KWF Applauds Marcos’s Use of Filipino Language in SONA
MANILA — The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) warmly praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his choice to deliver most of his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Filipino on July 28, 2025. This move, they said, helped ensure that more Filipinos could understand the president’s message clearly.
KWF Chair Arthur Casanova expressed his delight during a press briefing the day after the SONA. “Labis po akong natutuwa na ang atin pong Pangulong Marcos Jr. ay gumamit ng wikang Filipino sa kaniyang talumpati,” he said. (I am very happy that President Marcos Jr. used the Filipino language in his speech.)
He emphasized that using Filipino in the SONA was impressive and appropriate since it was addressed to the Filipino people who primarily speak the national language. “Ang paggamit po ng wikang Filipino sa kanyang Sona kahapon ay talagang kahanga-hanga dahil ito po talaga ang dapat na gawin dahil itong Sona po ay naka-address po sa sambayang Pilipino na gumagamit ng ating wikang Filipino,” Casanova added. (The use of the Filipino language in his SONA yesterday is truly remarkable because this is exactly what should be done, as the SONA is addressed to Filipinos who use our Filipino language.)
Because of this, Casanova believes that the Filipino people better understood the president’s message. “Sa gayong nangyari ay inaasahan na ang mga mamamayang Pilipino ay naunawaan ang kaniyang talumpati,” he noted. (In that case, it is expected that the Filipino people understood his speech.)
Calls for Future SONA Speeches in Filipino
Looking ahead, Casanova expressed hope that future SONAs will continue to be delivered in Filipino. He stressed the importance of the national language as a unifying force for the country. “Mas maganda na ang mga susunod na Sona ay nasa wikang Filipino, sapagkat ang ating wikang pambansa ang lunduyan ng pag-uunawaan at pagkakaisa ng ating bayang Pilipinas,” he said. (It would be better if the next SONAs are in the Filipino language because our national language is the cradle of understanding and unity for our nation.)
Bilingualism Reflected in the Speech
KWF Commissioner Benjamin Mendillo echoed these sentiments, noting that the president’s use of both Filipino and English in his address reflects the bilingual nature of Filipino communication. “Ang pagiging bilingualismo, ang pagko-code switch mula Filipino sa Ingles, ay nabibigyan ng puwang yan ng komisyon sapagkat yan ang estado ngayon ng ating wika sa Pilipinas,” Mendillo said. (Being bilingual, code switching from Filipino to English, is given space by the commission because that is the current state of our language in the Philippines.)
Mendillo also explained that Filipinos are fluent in both languages, and the use of English is essential in diplomacy and international relations, especially for technical and jargon-heavy terms. “Matatas tayo sa dalawang wika: ang wikang Filipino at ang wikang Ingles. Ang wikang global ngayon ay wikang English ang ginagamit. Bahagi ito ng ating diplomasya at international relations natin na dapat ay yung mga technical, highly jargon na mga salita ay dapat ay pinanatili natin sa wikang Ingles,” he added. (We are fluent in two languages: Filipino and English. English is the global language used today. It is part of our diplomacy and international relations that technical and highly specialized terms should be kept in English.)
KWF Launches Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa Celebration
The KWF held the press conference not only to discuss the SONA but also to officially start the celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa this coming August. This year’s theme is “Paglilinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan sa Pagkakaisa ng Bansa,” highlighting the cultivation of Filipino and indigenous languages as historic pillars of national unity.
Sources noted the significance of promoting the Filipino language as a vital part of cultural identity and cohesion among the people.
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