UNESCO pays tribute to UST's 400 years

The Philippines goes international once again as one of its premier universities gets the spotlight in a cultural exhibit at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) House in Paris, France.

The UNESCO House, through its Special Events Section, has organized an exhibition that will showcase the University of Santo Tomas and its 400th year anniversary. 

The exhibit, entitled "University of Santo Tomás: Four Centuries of Promoting Understanding, Peace and Culture" will be held on September 21-23, 2011. The exhibition will illustrate, through photographs, texts, and films, the foundation and history of the University; its major stages marked by historical events and papal visits; the cultural heritage of the University to the FIlipino people; and its vast contribution to the Philippines and the world. Also included in the exhibit are the future development programs of the university.

Also on September 21, the world-renowned University of Santo Tomás Singers will have a musical show, performing a repertoire of sacred songs, works from the classical and contemporary repertoire, and folk songs from the Philippines. 

The UST Singers made an indelible mark in the history of the country when it was twice named Choir of the World in the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (Wales) – the oldest choral singing competition in the world. The UST Singers are the only Asian choral group to have achieved such a feat. 

The University of Santo Tomas, founded in 1611 by former Manila Archbishop Miguel de Benavides of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), is Asia's oldest university and the world's largest, in terms of student population located in a single campus. 

The UNESCO exhibit is a fitting tribute to an institution that has contributed so much in the development of the Filipino people and the nation through its multidisciplinary, Catholic education which has trained heroes, saints, martyrs, and presidents among others. 

UST is currently celebrating its quadricentennial this year.

PIA organizes bloodletting activity, registers 60 blood donors

Bayanihan might not be so common in an-already globalized Philippines, but bayanihan is still very much alive in the Filipino psyche.

On August 26, that tiny, quiet corner in Visayas Avenue was turned into a hotspot of sort for government employees from different agencies in Metro Manila. That day, the headquarters of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) was indeed the most happening place in the Diliman area as civil servants from NCR flocked the PIA lobby with one intent in mind: to donate blood.

The ocassion for the blood letting was to respond to the growing need for blood of dengue victims.

Dengue is known to be endemic in a tropical country like the Philippines. World Health Organization officials warned about climate change and how it is increasing the incidence of dengue fever and other infectious diseases in the country. And this year, dengue has made its presence strongly felt especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) where the number of cases has nearly doubled, according to the Department of Health - from 5,416 cases to 10,487 recorded cases during the first seven months of 2011.

The increase is overwhelming especially since the bulk of the cases came from low-income residents, putting a strain on public health facilities and forcing hospitals to make use of available spaces like hallways and covered courts to accommodate patients.

The growing number of dengue cases saw a growing demand for other commodities, and aside from facilities, hospitals saw a high demand for blood supply for those who will undergo blood transfusion. At the forefront of all this activity was the Philippine Red Cross — the institution in the forefront in providing humanitarian services-- blood donations included-- called for more blood donors.

In response to the call and to the dengue inflation itself, the Philippine Information Agency collaborated with the Department of Health and the Philippine Red Cross-Quezon City in conducting a mass blood donation drive last August 26 at the PIA central office.

The bloodletting activity entitled “Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay” is a means of addressing the dwindling supply of blood which much sought after not only by dengue patients but by those with other serious illnesses.

The whole-day bloodletting activity registered a total of 60 blood donors, mostly civil servants coming from different agencies such as the PIA, MMDA, AFP, PNP, NBN-4, and PBS.

Meanwhile, Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, in a forum held at the PIA Conference Room last week, called for the cooperation of everyone in the community in the war against dengue.

He urged families, barangay leaders, school officials, and teachers to spearhead and sustain community clean-up activities in their respective surroundings. He also reminded the public to immediately seek medical help in case they have the symptoms of dengue which include high fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and skin rashes.

Biktima ng dengue, libre na ang pagpapagamot sa mga ospital

Wala nang dapat alalahanin pa ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan na tatamaan ng dengue kung gastusin lang naman sa ospital ang pag-uusapan.

