages but Tagalog.

In 1977, after 42 years of the 1935 Constitution and four years of the 1973 Constitution, the Talahulugang Pilipino-English was released by the Bureau of Printing. And then, at about the same year, the English-Tagalog Dictionary by Fr. Ingles had its first printing and it was approved for use in public and private schools.

In 1985, after 50 years of the 1935 Constitution and 12 years of the 1973 Constitution, the English-Tagalog Dictionary by Fr. Ingles had its ninth printing, and the INL gave him a citation for excellence, meaning, in spite of all those proposals and intentions to develop a national language, not much was done. And let me quote what Dr. Bonifacio Sibayan, a linguist and former President of the Philippine Normal College, as well as former President of the Philippine Linguistic Society said:

Filipinos can handle anything if they will put their minds to it. The trouble is, they really have not done so, for they have practically not invested any money into the development of the language.

We are saying, therefore, that with these sentences after the first sentence, we will be able to accelerate, without violating the laws of growth of a language, the actual use in government, commerce and industry and in education of Filipino as a national language.

Thank you, Madam President.

MS. ROSARIO BRAID: Madam President.

MR. RODRIGO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Rodrigo is recognized.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

MR. RODRIGO: I move for a suspension of the session considering the lateness of the hour.

THE PRESIDENT: The session is suspended for luncheon until two-thirty this afternoon.

It was 12:41 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 3:05 p.m., the session was resumed.

THE PRESIDENT: The session is resumed.

Are we ready to continue with our very interesting debate?

The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: Madam President, there is a motion to delete parts of Section 1. However, may I request a short suspension because a compromise might be reached.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

THE PRESIDENT: The session is suspended for a few minutes.

It was 3:06 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 3:18 p.m., the session was resumed.

THE PRESIDENT: The session is resumed.

MR. ROMULO: Madam President, I ask that Commissioner Monsod be recognized.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President, before we suspended the session, there was a pending motion to delete. We are happy to inform the Chair that in the meantime we believe we have arrived at a reasonable compromise provision; and I am, therefore, withdrawing the motion to delete.

THE PRESIDENT: May we have the new formulation.

MR. MONSOD: We would like to refer to the committee for the formulation.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Villacorta is recognized.

MR. VILLACORTA: After conferring with the different amendors, the committee came up with the following formulation: "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE, THE GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE STEPS TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN ITS USE AS A MEDIUM OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION AND AS LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS."

Madam President, in addition to the committee members, the following contributed to this formulation: The Honorable Ople, Monsod, Colayco, Aquino, Romulo, Rama, Bengzon, Regalado, Tingson, Natividad and Abubakar.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: May I just inquire from the committee, as a clarification, if this formulation does not exclude the use of English as a medium of communication nor as a language of instruction.

MR. OPLE: Madam President.

MR. MONSOD: May we ask the committee.

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee understands that English may be maintained as a second language.

MR. MONSOD: As in Section 2, since they are both official languages, can we just state that this does not preclude the use of English as a medium of communication and as a language of instruction?

MR. VILLACORTA: In the formulation?

MR. MONSOD: Yes. The formulation does not preclude or exclude the use of English.

MR. VILLACORTA: That is right; it does not preclude the use of English.

MR. MONSOD: Thank you.

MR. OPLE: Madam President.

MR. DE CASTRO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: Yes, just a word concerning the style. This is more a matter of style than anything else. Rather than leave it to Commissioner Rodrigo later, I think I would like to put forward a proposal actually originated by Commissioner Nolledo, so that instead of "ITS USE," we use "FILIPINO." So that it will read: "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE, THE GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE STEPS TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN THE USE OF FILIPINO AS A MEDIUM OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION. . ."

MR. VILLACORTA: Does the Gentleman mean "SHALL TAKE STEPS TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN FILIPINO AS A . . ."

MR. OPLE: "THE USE OF FILIPINO."

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes, Madam President, the committee accepts.

MR. OPLE: Thank you, Madam President.

MR. SARMIENTO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner de Castro is recognized.

MR. DE CASTRO: May I suggest to the committee that instead of the words "LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION," we use "MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION" as proposed by Honorable Ople; Filipino as a medium not as a language of instruction.

MR. VILLACORTA: The reason we used the word "LANGUAGE" is that "MEDIUM" had been used before, but allow me to confer with the committee whether they would accept the use of "MEDIUM."

MR. DE CASTRO: So that there will be no double use of "MEDIUM."

MR. VILLACORTA: There will be a double use of "MEDIUM."

MR. DE CASTRO: If we can make certain arrangements in the first use of "MEDIUM" . . .

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee feels that the Committee on Style can take care of that.

MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you.

MR. VILLACORTA: Thank you, Madam President.

MR. SARMIENTO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized.

MR. SARMIENTO: May I address a few questions to Commissioner Ople who fathered the first two lines.

MR. OPLE: I did not father the first two lines; I had a very modest contribution in the term "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW."

MR. SARMIENTO: May we know from the Gentleman the meaning of "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE" because I think this is the new amendment to the committee's formulation.

MR. OPLE: Yes. I consider the mandate for the use of Filipino as the national language now categorical, both as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction. However, in order to be absolutely sure, the pace at which this mandate will be implemented, together with the budgetary requirements, will be determined more carefully. And in the light of future consensus among the lawmakers, we just say that this is subject to provisions of law and as Congress may deem appropriate.

MR. SARMIENTO: If that is the intent, does not the Gentleman think the first line will suffice?

MR. OPLE: Yes. Those who conferred, including all the members of the committee, as well as the previous proponents of amendments of these lines, came to the conclusion that this is not really redundant at all. Besides, it helps to forge a compromise that will permit this Commission to vote hopefully as one on this amendment which the committee is now putting forward as the collective sense of those who have conferred on this matter.

MR. SARMIENTO: I have nothing against the first two lines. My only reservation is that as in the past, the first line would cover the two, leaving Congress to appropriate budgetary measures.

MR. OPLE: Yes. Of course, we do not disregard existing laws, Madam President. They will continue to govern if they are consistent with this constitutional provision, until Congress in the future amends or changes or repeals some of these laws.

MR. DAVIDE: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: May I be enlightened on some of the aspects of this proposed substitute amendment? The first is, does it follow from the wording that the regional languages shall serve as an auxiliary media of instruction and no law can prohibit their use as such? This means that subject to provisions of law and as Congress may deem appropriate, it would refer only to what are included in the first sentence. It will not apply to the second sentence relating to regional languages as auxiliary media of instruction.

MR. TREÑAS: That is correct. Precisely, there is a period after "educational system" and that is a new sentence.

MR. DAVIDE: As an auxiliary medium of instruction, it can actually be the primary medium, until Congress shall provide otherwise.

MR. TREÑAS: It shall be auxiliary.

MR. DAVIDE: But in the meantime that Congress shall not have deemed appropriate or that there is no provision of law relating to the use of Filipino as the medium of instruction, it can itself be the primary medium of instruction in the regions.

MR. TREÑAS: That is correct because of the provision of the first sentence.

MR. DAVIDE: On the supposition that there is already a law that Congress had deemed it appropriate, the regional language shall go hand in hand with Filipino as a medium of instruction. It cannot be supplanted in any way by Filipino as the only medium of instruction in the regional level.

MR. TREÑAS: Yes.

MR. DAVIDE: Thank you for the information.

MR. TREÑAS: Because that is a constitutional mandate.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: I just want to clarify the statement of Commissioner Davide when he said "Filipino as the only" — I think we have already clarified that it will exist side by side. It does not preclude the use of English, but the regional languages will, in any case, be the auxiliary media of instruction.

MR. SUAREZ: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Suarez is recognized.

MR. SUAREZ: May we seek further clarification on the various statements provoked by the questions and inquiries of Commissioners Davide and Monsod? As it is now formulated, there will be practically three media of instruction: one is Filipino and which I assume is the principal; second would be English as a second official language of instruction, although in an implied manner; and the third which takes the form or character of an auxiliary medium of instruction would be the regional language. Is my understanding correct?

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes.

MR. SUAREZ: And this would apply only to the regions, for example, in Region I. In the Ilocos region, therefore, there will practically be three media of instructions: Filipino, English and Ilocano. Is what I have in mind the idea of the committee?

MR. BENNAGEN: No. may I answer that?

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Bennagen may proceed.

MR. BENNAGEN: Something like this can take place from Grade I up to probably Grade IV which is equivalent to the primary level. The regional language may be the primary language and Filipino or English is the auxiliary medium, and at this point English can be taught as a subject in school. And then beyond that as the language develops, the national language can take over, with English still offered as a subject but with some variations. There might be possibilities also where Filipino already becomes the primary language with the regional language as auxiliary and English as a subject, until such time again as the capabilities of the regions or the schools change.

MR. SUAREZ: Madam President, but if that is the sense of the committee, that was not accurately reflected in the wordings of line 2 which reads: "The regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instructions." That means there is a principal language and also an auxiliary language; in this case the principal even on the primary level would have to be Filipino. But according to Commissioner Bennagen, it is theoretically possible that from Grades I to IV the principal language of instruction would be the regional language.

MR. BENNAGEN: That would be during the first few years pending the development of a fuller capability, both in terms of technical capability of teachers as well as the availability of instruction materials.

MR. SUAREZ: If that be the case, may we suggest a reformulation of the wording of this last line, because it may be opposed to the committee's thinking. And, secondly, I think it was Commissioner Treñas who said that this is practically self-executory in character. I am referring to the second line on the designation of regional languages as auxiliary media of instruction. Is my understanding correct in that regard or do they need legislation in order to make them auxiliary media of instruction? If we use the word "serve," that connotes something self-executory in character.

MR. TREÑAS: Precisely. Of course, I have not consulted the other members of the committee but that is my interpretation.

MR. SUAREZ: So, will it be immediately enforced or does it need to be developed?

MR. TREÑAS: By law?

MR. SUAREZ: Yes, because the word "serve" connotes something immediately executory whereas the word "develop" does not give the same connotation. May we suggest that the committee review this phrasing.

Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: Madam President, may I just say and speak only for myself in this respect. I think there is nothing here to permit any reading that this is not self-executory. We do not say that this will be subject to provisions of law, but we also know in the real world that we cannot just implement this without teachers, books, or the necessary budgets, to be provided at both the local and the State levels so that the regional language as an auxiliary language in that region can become meaningful as a medium of instruction.

I do not know how the committee will take this question, but even if we allow the provision on regional languages, like Cebuano, Ilocano, Waray or even Pampango, to be self-executory, we will need instruction materials and teachers before this can be implemented. I think that is the realistic view of the meaning of the clause "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction in their RESPECTIVE REGIONS."

