By: Mae Gladys Merquita — Updated February 21, 2012
“International Mother Tongue Celebration considered as a giant cultural step towards the meaningful recognition of mother tongue’s role in developing a culture, specifically a culture of peace and development, this is what Ms. Loreta Joy Sol Dinlayan said in her speech during the mother tongue day celebration. International Mother Tongue celebration is noteworthy to every being for its culture stands an immense aspect of one’s lives – it could be to language, environment, community, etc. It conveys a momentous shade of our culture.
She said, “Language and culture influence each other.” Definitely right, for language is our communicating thought and culture develops understanding of our thoughts. Simply stated, they are not indivisible. She added, “In this province of Bukidnon, we are blessed with a cultural heritage that makes us proud to be a Bukidnon because our culture magnifies the importance of a community, that’s the reason why we have the value of Kalalagan or generosity. Moreover, Bukidnon culture, by its distinct character, sympathizes with environment. I’m one of those who declares that one of the best caretakers of environment is the indigenous people who discerns and takes heed the whisper of the mountains, of the rivers or of the forests. These cultural values and treasures I am mentioning has to be taught to younger generation using a local language that best fits the cognitive map of the local people. The learning of a culture takes place through a language. In Bukidnon, we have the Binukid language that defines the culture it is embracing. Binukid is not just a composition of grammar, semantics or words but it is rather a channel where one goes through in order to understand the culture.”
She continues her speech and encourages each listener to pay attention, grasp and convey the thought to their minds down to their hearts.
“Language and culture are not inseparable. As Bukidnon culture is sacred, so is the Binukid. Each time you hear someone singing or speaking in Binukid, though you don’t comprehend, you will feel the anointing that embodies the culture and the voices of the ancestors whose souls are in every Bukidnon. This is a very significant characteristic of Bukidnon culture and Binukid language”, she stressed.
Finally, she closes her speech by this lively and momentous statement, “As I learned from Datu Bagangbangan, the culture of Bukidnon is not exclusivist; it is rather inclusive that accommodates everyone.”
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