Ito ang pahayag ni Kalihim Enrique Ona ng Department of Health (DOH) sa panayam sa kanya kamakailan lang sa Communication and News Exchange Forum (CNEX) ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Ngunit nilinaw ni Ona na ito ay para lamang sa mga iniisponsoran ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa programa nitong Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) o ang tinatawag na 4Ps o Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Ipinaliwanag ni Ona na dahil sa lumalaking bilang ng kaso ng dengue sa bansa, lalo na sa mga maralitang lugar, sinusugan ng DOH ang pagbibigay ng libreng pagpapa-ospital sa mga tinaguriang “poorest of the poor” na matatamaan ng dengue at ng iba pang nakakahawang sakit.

Nilinaw din nya na ang “no billing policy” o libreng pagpapagamot ay para lang sa mga pampublikong ospital o pagamutan. Kailangan din na miyembro ng Philhealth ang mga natukoy na benepisyaryo ng CCT.

“Kailangan pa ring i-file ng mga miyembro sa ospital ang kanilang claim para maipadala sa PhilHealth at maiproseso,” dagdag ng Kalihim. Mababayaran naman ito ng PhilHealeth sa loob ng 90 araw.

Sa kasalukuyan, mayroong 5.3 milyong pamilyang 4Ps ang naka-enrol sa Philhealth at inaasahang makikinabang ng malaki ang mga pamilyang ito lalo na sa aspektong pangkalusugan.

Magsisimula ang libreng pagpapa-ospital sa susunod na buwan (Setyembre).

Samantala, mariing pinaalalahanan ni Ona na panatilihing malinis ang kapaligiran at siguraduhing walang tubig na hindi nagagalaw na maaaring pugaran ng mga lamok. Ito ay upang mapigilan ang pagdami ng lamok.

Pinaalalahanan din ng Kalihim na iulat sa kinauukulan ang mga basurang hindi naitatapon ng maayos at iwasan paggamit ng “fumigation” dahil hindi na ito epektibong pamuksa ng lamok at nakasasama pa ito sa kalusugan ng tao.

Dengue patients will soon receive free hospitalization

Dengue patients need not worry anymore about hospital expenses as they will be exempt from hospital fees starting next month (September).

This is what the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona said during an interview in the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) Communication and News Exchange Program (CNEX) held earlier today.

He, however, clarified that only those who are beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would benefit from the free hospitalization program.

Ona explained that they saw the need for free hospital sevice after they had observed the increasing number of cases of dengue among the poorest communities.

He added that the free service, also called the “no billing policy” is applicable only in government hospitals. 4Ps beneficiaries should also be a Philhealth member to avail of the free service.

“hey also need to file their claim for sending and processing by the PhilHealth,” Ona said. PhilHealth will pay the fees within 90 days.

There are around five million identified CCT beneficiaries all throughout the country who are already enrolled in PhilHealth. They are expected to benefit immensely as far as health is concerned.

Meanwhile, Ona is reminding everyone to keep his or her surroundings clean and to be sure that there is no stagnant water within his or her area. This is to prevent mosquitoes and dengue-carrying mosqitoes from spreading.

The Secretary is also advising household members to report to the authorities undisposed garbage in the area. He also stressed that people should avoid indiscrimate fogging especially in public areas as aside from not being effective mosquito-busters, fumigation also poses health risks to people.

DOH undertakes measures to control dengue spread

The Department of Health (DOH) continuously puts the country’s dengue situation under surveillance as this is key to putting a stop to the increasing number of dengue cases in the country.

DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, during the Broadcasters’ Forum held earlier today at Hotel Rembrandt, said that surveillance and sanitation of dengue fever patients are the means to curb the increasing number of patients, most of whom are children.  

Dr. Rose Capending of the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) said that the Philippines, most especially, needs to be vigilant in its monitoring of dengue cases since “dengue is endemic in the country” with all the four types—types 1, 2, 3, and 4—existing in the Philippines and in most tropical countries.