Thank you, Madam President.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: Madam President, I am a little disturbed by the interpretations now being given by the committee. I think the wording of the provision is very clear that Filipino will be developed fully as a medium of instruction and communication. And during the interpellation, it was clear that this will not supplant but coexist with English. The reason we are giving this mandate is that we do not want the experience repeated when Filipino was left behind and was never developed as a language. That is the reason we are giving this mandate.

The second point is that I do not think there is anything in this provision that can be interpreted to mean that in regions, the regional language will ever become the primary medium of instruction or the medium of communication and instruction. It will always be an auxiliary to the two — to Filipino and English. I do not think we should read more into it than what it is now. The mandate is very clear, but at the same time I do not think we should put a lot of interpretations that is not in the letter of the provision.

MR. TREÑAS: Madam President, it is precisely the stand of the committee that this should be interpreted as it is worded. In fact, we believe that it is simply worded.

MR. DE LOS REYES: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner de los Reyes is recognized.

MR. DE LOS REYES: May I ask the committee some questions, Madam President?

As amended, the provision says that it is only the regional languages that shall not be subject to any changes as provided by law, because it is a separate sentence which says: "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS." There is no "as may be provided by law." The third sentence reads as follows: "English shall be maintained as a second language and as . . ."

MR. TREÑAS: Madam President, that was already deleted.

MR. DE LOS REYES: I see. With regard to the first sentence which says: "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE," could we not change that to "SUBJECT TO WHAT CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE"? Let us eliminate the phrase "provisions of law" so that there will be no double statement of "law" and Congress."

MR. VILLACORTA: The first line, "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW" would also refer to existing laws, rules and regulations, including those with the MECS.

MR. DE LOS REYES: Can we not say "SUBJECT TO SUCH CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW"?

MR. OPLE: I have been listening carefully to the nuances of the legal language put forward by the legal luminaries to my left. And since Commissioners de los Reyes and Nolledo have not achieved a meeting of minds, I would prefer to stick by the committee language since the committee has assumed jurisdiction.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, may we ask for a vote on this proposal?

MR. ROMULO: Madam President, we are ready to vote.

MR. DAVIDE: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: Before it is voted upon, may we request for a final reading of the proposal?

MR. VILLACORTA: The proposal reads as follows: "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE, THE GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE STEPS TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN THE USE OF FILIPINO AS A MEDIUM OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION AND AS LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION. . ." We originally said THEIR" but Commissioner Natividad suggested "IN THE" which the committee accepts. The last words, therefore, are: "IN THE RESPECTIVE REGIONS."

MR. DAVIDE: Madam President, just one clarification. Did I hear it correctly said as "AND AS A LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION"?

MR. VILLACORTA: "AND AS LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION."

MR. DAVIDE: And as medium of official communication.

THE PRESIDENT: Is Commissioner Padilla seeking recognition?

MR. PADILLA: Madam President, may I suggest that the vote be taken only on the first sentence, because the second sentence may take into consideration Section 2 of the committee report which says: 

The official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English, until otherwise provided by law. The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in their respective regions.

MR. VILLACORTA: What is the proposal of the Gentleman?

MR. PADILLA: Since the proposed section consists of two sentences, we should first vote on the first sentence because the second sentence may have direct connection with Section 2 of the committee report.

MR. VILLACORTA: So, would the Gentleman want us to vote on the first sentence?

MR. PADILLA: Yes, because as clearly replied by the committee to the questions of Commissioner Suarez, there are three possible languages: First is Filipino but that does not exclude English; neither does it exclude the regional language. In the committee report, Section 2 speaks of Filipino, second English, and third regional languages.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, we accept the proposal to vote only on the first sentence at this time.

MR. DE CASTRO: Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner de Castro is recognized.

MR. DE CASTRO: Just a matter of clarification. On the first sentence, we use Filipino as an official medium of communication in all branches of government. Is that correct?

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes.

MR. DE CASTRO: And when we speak of Filipino, can it be a combination of Tagalog and the local dialect, and, therefore, can be "Taglish"? Is that right?

MR. VILLACORTA: Not really "Taglish," Madam President.

MR. BENNAGEN: It can be standard.

MR. DE CASTRO: Or the combination of the local language and Tagalog?

MR. VILLACORTA: As it naturally evolves.

MR. DE CASTRO: Suppose I am a Muslim official from Sulu and I will use Filipino in my communication. So I will write: "Di makadiari ang iniisip mo." It is a combination of Tausog — di makadiari" and Tagalog — "ang iniisip mo." The one receiving in the main office may not understand the whole thing. I am just clarifying because when we use Filipino as a medium of official communication, there is a possibility that the message may not be understood when it reaches the central office or when it goes to another area.

MR. VILLACORTA: That is why the wording is, "The government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino." And in Section 1, it says: "as it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched," the implication being that it will be standardized as a national language.

MR. DE CASTRO: Yes, but then in Section 2, we come out with Filipino as a medium of official communication. I am just giving an example that as an official communication, it may not be understood by the one at the receiving end, especially if one comes from the South and whose message is received in the North or in the center. As I said, "Di makadiari ang iniisip mo," is half Tausog and half Tagalog.

MR. VILLACORTA: Commissioner Bennagen, who is an expert on culture and minorities, will answer the question of the Gentleman.

MR. BENNAGEN: I think what we envision to happen would be for government agencies, as well as other nongovernmental agencies involving this, to start immediately the work of standardization — expanding the vocabularies, standardizing the spelling and all appropriate measures that have to do with propagating Filipino.

MR. DE CASTRO: In short?

MR. BENNAGEN: The work will codify this national lingua franca as it is taking place and will be subjected to other developmental activities.

MR. OPLE: Madam President, may I say a word?

MR. DE CASTRO: In short, does the committee want us to understand that Section 2, even if ratified, will not as yet be effective because it is still subject to the provisions of law and as Congress may deem appropriate? So the medium of official communication among branches of government cannot as yet be Filipino until subject to provisions of law and as Congress may deem appropriate. Is that correct?

MR. OPLE: Madam President.

MR. DE CASTRO: No, I am asking the committee, please.

THE PRESIDENT: What is the answer of the committee?

MR. VILLACORTA: That is correct, Madam President.

MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you.

MR. OPLE: I just wanted to point out that when the words "official communication" is used, this must satisfy the standards of accuracy, precision and, perhaps, clarity or lack of ambiguity; otherwise, it will not be communication. One can lose a war through imprecise communication in government and, therefore, I think the word "communication" should be understood in its correct light — that when one writes from Sulu, as in the example given by Commissioner de Castro, he has to consider the following: Is his communication clear? Is it unambiguous? Is it precise? I just want to point out that when we speak of official communication, these normal standards of good communication ought to be recognized as controlling, otherwise, the interest of public administration will be vitally affected.

Thank you, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: Shall we vote now on the first sentence?

MR. RODRIGO: I think it should be on the first two sentences.

THE PRESIDENT: There was a suggestion, and that was accepted by the committee, to vote on the first sentence.

MR. RODRIGO: Only on the first sentence? But there are two sentences.

THE PRESIDENT: No, that was already approved.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, may I ask for a vote now because this has been extensively discussed.

THE PRESIDENT: Will the chairman read what is to be voted upon?

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, the first sentence reads: "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE, THE GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE STEPS TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN THE USE OF FILIPINO AS A MEDIUM OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION AND AS LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM."

VOTING

THE PRESIDENT: As many as are in favor of the first sentence, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 37 votes in favor and none against; the first sentence is approved.

MR. VILLACORTA: Shall we vote now on the next sentence, Madam President?

THE PRESIDENT: Will the chairman please read the next sentence.

MR. VILLACORTA: The next sentence, Madam President, reads: "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION IN THE RESPECTIVE REGIONS."

THE PRESIDENT: Commissioner Padilla is recognized before we proceed to vote.

MR. PADILLA: Section 2 of the committee report states:

The official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English, until otherwise provided by law. The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in their respective regions.

That second sentence in Section 2 of the committee report may be amended by that second sentence which says: "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION IN THE RESPECTIVE REGIONS." I believe we should consider the first sentence of Section 2 and then say: "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION IN THE RESPECTIVE REGIONS." That is my proposal.

THE PRESIDENT: In other words, the Commissioner's point is that this particular second sentence here should be transposed to Section 2 of the other committee report.

MR. PADILLA: Yes, Madam President.

THE PRESIDENT: What does the committee say?

REV. RIGOS: Madam President, perhaps if we approve the second sentence, we can delete the second sentence in Section 2. Is that the idea?

MR. PADILLA: That is correct.

REV. RIGOS; Since we are talking about medium of instruction here, we would rather retain it in the first section.

MR. PADILLA: Madam President, but if no mention is made of English, it might be the impression contrary to what has already been agreed upon — that English may not be used as a medium of instruction. And it shall be clear that the first preference is Filipino, the national language, without prejudice to the use of English and also the regional languages.

REV. RIGOS: Madam President, do we understand the Commissioner correctly that he would rather delete that in the first section and amend the second sentence in Section 2?

MR. PADILLA: Yes, Madam President. That is the reason I suggested that the proposal be divided into two sentences. We approved the first sentence. The second sentence should be corrected to Section 2 of the committee report.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, the committee is divided; therefore, we would like the floor to decide on this matter.

MR. PADILLA: The only reason I am saying this is to make clear in the Constitution that the medium of communication and the language of instruction are not only Filipino as a national language, and that the medium of instruction is the regional languages, otherwise, there would be no mention of English. I believe that we are all agreed that the first preference is the national language, Filipino, but it does not prevent the use of English and also of the regional languages.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, during the interpellation it was read into the record that the committee contemplates on English to be maintained as a second language.

MR. PADILLA: That is correct, but if the first sentence of the section which we have approved is followed immediately with regional languages, it may give the impression contrary to the accepted views that English may also be used, not only as a medium of communication but also as a language of instruction.

MR. VILLACORTA: We could not arrive at a consensus in the committee, Madam President, so could we put it to a vote?

MR. RODRIGO: May I ask for a recess, Madam President.

REV. RIGOS: We are still in Section 1, Madam President.

MR. PADILLA: Yes, I am referring now to Section 2 of the committee report, because it covers the same subject matter. I am suggesting that the second sentence of the amendment by substitution or by compromise should be taken together with Section 2 of the committee report.

THE PRESIDENT: So how would the Commissioner formulate? Will he delete this and transfer it to Section 2?

MR. PADILLA: Yes, Madam President. In lieu of the second sentence of the committee report, "The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the respective regions," we can substitute that with the second sentence of the compromised amendment, which reads: "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION IN THE RESPECTIVE REGIONS."

MR. TREÑAS: They are together; they are correlated.

MR. VILLACORTA: Madam President, may we ask for a vote on this matter.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

MR. RODRIGO: I am not ready to vote. May I ask for a suspension, Madam President?

THE PRESIDENT: The session is suspended.

It was 3:58 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 4:39 p.m., the session was resumed with the Honorable Adolfo S. Azcuna presiding.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The session is resumed.

The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I ask that Commissioner Monsod be recognized for Section 2.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: Perhaps we should first ask the committee if they have already agreed to the transposition of that sentence.

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes, I was going to say that Section 2 will now read: "The official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English, until otherwise provided by law. The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in their respective regions AND SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION THEREIN." This was formulated in cooperation with Commissioners Suarez, Padilla and Maambong.

MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I propose an anterior amendment before we take up the entire section?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Please proceed.

MR. MONSOD: I would like to propose that in the first sentence we insert the words, "FOR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION" between the words "Philippines" and "are" so that it will now read: "The official languages of the Philippines, FOR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION, are Filipino and English, until otherwise provided by law." May I explain?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Please proceed.

MR. MONSOD: We are mentioning this in order to reflect the intent and answers of the committee in Section 1. Since we are now mentioning regional languages as an auxiliary official language and in the context of a medium of instruction, it is better to clarify that until otherwise provided by law both Filipino and English are recognized as media of instruction and communication which is what the committee gave in answer to the clarificatory questions on Section 1.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee regrets that it cannot accept the amendment and would like to ask for a vote on that proposed amendment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does Commissioner Monsod say?

MR. VILLACORTA: The reason the committee is not accepting it is that it actually delimits the concept of official language, and number two, it has already been made clear that English will continue to be a second language and there is no necessity for making it much clearer in the Constitution.

MR. MONSOD: As a matter of fact, the reason I am proposing this is precisely because there seems to have been some doubt as to the role of English until after we had to clarify. Secondly, I do not know if there is any other purpose than communication and instruction. So, when we say for purpose of communication and instruction," then we are removing any confusion and doubt and anybody who reads our Constitution immediately sees the intent of the Constitution and does not need to look into the Journal.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the other reason we feel this is not necessary is that in our society now, what needs greater protection and more constitutionalization is not English but Filipino which is in a very weak state right now. English can fend for itself. If I may quote from my favorite saint, San Francisco Rodrigo, in his poem, "Daig sa Wikang Banyaga":

Hindi tayo daig ng kanong banyaga
    sa isip, talino, sa kuro sa diwa.
    Daig lamang tayo sa pagsasalita,
    pagkat gamit natin ay kanilang wika.
    Naging sanhi ito ng maling akala
    na sila'y dakila at tayo ay aba.

I think that poem of Senator Rodrigo reflects quite vividly and accurately the status of languages in our country today — na ang aba at kawawa ay ang Filipino at ang higit na dakila ay ang Ingles. Why will we further reenforce this colonial aspect of our society?

MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, I believe that is precisely why the whole of Section 1 is a very categorical adoption of Filipino and its fruition and development and the mandate that it be propagated. So, all of Section 1 is already a reflection of the sentiment of this Commission. We just want to eliminate the doubt in Section 2 as to the role of both. That is all, Mr. Presiding Officer. We submit for a vote.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: May I just find out from Commissioner Monsod whether in proposing this amendment he was making up for the loss of the sentence pertaining to English as a second language in the preceding section?

MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, I was for deleting that in the first section, because precisely we want to emphasize the adoption and development of Filipino.

MR. OPLE: My recollection was that the committee did not initiate the deletion of that sentence. The deletion was proposed by Commissioner Monsod himself.

MR. MONSOD: Yes, in order to concentrate on Filipino in the first section. But it is in the second section, which we know is a follow-up section, where we should remove the doubt as to the role of both Filipino and English.

MR. OPLE: What is the consequence of not acting on Commissioner Monsod's amendment so that Filipino and English are here acknowledged in this new section as the official languages, unless otherwise provided by law?

MR. MONSOD: The consequence is that there could be some doubt because of our strong endorsement in Section 1 on the role of English. When we also follow it up with a sentence on regional languages as auxiliary media of instruction, somehow in the structure of the two sections, there is some loss as to the role of English. That is why I am trying to make this clearer.

MR. OPLE: So, the whole intention of the amendment is to make explicit what has been identified as the sense of the Commission with respect to the role of English as a second language which was dropped in the first section.

MR. MONSOD: Yes.

MR. OPLE: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer, for the clarification.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): We will now proceed to vote.

MS. QUESADA: Not yet, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Quesada is recognized.

MS. QUESADA: I think the position of the committee is really to stress the fact that English is going to be the alternative medium of instruction. That was the deleted provision. We believe that as long as we retain English as another medium of instruction, there will still be the possibility of utilizing materials which are written in English, and which will actually hinder the development of our own educational materials. So, we felt that the formulation that we have in Section 1 could be retained as is and reinforced in Section 2, citing that the official languages of the Philippines for purposes of communication and instruction be still written down in this particular section.

MR. RODRIGO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair recognizes Commissioner Rodrigo.

MR. RODRIGO: Would Commissioner Monsod accept an amendment to his amendment so that Section 2 would read: "The official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English, BOTH OF WHICH SHALL BE MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION, until otherwise provided by law."

MR. MONSOD: Yes. I accept, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: I am a little confused as to the response of Commissioner Quesada because that is not the sense and the tenor of the answers of the committee earlier this afternoon. If I hear her correctly, she is saying that there should be a stoppage of the use of materials in English. That was not the answer of the committee earlier this morning, and perhaps it is better for us really to clarify it then in this section rather than have the different interpretations we are getting from the committee. ELC

MS. QUESADA: I think I did not say that there will be a stoppage but that there will be the encouragement of the development of materials written in Filipino, if we are going to really use Filipino as the medium of instruction in our educational system. As long as we retain all these materials without developing the Filipino materials, then I think we will not really progress.

MR. MONSOD: I am confused because we have just heard it said "as the medium of instruction"; I thought that we said as "language of instruction" without the word "the." So, I am a little confused and perhaps that is the reason we need to clarify this point once and for all.

MR. RODRIGO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Rodrigo is recognized.

MR. RODRIGO: I have an amendment to the amendment which was accepted by the proponent. I think it is a very simple amendment; I ask that we vote on that.

REV. RIGOS: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Rigos is recognized.

REV. RIGOS: The trouble with the proposed amendment is that we repeat in Section 2 what we have already said in Section 1, that Filipino is a medium of instruction.

MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I just answer that? I think in Section 1, we are talking of Filipino as a medium of communication and language of instruction in the context of the steps that must be taken to initiate and sustain it. That is how we are mentioning it in Section 1. It is a mandate in effect to Congress to take steps to initiate and sustain it as a medium of communication, as language of instruction. Section 2 merely reiterates the coexisting role of both as media of communication and instruction.

MR. VILLACORTA: May we call for a vote, Mr. Presiding Officer?

MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: May I propound some questions on the basis of the amendment, as amended? As amended, it will read that the official languages are Filipino and English, both of which shall be the official language of communication and the medium of instruction in all the educational system. Am I correct?

MR. RODRIGO: No, both of which shall be media of instruction.

MR. DAVIDE: And the language of communication.

MR. RODRIGO: And Commissioner Monsod wants to add that both shall be media of communication and instruction, unless otherwise provided by law.

MR. DAVIDE: Would that not run counter to what had just been approved? I am referring to the Ople, et al amendment which reads: "SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF LAW AND AS CONGRESS MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE, THE GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE STEPS TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN THE USE OF FILIPINO AS A MEDIUM OF OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION AND AS LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM."

MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I answer that question? In reply to Commissioner Rigos, that clause "as provided by law and Congress may deem otherwise," refers to the government taking steps precisely because "Filipino" has been disadvantaged. So we are mandating Congress to take steps so that it can be initiated and sustained as a medium of communication and as language of instruction. So there is no inconsistency, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DAVIDE: There is an obvious inconsistency because in the first we only would mandate Congress to take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a language of official communication and as a medium of instruction. And then in the succeeding section, we immediately mandate that not only shall it serve as one of the two official languages but it shall also be the language of communication and medium of instruction.

MR. MONSOD: Yes, because the committee, in reply to questions on Section 1, precisely said that the steps to be taken do not preclude English as a medium of communication and as a language of instruction.

MR. DAVIDE: No, I am not talking about English. I am talking about Filipino because the official languages would be Filipino and English. But under the Gentleman's amendment, both Filipino and English, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be the languages of official communication and the media of instruction. Yet, in the preceding section, we only mandate the government to take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a language of communication and as a medium of instruction. So insofar as Filipino is concerned, there is an obvious and apparent inconsistency.

MR. MONSOD: As I see it, the inconsistency arises from the use of "until otherwise provided by law" which was there in the first place. My amendment is only to clarify the coexistent roles of the two. So if the Gentleman's objection is to the phrase "until otherwise provided by law," that is in the original formulation of the committee.

MR. DAVIDE: That is precisely the reason why if we merge English and Filipino, insofar as the latter is concerned, it would be inconsistent with what we have just approved. I am referring to the Ople amendment; probably we could limit it to English.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: I am in a quandary as to how to vote on this issue. Mr. Presiding Officer. So may I have the leave of an impatient Commission to ask just one more question before we take a vote?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Commissioner is recognized.

MR. OPLE: What bothers me, and maybe a few others associated with the first amendment in Section 1, is that after giving Filipino the pride of place in the preceding section, are we now establishing a symmetry for Filipino and English in the subsequent section?

MR. MONSOD: No, Mr. Presiding Officer, I think the intent is quite clear. I was wondering whether Commissioner Romulo was suggesting a transposition in order to obviate the possible misinterpretation being raised by Commissioner Davide. We can say that the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English until otherwise provided by law. And then, we can have a second sentence which says: "English shall be maintained as a medium of communication and instruction, until otherwise provided by law." That will make it clearer so that English is the only one that is subject to the provision of law and not Filipino. Does that answer the Gentleman?

MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, in that formulation, there is no symmetry because Filipino still ranks higher than English. Is that correct?

MR. MONSOD: Yes, because that is the intent and the letter of Section 1.

MR. OPLE: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Rodrigo is recognized.

MR. RODRIGO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I withdraw my amendment to the amendment to give way to that new amendment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Will Commissioner Monsod please restate the latest permutation to his amendment?

MR. MONSOD: My amendment now in Section 2 is to insert the sentence: "ENGLISH SHALL BE MAINTAINED AS A MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION, UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW."

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does the committee say?

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, may we call for a two-minute suspension for harmonization?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The session is suspended.