Capending said that the most common dengue type in the Philippines is the type 3 virus. However, the type 1 dengue is already increasing in number, sending an early signal of a dengue outbreak.

Capending said that since children are the ones highly susceptible to the disease, it is advisable to have children vaccinated by the tetravalent dengue vaccine which has been proven to be effective against all dengue types.

However, the DOH is still advising the public to seek hospital help in case of signs of dengue infection rather than rely on emerging herbal cures, like the Tawa-tawa leaves, which do not have the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Meanwhile, due to the outbreak of dengue, hospitals especially government hospitals have been experiencing shortage of doctors, nurses, blood, etc. In this regard, Agham Patrylist Representative Popoy Pagayon calls for a mandatory Philhealth enrolment amongst all Filipinos which will help in solving the healthcare woes of the country.

The “universal” health program would provide solution to the dwindling number of health services and service provider in the country. 

Mandaluyong, other cities, recognized for outstanding nutrition initiatives

In recognition of the efforts of local government units (LGUs)in improving their nutrition programs, the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) gave awards to outstanding performance of several individuals and LGUs in Metro Manila.

Hosted by Mandaluyong, the Nutrition Awarding Ceremony was held August 18 at the Isla Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City and showcased outputs and programs from representative individuals and groups from their respective areas.

This year’s recipient of the Green Banner Award is Mandaluyong City. The award is given to the city with the most outstanding nutrition implementation and management program. Manila and Pasig City were named first and second runner-up, respectively.

Other awards were given to LGUs with impressive programs in some areas:

Mandaluyong received the Best in Documentation of nutrition reports and programs; Taguig, Most Effective in Improving the Nutritional Status of Preschool Children; Makati for Most Effective in Improving the National Status of School Children; both Caloocan and Marikina took home the Best Infant and Young Child Feeding Initiatives; and Las Pinas for the Most Improved MELLPI Scores from 2008-2010.

For the individual category, Ma. Theresa Candelario of Mandaluyong city was awarded the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar for her dedication and hard work in the implementation of their city’s nutrition projects.

Concepcion Benosa of Makati and Nilda Aguilar of Pasig were first and second runner-up, respectively.

The awarding of the winners in the poster-making contest and the jingle-making contest also took place during the event.

For the On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest which was held last July 16, Elmer Grefaldo of Moonwalk National High School in Paranaque took home the grand prize. Reinhart James Torres of Highway Hills Integrated School in Mandaluyong was second placer, and Reymond Malarnas from Rajah Soliman Science and Technology High School took home the third prize.

The Poster-making Contest was a showcase of the students’ interpretation of the significance of breastfeeding in the promotion of nutrition among children.

Present in the event were Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos, members of the RNC, nutrition teams of the 17 LGUs in Metro Manila, barangay captains, and representatives national government agencies.

The event closed with the presentation of the award-winning jingles in the recently-adjudged Jingle Singing Contest. The teams from Mandaluyong, Marikina, and San Juan showcased their rendition of nutrition-inspired jingles. San Juan bagged this year’s top prize in the Jingle Singing contest. 

Nutrition Awards promotes nutrition projects and breastfeeding advocacy

Nutrition being the primordial driving force toward having intelligent, healthy, and productive citizens in a progressive world, served as the central theme during the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) held August 18 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

In due recognition of the invaluable service of nutrition scholars as well as the individual nutrition programs of the local government units in Metro Manila, the Regional Nutrition Committee awarded several prizes to outstanding performances.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos praised the efforts of the participating areas in NCR for giving importance to the nutrition awareness initiative of the National Nutrition Council. He also encouraged his constituents to uphold their dedication for the city’s nutrition advocacy as Mandaluyong was awarded the Most Outstanding LGU in Nutrition Implementation and Management.