It was 5:00 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 5:05 p.m., the session was resumed.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna) The session is resumed.

Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: There has been a suggestion for a reformulation and I still think that we should retain the committee formulation and add at the beginning: "FOR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION, THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE PHILIPPINES ARE FILIPINO AND ENGLISH, UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW." In other words, if we keep the original committee formulation and just add the phrase at the beginning, then the intent will remain the same.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does the committee say?

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, there was during the recess a proposed formulation which the committee is going to adopt, based on the Azcuna proposal which reads: "FOR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION, THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE PHILIPPINES ARE FILIPINO, UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, ENGLISH." I understand that Commissioner Monsod is agreeable to this proposal.

MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I inquire on certain matters?

First, with regard to the phrase "for purposes of communication and instruction." How does it relate to the preceding paragraph where we use the words, "language of official communication and medium of instruction"?

MR. VILLACORTA: That reflects the intention of the first Section.

MR. DAVIDE: So the intention would be practically the same as the previous. It will not solve the problem I raised; insofar as Filipino is concerned, it will still be inconsistent with the first.

MR. VILLACORTA: Could the Gentleman restate the problem that he raised?

MR. DAVIDE: The problem is, it would now appear that both Filipino and English are the languages of official communication and the media of instruction, but yet in the first, the Ople amendment, it will not be so — I am referring to Filipino — until Congress shall provide otherwise and deem appropriate, the government has taken steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as such. That is the reason I suggested that we should split — the Monsod amendment should refer more specifically to English. So I agreed with the formulation presented by Commissioner Ople by way of an amendment to the Rodrigo amendment which was withdrawn by virtue of the former.

MR. VILLACORTA: Commissioner Nolledo would like to give his opinion on this matter.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Nolledo is recognized.

MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

I do not find any inconsistency, because if we look at the first and the second parts, the first part also subjects the development of Filipino as national language to the existing provisions of the law or to the will of Congress. Here we are making it clear that we consider Filipino as an official language, but we cannot deny that at present English is still being used as a medium of instruction. That is why we separated English from Filipino, in the sense that we put the words "UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, ENGLISH." So, there is some sort of transitional character but both sentences, Mr. Presiding Officer and members of the committee, are consistent with each other.

MR. TREÑAS: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Treñas is recognized.

MR. TREÑAS: Mr. Presiding Officer, we adopt and echo the arguments of Commissioner Nolledo that there is no inconsistency between the formulation of Section 1, which we have already approved, and the formulation of Section 2 as proposed by Commissioner Monsod.

MR. MONSOD: Which one, Mr. Presiding Officer?

MR. TREÑAS: The last as formulated by Commissioner Azcuna and stated just now by the chairman of our committee.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The committee has accepted, as counterproposal, Commissioner Monsod's proposed amendment to read as follows: "FOR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION, THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE PHILIPPINES ARE FILIPINO AND, UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, ENGLISH." Is Commissioner Monsod agreeable to such counterproposal of the committee?

MR. MONSOD: The problem is that it does not sound like correct English, but may we leave it to the Committee on Style?

MR. VILLACORTA: Yes.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): We can vote on that.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, may we ask for a vote on this matter because discussions are overextended?

MR. MONSOD: With the instruction to the Committee on Style, I am accepting the proposal of the committee.

VOTING

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): So, let us now vote on the amendment as proposed and accepted by the committee which reads: "FOR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION AND INSTRUCTION, THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE PHILIPPINES ARE FILIPINO AND, UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, ENGLISH."

As many as are in favor of the proposal, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 38 votes in favor and none against; the proposal is approved. It is hereby referred to the Committee on Style.

MR. ROMULO: Mr. Presiding Officer, we should now vote on the Padilla amendment which the committee has accepted, the second sentence of Section 2.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The chairman is recognized.

MR. VILLACORTA: May I read the formulation which was the contribution of Commissioners Suarez, Padilla and Maambong. This would be the second sentence of Section 2: "THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES ARE THE AUXILIARY OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS AND SHALL SERVE AS AUXILIARY MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION THEREIN."

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Is there any objection to this amendment of Commissioner Padilla, which was accepted by the committee?

Commissioner Maambong is recognized.

MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer, I thought the first line should read "IN THE REGIONS. " not "THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS."

MR. VILLACORTA: "IN THE REGIONS," is accepted.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Is there any objection? Shall we take a vote on this?

MR. VILLACORTA: There is no objection, Mr. Presiding Officer.

VOTING

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): As many as are in favor of the amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 37 votes in favor and none against; the amendment is approved.

The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: I ask that Commissioner Rodrigo be recognized.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Rodrigo is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I submit this amendment on behalf of Commissioner Ople and myself: a third sentence to be added to Section 2, which will read: "THE GOVERNMENT SHALL PROMOTE SPANISH AS A HISTORICAL LEGACY ON A VOLUNTARY AND OPTIONAL BASIS."

MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): May we ask the committee to comment first?

MR. GUINGONA: May I be allowed to ask a few questions?

Would this proposed amendment restrict or prohibit the government, Congress, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, any official, agency or body, to compel the teaching of Spanish in educational institutions?

MR. RODRIGO: No, it will not.

MR. GUINGONA: No, it will not prohibit?

MR. RODRIGO: It will not.

MR. GUINGONA: Therefore, the government can still require the compulsory teaching of Spanish?

MR. RODRIGO: Yes.

MR. GUINGONA: I see.

MR. TINGSON: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair recognizes Commissioner Tingson.

MR. TINGSON: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

May I just say a word to add to the record or, at least if I will be allowed, to say something in favor of this amendment. Am I allowed, Mr. Presiding Officer?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Please proceed.

MR. TINGSON: Mr. Presiding Officer, I rise in defense of Spanish not because I prefer la lengua Española to our very own which we now call Filipino, nor would I subordinate our native tongue to English. After all, Filipino will always be the language of our hearts. But we cannot ignore, Mr. Presiding Officer, our historical legacy which inextricably includes the Spanish language. Jose Rizal studied with Spanish as a medium of instruction. El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere were originally penned in Spanish. Our historical accounts regarding our country and our people were written mostly in Spanish.

Mr. Presiding Officer, while it is true that Spanish as a language is no longer be gainsaid, however, that Spanish is still very much an integral part of our national spirit. Our Constitution perforce must also be translated into Spanish because inevitably copies of our Charter will find their way into the libraries of Spanish-speaking nations, like Spain and the South American countries. Also, let us not forget that Spanish is number two among the living languages of the world.

Mr. Presiding Officer, let us not ignore Spanish completely. Vamos a traducir a nuestra trabaja — our new Constitution — into this beautiful language and, therefore, honor our historical legacy.

Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Alonto is recognized.

MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I am also in favor of the amendment, but I wonder if the distinguished proponent will accept an amendment to this amendment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): He may do so, if he so desires. Commissioner Rodrigo is the proponent.

MR. ALONTO: My amendment is very simple and it is only for the purpose of straightening and correctly stating what must be the languages which can be considered a historical legacy of this country. Mr. Presiding Officer, I would like to amend the amendment to include Arabic and Malay, and I would like to request that I be granted the chance to explain why.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does Commissioner Rodrigo say?

MR. RODRIGO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I am not in a position to accept or to reject because I am not sufficiently acquainted with Arabic and Malay; or on how many regions speak these in the Philippines; or if we should consider them at par with other regional languages like Cebuano, Ilocano, Bicolano. Should we consider Arabic or Malay of a higher category? And so, I am not in a position to either accept or reject. So, I would like to leave it to the body after Commissioner Alonto shall have explained the reason for his amendment

MR. ALONTO: Yes, thank you.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Alonto has the floor.

MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, we are talking about languages which we would like to adopt as our historical legacy. I understand by this that we are trying to recognize and put on record those languages that have influenced not only the development of the local languages in this country, but also those that have influenced profoundly the development of culture and civilization of the Filipino people.

Mr. Presiding Officer, I would like to put on record that the basic language or the basic culture that has influenced the progress and culture of the Filipino people is Malay. Malay is a language of a group of people belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian race of which all the different sectors and tribes of this country belong. The Malay language is utilized by Indonesia and Malaysia as the basis of their official languages and the basis of the official language which is now called Bahasa Indonesian and Bahasa Malaysian, because Malay, one of the hundreds of languages belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian race, is the most developed among all the different languages. This is reflected, even in the languages of this country. For example, the word "nasi" in Pampango is a pure Malay word which means rice.

The first foreign language that came to the Philippine shore and which has greatly influenced the development not only of our languages, but even our civilization and culture, was Arabic. It came to the shores of this country more than 600 years ago. A proof of how the Arabic language has influenced the development of our culture and civilization is the use of the Tagalog words of respect "ate" and "kuya" — "ate" means an elder sister, "kuya" means an elder brother — both words are derivative of the Arabic words "okhte" and "akhuya" which mean "sister" and "brother," respectively.

Of course, together with Arabic, Malay and Spanish, these are the three languages that have profoundly influenced not only the development of languages in this country but also the civilization and culture of this country. And so this is the reason I am trying to present this amendment to the amendment of the distinguished Commissioner.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, may the committee react?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Before we recognize the committee for its reaction, the Chair would like to ask Commissioner Ople what his pleasure is.

MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, I suppose I now speak on behalf of Commissioner Rodrigo and myself. We do accept the merit of Commissioner Alonto's proposal to recognize the historic relevance of Arabic and Malay though perhaps on a separate level of importance to the Filipino people. The tendency of the proponents, however, is to counterpropose to Commissioner Alonto a separate sentence which can be located under Section 2 or under Section 3, and which will merely say that other languages of historic relevance to the Filipino people, such as Arabic and Malay, may be developed and promoted as optional languages in appropriate regions. I think the reason for this is very clear. Spanish is a national legacy, and although there are fewer people who speak it today than before they are extensively distributed throughout the country.

In the case of Malay, let us admit that this is one of the paramount languages in the so-called Malayo-Indonesian family of languages and a close kin to our own languages. I will, however, stop short of agreeing with Commissioner Alonto that Malay has reached the highest stage of development among the members of the so-called Austrenesian or Malayo-Polynesian family of languages because our own national language can aspire to that eminence now in the entire region. Will Commissioner Alonto, therefore, consider later on, having this concept embodied in another sentence so that we can provide for it but on an optional basis, and to be promoted as optional language in appropriate regions?

MR. ALONTO: I understand that even the use of Spanish is to be on an optional basis. That is the reason why I amended it. If, for example, Spanish is to be imposed on a mandatory basis, I do not see the reason why we cannot also classify Arabic in the same manner, because Arabic, in the first place, is now an accepted international language in the United Nations.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair finds this in the nature of a third degree proposed amendment; so before we go any further, the Chair would like to recognize the chairman for his reaction which may clarify these points.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, with respect to the proposal of the Honorable Alonto, the committee recognizes the importance of Arabic. Since we are talking here about historic legacy, we should really include Arabic for symmetry. However, the committee regrets that it cannot accept the inclusion of Malay which is a foreign language.

It is true, that our immediate neighbors have Malay as the national language, both in Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia, but at the same time, it might clutter the provision. We are willing to accept Arabic because Arabic has a very important historic place in our country and in our culture. Spanish was the predominant language for so long during several centuries of colonization but, at the same time, Arabic remained paramount, particularly among the leaders of the unconquered sections of the country in Mindanao.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair would like to inquire from the chairman of the committee whether the committee is accepting Commissioner Rodrigo's main amendment; otherwise, it would be in no position to accept amendments to the amendments thereto.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee is accepting the Rodrigo and Ople amendments and at the same time the amendment of Commissioner Alonto with respect to the inclusion of Arabic for symmetry.

MR. ALONTO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

MR. OPLE: I move that we suspend the session so that we can confer with the committee and with Commissioner Alonto.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The session is suspended.

It was 5:32 p.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 5:56 p.m., the session was resumed.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The session is resumed.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee, after meeting with the main proponents, is accepting the following reformulation of the second sentence of Section 2: "THE STATE SHALL PROMOTE SPANISH AND ARABIC ON A VOLUNTARY AND OPTIONAL BASIS." This is acceptable to all the proponents.

May we have a vote on this provision, Madam President.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Before we do that, the Chair would like to recognize Commissioner Aquino.

MS. AQUINO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

With due respect to our esteemed colleagues, Commissioner Rodrigo, I will have to take exception to the position of the proponent. And this time, I will invoke the hackneyed objection that we use in court, that the proposal lacks basis.

In the original proposal, the proponent invoked historical legacy as the basis for a mandate for the State to promote Spanish. But what historical legacy do we speak of? To the best of my recollection, the only historical legacy that we can derive from the Spaniards is the history of exploitation and oppression. Do we have to dignify that by giving it an imprint of a constitutional fiat? We are not prohibited, in the first place, to adopt Spanish as a voluntary or optional course in schools, but must we provide for that in the Constitution?

In the second place, Mr. Presiding Officer, we do not speak of a Spanish culture in the Philippines. It may be our loss, but the fact is that the absence of a Spanish culture militates against the facility with which the Filipinos could assimilate Spanish as a language. And, in fact, it is the single strongest obstacle for Spanish capturing the popular imagination and the popular consciousness. We had been exposed to 24 units of Spanish and I, myself, had a great deal of difficulty in even conjugating the basic verbs in Spanish.

The absence of a Spanish culture necessarily denies Spanish the very bedrock within which it could flourish and it is not up for us to answer that kind of a problem or to even apologize for that kind of a difficulty by providing for that in the Constitution.

There is another factor that militates against Spanish being imbibed in the Filipino culture. Spanish has been known to be the language of exploitation. That is the single, the strongest mental block that has become a powerful complex in the continued and subconscious resistance of the Filipinos to understanding and imbibing Spanish as a language.

Spanish has always been associated with the amos of the past or the señor pastas who live in the illusory sanctuary of Forbes Park. It was associated with the language of the Filipino acolytes of the Spanish conquistadores during the Spanish colonial period.

MR. PADILLA: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Padilla is recognized.

MR. PADILLA: Mr. Presiding Officer, quisiera hablar a favor y en apoyo de las sugerencia enmienda de los Señores Rodrigo y Ople yanotiendo a las manifestaciones del Señor Tingson, de los escritos de nuestros padres, particularmente las novelas inmortales de nuestro hero nacional Noli Me Tangere y El Filibusterismo y otras poesias de mucho valor patriotico como "Mi Ultimo Adios" y "Mi Retiro."

Quisiera anadir, que de los legados historicos de nuestra Madre España, son nuestra Codigo Civil y Codigo Penal, que estan pasados en los codigos de España. Si nuestros estudiantes de derecho puedan leer y comprender la lengua Española y los escritos y comentarios de los autores Españoles como Manresa en Codigo Civil y Viada en Codigo Penal, nuestros abogados en derecho civil y derecho penal seran mejores preparados y por eso, pido que la Comision apoye la enmienda en favor de la lengua Española. Muchas gracias.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair recognizes Commissioner Quesada.

MS. QUESADA: Mr. Presiding Officer, prejudicial question. Could we ask the Honorable Padilla to please translate in Filipino what he has just said, because there are many of us barbarians who did not understand at all a single word that he said? I think it is but right that we be privy to it in Filipino.

MR. RODRIGO: Mr. Presiding Officer, ako na po ang magsasalin sa wikang Pilipino.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair recognizes Commissioner Rodrigo, with the indulgence of Commissioner Quesada.

MR. RODRIGO: Nais ba ng Komisyonado na ngayon o pagkatapos na ng sesyon ang pagsasalin ko sa wikang Pilipino?

MS. QUESADA: Mr. Presiding Officer, because we feel alienated by the fact that a foreign tongue was used in our session.

MR. RODRIGO: Opo, pagbibigyan ko si Komisyonado Quesada.

Sinabi po ni Komisyonado Padilla na marami naman tayong mga benepisyo galing sa Espanya, halimbawa, ang ating Kodigo Sibil at Kodigo Penal. At ang sabi niya, iyong mga sinulat ng ating mga bayani, ang dalawang nobela ni Dr. Jose Rizal, Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo, ay nasa wikang Kastila, pati na iyong "Mi Ultimo Adios" ni Jose Rizal at ang kanyang iba pang poesia.

At sinabi rin niya na kung ang lahat ng mga abogado ay marunong ng Kastila, makatutulong ito ng malaki sapagkat ang mga libro ng mga komentarista sa Kodigo Sibil tulad ni Manresa at sa Kodigo Penal tulad ni Viada, ay nasa wikang Kastila rin. Kaya sinabi niya na siya ay kumakatig sa panukalang susog ni Komisyonado Ople at ng inyong lingkod at hinihiling niya na sana ay maaprubahan ng Kapulungang ito.

MS. QUESADA: Maraming salamat po, Komisyonado Rodrigo.

MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: Thank you very much.

I just want to take the opportunity to comment briefly on the powerful objections of Commissioner Felicitas Aquino to the so-called "Rodrigo-Ople Amendment" on historical grounds.

I do not think anybody can deny, and no one intends to dispute, the allegation that the 350 years of Spanish colonialism over this territory now known as the Republic of the Philippines was ruthless, oppressive and, in many ways, exploitative. At the same time, a good part of the world had gone through this ordeal of colonialism. I think discriminating between Spanish and American colonialisms is probably open to question, in the sense that both were colonialisms. But in one case, the Spaniards denied us deliberately the gift of their beautiful and powerful language which, incidentally, derives a lot from Arabic.

We will recall Rizal's famous letter to the women of Malolos. Why did Rizal write to the women of Malolos? To congratulate them, because a group had the goal to establish a school to teach Spanish, over the objections of the local Spanish commanders and the priests. For Jose Rizal, the teaching of Spanish at that time was an act of courage and patriotism. That was the reason he wrote that letter to the women of Malolos.

In the case of the Americans, they were more sophisticated and, in some ways, projected a sort of altruism that, save for the Spanish missionaries in the earlier part of the Spanish regime, our ancestors never experienced in the hands of Spain. But the padding on the chain was still there. And I could fault my good friend, Commissioner Aquino, for having lavished her bile on Spanish colonialism and apparently spare the American colonialism from any odium of history. Both are legacies.

But I think today, the tendency when we look back is to say that those were crimes of the times; they occurred long ago. There were certain trade-offs; we owe our territorial integrity to Spain and the United States by virtue of the 1898 Treaty of Paris. We were just a string of human settlements before. The most advanced social structure was in Jolo where a sultanate existed. Even in Manila, we were trying at that time to set up a confederation of villages. So there are blessings to count as well. I think no one can deny that a good part of our historical archives is still in Spanish.

Mr. Presiding Officer, I do not have a drop of Spanish blood in my veins. I do not speak Spanish. I consider myself a pure Malay-type Filipino. My ancestors were oppressed by Spanish-speaking landlords in Bulacan. But why should I dwell on those? All I know is that, historically, we have been gifted with the Spanish language, although it is disappearing now. But it is also an emergent world language. By the year 2000 about 20 countries in Latin America will rise to the level of the OECD to become industrialized. And when we speak of the Pacific century, there are some countries in Latin America, on the Pacific rim, with which the future generation can engage in mutually profitable and lucrative international trade, and knowledge of Spanish will help. Of Arabic, all I can say is that this is also an emergent world language and it is now one of the official languages of the United Nations. I think at this time we want to forge permanent bonds of unity with Muslim Mindanao and we have already enshrined the noble sentiment of our Muslim brothers by granting them regional autonomy in the Article on Local Governments. I think we cannot stop there and spurn the earnest appeal of Commissioner Alonto on behalf of our Muslim brothers. Once more, let us demonstrate that we are sensitive to their own historical development and their legacy especially in terms of promoting Arabic. About Malay, I think we have agreed that there is no ground to include it in the bracket of Spanish and Arabic. So I just want to unburden myself of these feelings in reply to the points made by Commissioner Aquino.

Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. RAMA: I think the argument of Commissioner Aquino should not be left unanswered in this Commission. I believe that her argument against the Spanish language is emotional. She said, for instance, that Spanish is a legacy of the Spaniards during their oppressive regime. If we follow the argument of Commissioner Aquino, we should also reject the Catholic religion because that is the biggest legacy we got from the Spaniards. So I maintain that we should separate those Spanish rascals who oppressed us from the good things that the Spaniards brought here, like the Spanish language which is a beautiful and neutral language and it is now the second language in the world. I also recall that Senator Recto, who is more nationalist than Commissioner Aquino, was urging the study of Spanish as a historical legacy of the Philippines.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Aquino is given the chance to reply.

MS. AQUINO: I do not lay claim to being a self-proclaimed nationalist; neither do I lay claim to being a self-proclaimed archangel of Filipino or Tagalog. But just a brief rejoinder to Commissioner Padilla. I appreciate fully the lessons, the salutary effects of El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere. But I do not have to speak Greek to be able to know and understand Homer or Sophocles; I do not have to speak Latin to be able to know and understand Virgil or Horace; I do not have to speak German to know and understand Thomas Mann; and I do not have to learn French to know and understand Camus or Proust. When I said that we do not speak of a Spanish culture in the Philippines, I mean we cannot speak of symbols, we cannot speak of rhetoric, we cannot speak of a language that is able to capture the popular consciousness and the popular imagination for them to be able to accept it with facility and without recrimination. On the charge of discrimination against Americans or English, it is most unfair to judge me of a double standard of judging history. What I am saying is that Filipinos do not even know enough Spanish to be able to acquit themselves creditably. In fact, the halting and incoherent Spanish that we know makes the Spanish wonder and think that there is something wrong with the intelligence of the Filipinos. There is nothing wrong with the intelligence of the Filipinos, but there is everything wrong when we want to manifest our intelligence in a language that is not ours; in fact, in a language that was deliberately denied us by the Spanish masters themselves.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The committee chairman is recognized, with the indulgence of Commissioner Davide.

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee would like to explain its support for the proposal to the amendment of Commissioner Alonto. We feel that the criteria for singling out these two languages are as follows: the historic value of these two languages and the worldwide importance of these two languages given our close relations with Latin American countries, Spain and the Arab countries.

First, let me explain with respect to historic and cultural value. I do not agree with Commissioner Ople when he said that Spain was responsible for our having been elevated to the status of a nation from a group or a string of settlements. Historians are agreed that had Spain not arrived in the Philippines or had its arrival been delayed for 25 years, we would have been one solid and unified Muslim nation. It was more, as Commissioner Bennagen emphasizes, the struggles of our people that made us one nation and not the colonization of one country. Nonetheless, we beg to disagree with Commissioner Aquino that Spain has no significant impact on Philippine culture. The fact that most of us here carry Spanish names is proof that Spain has had a deep impact on our culture and identity. The cultural artifacts of the Philippines, particularly those that are found in churches, the architecture of most Filipino homes in Christian lowland places and even the languages of the Philippines, and there are numerous other examples that we can cite, prove that Spain did have a significant influence, although not always positive, but just the same significant, influence on Philippine culture. We can say the same thing about Arabic, and this need not be belabored. We thought we should mention this to explain our support for the amendment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Davide is now recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: Before we vote on the amendment, may I be allowed to ask some clarificatory questions?

The first question is: I understand that there is an existing law mandating Spanish as one of the official languages, and it shall remain so until all the books in Spanish at the National Archives or National Library shall have been translated into the official languages, Filipino or English. What would be the effect on this law the moment we approve the amendment? Would it mean that Spanish would no longer be such an official language?

MR. VILLACORTA: Is the Honorable Davide addressing the question to the committee?

MR. DAVIDE: To the committee or to the main proponents, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee prefers to throw the question to the proponents.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The proponent, Commissioner Rodrigo, is recognized.

MR. RODRIGO: The amendment reads: "THE GOVERNMENT SHALL PROMOTE SPANISH AND ARABIC." This is not inconsistent with the law, so this does not repeal that law. However, we hope that Congress will repeal that law and make it only optional.

MR. DAVIDE: Under the proposal, nothing can prevent Congress to continue that law.

MR. RODRIGO: No, this provision does not.

MR. DAVIDE: Under the proposal, especially tying it up with the previous section we approved on English and Filipino as mediums of instruction and as official languages of communication until English shall be phased out by law, English can also be replaced by Spanish as an official language. This means that under the proposal, nothing can prevent Congress from adopting Spanish as an official language even after it shall have repealed the existing law making Spanish as an official language. Am I correct, Mr. Presiding Officer?

MR. RODRIGO: The constitutional provision is very clear that English remains an official language, until otherwise provided by law. It does not state that Spanish can be substituted for English, although, as the Commissioner said, there is already a law, a presidential decree.

MR. DAVIDE: Yes, I think it is a presidential decree.

MR. RODRIGO: The constitutional provision is not inconsistent with that presidential decree, so it can continue in force even after the approval of the Constitution with this provision.

MR. DAVIDE: Since it is not inconsistent with that particular law, Congress, even if it shall have repealed that law, may promulgate a law making Spanish as an official language?

MR. RODRIGO: Yes, the Commissioner is correct.

MR. DAVIDE: Another point, Mr. Presiding Officer. We have granted Muslim Mindanao autonomy, and we will allow the creation of a regional legislative body with several powers and prerogatives. May the legislative body for Muslim Mindanao mandate Arabic as a language of communication or medium of instruction within the region making it, therefore, a regional language but mandatory in character?

MR. RODRIGO: Yes, in addition to the official languages in the Constitution.

MR. DAVIDE: Would it not be in conflict with the proposed amendment when, insofar as Arabic is concerned, it should be promoted merely on a voluntary and optional basis?

MR. RODRIGO: As a regional language, if the legislature of that region wants to make it compulsory in that region, it is all right, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DAVIDE; It would not be all right because in the Article on Language, Arabic would only be optional and voluntary.

MR. RODRIGO: That is nationwide.

MR. DAVIDE: That is correct, but the Article on Autonomous Regions opens with a section to the effect that there shall be autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras, subject to the provisions of this Constitution and national law. But definitely the autonomous regions and all the laws enacted by the autonomous region shall be subject to the provisions of this Constitution. Necessarily, this is a provision of the Constitution making Arabic merely voluntary and optional. So it will follow that the regional legislative body cannot mandate Arabic as a compulsory language in Muslim Mindanao.

MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, with the permission of the distinguished Commissioner, may I be recognized?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What is the pleasure of Commissioner Alonto?

MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I answer the question posed by Commissioner Davide?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Alonto is recognized.

MR. ALONTO: The legislative power granted to the autonomous region is specifically stated in the Constitution.

MR. DAVIDE: That is correct, Mr. Presiding Officer, but subject to the opening sentence of the first section.

MR. ALONTO; But I do not believe there is such grant of a legislative power to the autonomous region to declare an official language within the region.

MR. DAVIDE: In other words, is it the position of the Commissioner that the autonomous legislative body cannot prescribe a law making Arabic a compulsory language in Muslim Mindanao?

MR. ALONTO: That is my understanding, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DAVIDE: Another point, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the issue has been belabored already. May I ask that we take a vote?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Davide has one more minute.

MR. DAVIDE: Another point, Mr. Presiding Officer. What exactly is meant by "voluntary and optional"?

MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I volunteer a brief reply to that?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: I think when we say "voluntary and optional basis," we are not precluding the power of Congress to, let us say, repeal the compulsory teaching of Spanish as a general policy, but without prejudice to certain universities applying to the Ministry of Education and Culture for the compulsory teaching of Spanish with respect to certain definite subjects where a knowledge of Spanish is deemed by that university to be very essential to the development of expertise, for example, on a foreign service or law courses. What is wrong if the students are made to take certain units in Spanish? Even specialists now and the great mass of the studentry are free from this onerous burden of having to learn Spanish for which there will be no application after graduation.

MR. DAVIDE: In other words, it is now very clear that insofar as the relation of the State and the language is concerned, it is voluntary but an educational institution can make it compulsory in certain courses of study?

MR. OPLE: Yes, that is our interpretation, Mr. Presiding Officer. However, voluntary and optional propagation is not limited to that. For example, nothing will prevent the State from setting up a Spanish academy later on, the membership in which will be purely voluntary but which will endeavor to propagate and develop our own Spanish in a systematic manner with or without State support. There are many things that can be done on a voluntary and optional basis, Mr. Presiding Officer, but I think the trauma of our Spanish past so eloquently depicted by Commissioner Aquino in her brief commentary will probably be eliminated after we lift the burden on the backs of the students of having to learn Spanish by rote and by compulsion when this may have nothing to do with their own plans for the rest of their lives, unlike those in specialized subjects where Spanish can be very useful. Nothing in this provision will prevent a university from applying for permission to make such courses mandatory for definite subjects on a case-to-case basis for approval by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I ask some questions of the Honorable Commissioner Ople?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Guingona is recognized.

MR. OPLE: I thought we were ready to vote, but I will be very happy to oblige.

MR. GUINGONA: This is with regard to the matter of the educational institution asking permission from the ministry. Does this mean that the compulsion will be imposed by the ministry or by the school?

MR. OPLE: Both, Mr. Presiding Officer, because the Ministry of Education has to grant clearance to a request from the university, and I suppose the MECS will have its own standards to govern cases of this nature.

MR. GUINGONA: I ask because educational institutions may offer courses as electives and they are generally not required to get permit from the ministry.

MR. OPLE: This is our interpretation, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. GUINGONA: I am a little confused because a while ago, I asked Commissioner Rodrigo the same question as to whether or not this particular provision would prohibit or restrict the government, either Congress, the ministry or some other body, from imposing compulsory study of Spanish, and his answer was no.

MR. OPLE: We have adjusted our views mutually.

Mr. Presiding Officer, what I want to emphasize is that we want to strengthen the promotion of Spanish on an effective basis, not on a symbolic and inutile basis.

MR. GUINGONA: What about state colleges and universities, Mr. Presiding Officer?

MR. OPLE; They will be governed, I suppose, by the same standard.

MR. GUINGONA: No, they do not have to ask permission from the ministry. Can they impose compulsory teaching in Spanish?

MR. OPLE: Subject to existing and future laws. I believe in the largest degree of autonomy for state colleges and universities.

MR. GUINGONA: What about private educational institutions, Mr. Presiding Officer?

MR. OPLE: The same thing, but minimum standards shall be maintained and enforced by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.

MR. GUINGONA: I thank the Commissioner, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. OPLE: I also thank Commissioner Guingona.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What is the pleasure of Commissioner Maambong?

MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer, I am listed as one of the proponents of this provision which we are about to vote on, but I notice that when we read it now with the historical legacy taken out, it appears: "THE STATE SHALL PROMOTE SPANISH AND ARABIC ON A VOLUNTARY AND OPTIONAL BASIS." I think it is a little bit awkward. I sought advice from President Muñoz Palma who is beside my table, and based on our discussion I was thinking that probably we could say: "SPANISH AND ARABIC LANGUAGES SHALL BE PROMOTED ON A VOLUNTARY AND OPTIONAL BASIS." How would that sound to the committee?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does the chairman of the committee say?

MR. VILLACORTA: The sense is the same, Mr. Presiding Officer, although I think it would be unnecessary to put "LANGUAGES." We just say "SPANISH AND ARABIC."

MR. MAAMBONG: "SPANISH AND ARABIC SHALL BE PROMOTED ON A VOLUNTARY AND OPTIONAL BASIS."

MR. VILLACORTA: That is acceptable, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The committee has accepted the amendment.

MR. MAAMBONG: Just one point, Mr. Presiding Officer. I just would like to manifest that mention was made of Spanish as an official language by virtue of a presidential decree. I would like to indicate for the record that it is an interim recognition as an official language, pending the translation of documents which are in the Spanish language. So, actually, once we translate the Spanish documents into our official languages, like Filipino and English, this presidential decree will have a self-destruct mechanism.

Thank you.

MR. ROMULO: We are ready to vote, Mr. Presiding Officer.

VOTING

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): We are now ready to vote. The committee has accepted this particular proposed amendment of Commissioners Rodrigo, Ople, Alonto and Maambong which reads: "SPANISH AND ARABIC SHALL BE PROMOTED ON A VOLUNTARY AND OPTIONAL BASIS."

As many as are in favor of this amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)

As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (Two Members raised their hand.)

The results show 31 votes in favor, 3 against and 2 abstentions; the amendment is approved.

MR. VILLACORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee would like to request for an adjournment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Before we adjourn, Commissioner Rodrigo is recognized.

MR. RODRIGO: I just want to make of record that my fellow proponents of the original amendment before it was amended are Commissioners Rama, Laurel, Calderon, Jamir, Maambong, Monsod, Natividad, Tingson, Regalado and Bengzon.

MR. ROMULO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: Mr. Presiding Officer, before we adjourn there is one more section which I feel is not controversial.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): A motion to adjourn takes precedence over any other motion, so we must vote on it.

MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, point of information. It was not the Floor Leader who moved for the adjournment. It was an ordinary colleague so the motion was not proper.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair believes anybody can make a motion, besides, we are in the process of voting.

VOTING

As many as are in favor of the motion to adjourn, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)

The results show 16 votes in favor, 20 against and 1 abstention; the motion to adjourn is lost.

The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.

MR. ROMULO: I ask that Commissioner Jamir be recognized.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Jamir is recognized.

MR. JAMIR: Mr. Presiding Officer, my amendment refers to line 17 of the committee draft. After the word "languages," put a comma (,) and add the words "ARABIC AND SPANISH."

MR. VILLACORTA: Will the Commissioner please read the entire section for the benefit of the entire body?

MR. JAMIR: Section 3 would now read: "The Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into the regional languages, ARABIC AND SPANISH."

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee accepts the amendment.

MR. JAMIR: I thank the Commissioner, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. PADILLA: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Padilla is recognized.

MR. PADILLA: May I propose a formal amendment to read: "The Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into SPANISH, the regional languages AND ARABIC." In other words, we put the word "SPANISH" after "translated."

MR. VILLACORTA: We regret the committee cannot accept the proposed sequence because we feel that regional languages should take precedence over Spanish and Arabic.

MR. PADILLA: May I say just one word, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Commissioner may proceed.

MR. PADILLA: We have always considered, first Filipino as national language, second, Spanish and we recognize, of course, the regional languages and now Arabic. However, Spanish seems to take precedence in the sense that it is one of the official languages after English.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.

MR. BENGZON: May I call for a vote, Mr. Presiding Officer?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Before we proceed to a vote, Commissioner Natividad is recognized.

MR. NATIVIDAD: No, Mr. Presiding Officer. I was preparing myself for an amendment on Section 4 should the voting be over.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: I still have two amendments. The first would be after "regional languages," add the following: "SPOKEN BY MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND," thus, "regional languages SPOKEN BY MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND ARABIC AND SPANISH.

MR. OPLE: Point of information, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: May I ask the committee to resolve the issue they will present. According to some language experts, a language to be called as such must be spoken by at least a million people, otherwise, it is considered just a dialect. Commissioner Bennagen, I suppose, can shed some light on this.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.

MR. BENNAGEN: The status of a language as a category does not rest on the basis of population but rather on the basis of its structure, lexicon and grammar. So even if the language is spoken by 25 persons, if it can be understood by other groups, it acquires the status of a language. It is not mutually intelligible with other languages, although it is a language.

MR. DAVIDE: That is the reason I proposed the amendment. We might have several translations. It would be very, very expensive. So my proposal is to limit the translation to regional languages spoken by more than 50,000 people, just like the 1973 Constitutional provision.

MR. BENNAGEN: Can we not just say "MAJOR regional languages"? Not necessarily "MAJOR languages.

MR. DAVIDE: Yes, "MAJOR regional languages."

MR. BENNAGEN: But we understand that this should not preclude, of course, further translation into other languages.

MR. DAVIDE: Yes, it will no.

The other amendment is to substitute "The Constitution" with "THIS Constitution."

MR. BENGZON: May we call for a vote now, Mr. Presiding Officer?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair would like to clarify the situation now.

Commissioner Jamir first stood up to propose the addition of "ARABIC AND SPANISH" at the end of the sentence, which was accepted by the committee but not yet voted upon. Then, Commissioner Padilla stood up to propose that "SPANISH" be transferred before "regional languages." It was not accepted by the committee.

So the Chair would like to submit to a vote first the proposal of Commissioner Jamir, after which, if it is approved, we will vote on whether or not we transfer "SPANISH" before "regional languages." Then, we will proceed to the amendment of Commissioner Davide.

VOTING

As many as are in favor of the proposal of Commissioner Jamir, which is to add "ARABIC AND SPANISH" after "regional languages," please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)

As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)

The results show 31 votes in favor, 2 against and 1 abstention; the amendment is approved.

Commissioner Jamir is recognized.

MR. JAMIR: May I just read for the record the names of my cosponsors: Commissioners Rama, Laurel, Rodrigo, Calderon, Maambong, Monsod, Ople, Natividad, Tingson, Regalado and Bengzon.

Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): We will now vote on the proposal of Commissioner Padilla to transfer "SPANISH" before "regional languages so that it will read: "translated into SPANISH, regional languages AND ARABIC."

VOTING

As many as are in favor of the amendment, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)

The results show 4 votes in favor, 28 against and 1 abstention; the amendment is lost.

We will now go to the proposal of Commissioner Davide which is to change "The Constitution" to "THIS Constitution."

VOTING

As many as are in favor of the amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 34 votes in favor and none against; the amendment is approved.

The next amendment is to add ''MAJOR" before "regional languages."

VOTING

As many as are in favor of the amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)

The results show 33 votes in favor and 1 against; the amendment is approved.

MR. NATIVIDAD: Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. BENGZON: We now vote on the entire section, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Before we do that, the Honorable Natividad is recognized.

MR. NATIVIDAD: I have an amendment to Section 4, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): We will vote first on the entire Section 3, as amended.

MR. SUAREZ: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Honorable Suarez is recognized.

MR. SUAREZ: May I submit an amendment by addition to Section 3: "IN CASE OF CONFLICT, THE FILIPINO TEXT SHALL PREVAIL."

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does the committee say?

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee accepts, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Is there any objection?

MR. MONSOD: I object, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. RODRIGO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Honorable Rodrigo is recognized.

MR. RODRIGO: I am a Tagalog from Bulacan, but if I were to follow my feelings, I would go for that. However, I want to use my head which is above my heart. All the debates here have been in English. There are terms which are almost impossible to translate into Tagalog, for example, "due process of law." There is no exact translation of that in Tagalog and besides, "due process of law" is already interpreted by our Supreme Court and by courts all over the world. For example, the provision about "informal and nonformal education" and "ecological consciousness." I do not know how to translate those in Tagalog. So while my heart tells me that I should vote for this, my head tells me that it is impractical, it is unfair.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.

MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, I cannot understand the situation where a translation will prevail over the original.

MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: Can we just appeal to Commissioner Suarez not to insist on settling this issue here. can we leave this to the evolution of the Constitution and of the events in our country so that maybe the courts will prefer to go by the English text in the immediate future? But who knows? Because of this Constitution, the national language may so progress spectacularly, that in 20 years the national language will have achieved complete technical parity as a tool of the courts for jurisprudential purposes. So I think there is no burden for us to settle this issue now.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What do Commissioner Suarez and the committee say?

MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.

MR. DE CASTRO: I agree with the suggestions of Commissioner Ople and I plead with Commissioner Suarez to withdraw his amendment by addition.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Suarez is recognized.

MR. SUAREZ: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

We are not insensitive to the appeals addressed to this humble Representation. After listening to the explanation of the Honorable "Prankisko" Rodrigo, I am willing to withdraw my amendment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The proponent is withdrawing his amendment. Is the committee agreeable having accepted it?

MR. VILLACORTA: The withdrawal, as we understand it, Mr. Presiding Officer, means that we shall be silent about it. Am I correct?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Yes, the Commissioner is correct.

MR. VILLACORTA: Then the committee accepts, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): So the amendment is then withdrawn.

We are now ready to vote on Section 3, as amended, unless there is any further amendment. It reads as follows: "THIS Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into MAJOR regional languages, ARABIC AND SPANISH."

VOTING

As many as are in favor of the amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 34 votes in favor and none against; Section 3, as amended, is approved.

MR. NATIVIDAD: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Honorable Natividad is recognized.

MR. NATIVIDAD: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. I would like to propose an amendment on Section 4. After the word "established," delete all the words up to line 22 and in lieu thereof insert the following: "A COMMISSION, COMPOSED OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGIONS, AS PROVIDED BY LAW, THAT SHALL UNDERTAKE, COORDINATE AND PROMOTE RESEARCHES ON FILIPINO AND OTHER LANGUAGES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, PROPAGATION AND PRESERVATION," so it would read: "There shall be established A COMMISSION, COMPOSED OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGIONS, AS PROVIDED BY LAW, THAT SHALL UNDERTAKE, COORDINATE AND PROMOTE RESEARCHES ON FILIPINO AND OTHER LANGUAGES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT. PROPAGATION AND PRESERVATION."

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does the committee say?

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee proposes that instead of "COMPOSED OF MEMBERS," we shall stipulate "composed of LANGUAGE EXPERTS representing various regions." The reason we would like to insist on the term "LANGUAGE EXPERTS" is that this is such a sensitive task that we cannot leave to nonexperts and to politicians. So we feel that the development of the language should have the guidance and monitoring by language experts.

MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): What does the proponent say to the countersuggestion of the chairman?

MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. NATIVIDAD: I yield to Commissioner Ople, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Ople is recognized.

MR. OPLE: I would like to support Commissioner Natividad precisely in retaining "MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGIONS" because the development of the national language may be too important to leave to the hands of experts. In the sense of specialists, I think Joaquin Ortega y Gasett put it very, very well when he said that specialists have their major limitations especially when their fields of competence must be related to the wider world and there is a sense in which the development of a language can be interdisciplinary. It can involve anthropology, sociology and even a grasp of politics in terms of what is attainable at a given moment. It can also involve a competence in history so that in the future the appointing power or Congress may have a wider margin of flexibility to choose the appropriate types of regional representatives to this body. I think Commissioner Natividad is right in proposing the words "MEMBERS FROM VARIOUS REGIONS" rather than "LANGUAGE EXPERTS."

May I just cite an example. Suppose we want Demetrio Quirino to sit in this commission. He is a school administrator, which is his specialty. He is not a language expert by any standards. By using "LANGUAGE EXPERTS," this provision will bar enthusiasts of the national language like Demetrio Quirino of Nueva Vizcaya.

MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.

MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, we do recognize that and, as a matter of fact, we are combining the two criteria, interdisciplinary expertise and regional representation, so that we take these two into account.

MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. NATIVIDAD: So what will be the position of the committee?

MR. BENNAGEN: It will read: "There shall be established A COMMISSION COMPOSED OF INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERTS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGIONS."

MR. NATIVIDAD: But then the choices will be limited to experts, Mr. Presiding Officer?

MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, but as pointed out and as shown by experience, we do have persons who have been involved in the propagation of Filipino, coming from the fields of medicine, physics, engineering, anthropology, political science, psychology and linguistics.

MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized, followed by Commissioner de Castro.

MR. SARMIENTO: May we propose amendments? Maybe we can resolve this impasse. These are proposed by this Representation, President Muñoz Palma and Commissioner Bengzon.

MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): With the indulgence of Commissioner de Castro, may we ask Commissioner Sarmiento to finish first.

MR. SARMIENTO: We propose that instead of "COMMISSION," we use "NATIONAL LANGUAGE COMMISSION." Before "and representatives," add "LANGUAGE EXPERTS" to read: "composed of LANGUAGE EXPERTS and representatives." Mr. Presiding Officer, this is the proposal of these Commissioners, language experts from the University of the Philippines and members of the Pambansang Samahan sa Wika

MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The Chair finds the addition of "LANGUAGE EXPERTS" similar to the position of the committee which is not acceptable to the proponent. May we now hear Commissioner Castro.

MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

When we talk of language experts, are we referring to the local language experts?

MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DE CASTRO: I do not know yet of anybody who is a recognized expert in Cebuano, in Tausug and in Ilocano.

MR. BENNAGEN: We do have experts in these, not necessarily coming from the regions.

MR. DE CASTRO: It would be a matter of choice or a matter of proof to say that one is an expert. But when Commissioner Natividad — I hope I am reading his mind — eliminated the word "EXPERT," he leaves it to law or to the appointing authority to choose the right persons to compose this commission.

Perhaps, the expert we are referring to may be chosen by the appointing authority, but it will be difficult for us to add the words "LANGUAGE EXPERTS" here and limit the appointing authority from appointing the appropriate people he or she believes to form this commission. I, therefore, Support the proposition of Commissioner Natividad.

MS. ROSARIO BRAID: Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer, just one point. We have already broadened the area of choice from just "LANGUAGE EXPERTS" to "INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERTS," based on our own experiences that not only those who are language experts have been very active in the propagation of Filipino. We include also as experts, native speakers of the language.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Natividad is given the floor to expound on the reason for his amendment.

MR. NATIVIDAD: The reason we use the word "MEMBERS" is to allow the experts and, at the same time, the interdisciplinary authorities to come in as provided by law. So here we are giving all flexibility to this new commission in order to assure us that the perception should not be too narrow.

We have also experiences on these so-called experts, Mr. Presiding Officer, and they can be very inflexible and too narrow-minded. The commission will need fresh air in the form of interdisciplinary and intersectoral representatives to come in. That is why we placed "MEMBERS" and "AS PROVIDED BY LAW" so that Congress or the appointing authority can provide all the flexibility for a truly efficient commission for this matter.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Rosario Braid would like to say something.

MS. ROSARIO BRAID: Mr. Presiding Officer, I would like to harmonize the two views because I think there is a resistance against the word "EXPERTS." So I propose the phrase "COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINES AND REGIONS," which means that this would include experts, multidisciplinary teams from different sciences, as well as nonexperts who may have a broad overview of needs of society but may not be an expert in any particular area.

MR. NATIVIDAD: The amendment is accepted.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): so the amendment, as amended, should read: "A COMMISSION COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINES AND REGIONS."

MR. TINGSON: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Tingson is recognized.

MR. TINGSON: I am just wondering if we incorporate the amendment as proposed by our President along with Commissioner Sarmiento, whether or not the proponent, Commissioner Natividad, is willing to just delete "COMPOSED OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING . . ." and the suggestions, because we are saying here: "THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL LANGUAGE COMMISSION, AS PROVIDED BY LAW, THAT SHALL UNDERTAKE, COORDINATE AND PROMOTE RESEARCHES . . ." we are already providing, Mr. Presiding Officer, that this be provided by law. So we leave it to the legislature. They will know better later on. We do not need to quibble here.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The amendment of the Honorable Natividad has been accepted by the committee, and the Chair believes we should vote on it. If it loses, then we can vote on the alternative wording proposed by Commissioner Sarmiento.

MR. NOLLEDO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Nolledo is recognized.

MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. Before we vote on the proposed amendment, I would like to pose some inquiries to the committee. The present Institute of National Language does not enjoy the dignity and the stature it deserves. I seldom hear its accomplishments or activities.

Does the committee have in mind certain guidelines to Congress in the formation of this Commission on National Language? For example, must the members be natural-born citizens? Can an alien, who is an expert in a particular discipline, be appointed to the commission, or should the commission be independent in the sense that it should be independent of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports? Should it be under that ministry?

May we know from the committee whether or not it has formulated certain guidelines to Congress in the formation of this transcendental body known as the Commission on National Language?

MR. VILLACORTA: The specific details that the Commissioner mentioned were not contemplated by the committee. We are mainly concerned with two specific guidelines; namely, that there should be experts from different disciplines and that there should be representation from various regions.

MR. NOLLEDO: Will the Commissioner agree with me, Mr. Presiding Officer, that the members of the commission must be natural-born citizens and that no alien shall be appointed to the commission?

MR. VILLACORTA: Now that the Commissioner mentioned it, the committee agrees with him, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. BENNAGEN: Although there could be consultants who are non-Filipinos, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. NOLLEDO: Will the Commissioner agree with me that the commission should be under the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports?

MR. BENNAGEN: No, it should be different.

MR. NOLLEDO: Should it be independent from the ministry?

MR. VILLACORTA: It should be independent.

MR. NOLLEDO: But we expect that the functions must be coordinated with the functions of the ministry.

MR. VILLACORTA: That is right, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.

MR. DE CASTRO: Are the suggestions of Commissioner Nolledo not covered by "AS PROVIDED BY LAW"? The law will certainly take care of all these things. It will be very, very difficult for us to be very concise in the formulation of our constitutional provisions, and yet we say "AS PROVIDED BY LAW," leaving almost nothing to Congress to think about.

So I believe that the matter of appointing a natural-born citizen and an expert will be covered by the phrase "AS PROVIDED BY LAW." This will give Congress a wide latitude to act on the matter.

Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MS. ROSARIO BRAID: Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): With the indulgence of the Commissioners, Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, we would like to hear the final proposal.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The proposal is: "THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED A COMMISSION COMPOSED OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGIONS AND DISCIPLINES, AS PROVIDED BY LAW, THAT SHALL UNDERTAKE, COORDINATE AND PROMOTE RESEARCHES ON FILIPINO AND OTHER LANGUAGES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, PROPAGATION AND PRESERVATION."

MR. DAVIDE: May I propose the following amendments, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, before Commissioner Davide proposes amendments, I conferred with Commissioner Natividad and he accepted our amendment. May we know the position of the committee?

MR. BENNAGEN: The amendment is accepted.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The committee has already accepted the proposal of Commissioner Natividad. May we know from Commissioner Sarmiento what their amendment is?

MR. SARMIENTO: Instead of "COMMISSION," we proposed "NATIONAL LANGUAGE COMMISSION" which was accepted by Commissioner Natividad. So may we know the stand of the committee?

MR. VILLACORTA: The committee accepts the amendment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The rest of the proposal remains the same.

MR. SARMIENTO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Davide is recognized.

MR. DAVIDE: I have two proposals, Mr. Presiding Officer. The first is to substitute "THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED" with "CONGRESS SHALL ESTABLISH" and to delete "AS PROVIDED BY LAW." So it will merely read: "CONGRESS SHALL ESTABLISH A NATIONAL LANGUAGE COMMISSION COMPOSED OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS REGIONS AND DISCIPLINES WHICH SHALL UNDERTAKE . . ."

MR. VILLACORTA: It is accepted, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.

MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. Will the Honorable Davide agree to change the word "ESTABLISH" to "CREATE," so it will read: "CONGRESS SHALL CREATE"?

MR. DAVIDE: It may be all right, but we already have several articles in the Constitution where we always mandate Congress in this matter to establish, not to create. So for uniformity in the use of language, I decline, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. DE CASTRO: Not necessarily, Mr. Presiding Officer. In the Article on the Constitutional Commissions, we stated that Congress shall "create" a Human Rights Commission, not "establish," if I remember right.

MR. VILLACORTA: Shall we leave that to the Committee on Style?

MR. DAVIDE: Yes, to the Style Committee.

MR. DE CASTRO: May we remind the Style Committee that "establish" and "create" are two words which we have discussed here.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): We are now ready to vote on these consolidated amendments of Commissioners Natividad, Sarmiento, Davide and others.

MR. VILLACORTA: May the committee read the formulation for the guidance of the body?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): The committee will please proceed.

MR. VILLACORTA: The formulation reads: "CONGRESS SHALL ESTABLISH A NATIONAL LANGUAGE COMMISSION COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS REGIONS AND DISCIPLINES WHICH SHALL UNDERTAKE, COORDINATE AND PROMOTE RESEARCHES ON FILIPINO AND OTHER LANGUAGES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, PROPAGATION AND PRESERVATION. "

VOTING

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): As many as are in favor of the amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)

As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)

The results show 30 votes in favor and none against; the amendment is approved.

MR. VILLAORTA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee requests the discussion of the Article on Science, Technology, Arts and Culture. (Laughter)

MR. NATIVIDAD: Mr. Presiding Officer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Commissioner Natividad is recognized.

MR. NATIVIDAD: Mr. Presiding Officer, before we go on, let me read the other coauthors of the just approved amendment: Commissioner Sarmiento, President Muñoz Palma, Commissioners Davide, Rama, Laurel, Rodrigo, Calderon, Jamir, Maambong, Monsod, Ople, Tingson, Regalado, Bengzon and de los Reyes.

Thank you very much

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Let it be so recorded

The Floor Leader is recognized.

ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION

MR. RAMA: I move that we adjourn until tomorrow at nine-thirty in the morning.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Azcuna): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the session is adjourned until tomorrow at nine-thirty in the morning.

It was 6:53 p.m.

^* Appeared after the roll call.