Office of Political Affairs Assistant Secretary Rolando Cuccio underscored the importance of nutrition in the mental and intellectual development of children who will eventually be the economy’s driving force. “Kamalayan at karunungan kaugnay sa nutrisyon ay mahalaga dahil ito ang nagtataguyod ng maunlad na pamayanan,” Cuccio added.

Nutrition programs, according to Department of Health Secretary Enqirue Ona, through his representative DOH Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo, acknowledged the nutrition-related services done in each LGU in Metro Manila. He noted the dedication and ingenuity of Filipino civil servants in implementing nutrition initiatives that would be lead the road toward progress.

Ona added that teamwork is necessary in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals as well as the Aquino administration’s goals for the country. “Kailangan ang sama-samang pagkilos upang makamit ang MDG at ang Universal Health program ng Pangulo,” Ona said.

The awarding ceremony also served as venue to emphasize the advocacy on breastfeeding of the Nutrition Council.

Mothers must breastfeed their children as this is one way of solving malnutrition among children. Breastfeeding, too, is seen as the best food for infants to achieve optimum physical, mental, and intellectual growth.

The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC), led by this its chairman Dr. Eduardo Janairo, has been active in engaging LGUs in their active implementation, management, and innovation of nutrition projects to promote healthy living among their constituents.

The Regional Nutrition Evaluating Team, chaired by Philippine Information Agency’s Lucia Broño, took the lead in evaluating the nutrition programs of the various LGUs in the National Capital Region and in selecting the most outstanding and effective programs. 

DepEd reviews policies and changes in the country's educational system

With the recent proposals and revisions in the country's educational system, the Department of Education (DepED) is in the process of reviewing to come up with the most effective and viable plan to implement such changes.

This is according to DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali during a forum of broadcasters held yesterday at the Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City.

The statement was also made during the discussion of the implementation of the K12 program which was already approved by the government. The K12 requires an additional two years in the basic education of students in the country.

According to Umali, reviews have yet to be made regarding the implementation of K12 and the cooperation of colleges and universities are needed as the said K12 program, once implemented, "will affect the first and second year college levels of tertiary institutions as additional years will have to be taken by present students to comply with the K12".

Umali said that arrangements are now being made with tertiary schools so as not to dislocate colleges and universities that would definitely be affected once the K12 is implemented.

Umali also assured that classrooms and facilities are on their way for improvement in order to accomodate more students in the basic education level once the K12 program pushes through.

The DepEd works closely with two institutions such as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the designing of the new curriculum and in the planning of effective "ladderized" education program of Filipino students.

Schools reminded to follow prescribed number of school days

With the successive suspension of classes in the elementary and secondary level due to the intermittent rainfall, the Department of Education (DepEd) is reminding schools to follow and implement the prescribed 202 school days.

This reminder was made by DepEd Assistant Secretary Teonisito Umali during the Broadcasters' Forum held recently at the Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City.

The past weeks have been irregular for elementary and high school students, in terms of reporting to school because of the daily downpour in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon and Visayas. 

Umali said that make-up classes depend on the schools. "It is within the school principal and school division superintendent if their school will conduct make-up classes," he said. 

"Schools should follow the mandatory 202 school days, with the 180 allotted for actual classroom learning, and the remaining 22 as buffer days which institutions use for school activities like intramurals, foundation week, etc," Umali added.

According to Umali, class suspensions are counted in the 22 buffer days, so when schools exceed the allotted buffers, "it would be time for them to conduct make-up classes."

The required number of school days is in accordance to Department of Education Order 28 which schools nationwide should adhere to.

The next best thing to the "elixir of life"

It took hundreds of years of painful research and experimentation before alchemists --chemist-philosophers of the Middle Ages-- realized that there was neither a sorcerer's stone nor an elixir of life.

Early recordings have it that what these early day scientists call sorcerer's stone was believed to possess the ability to transform any metal into gold, while the elixir of life was said to be the perfect formula that could make one immortal. The quest for both objects was eventually considered an impossibility.What those dedicated alchemists didn't know was there was one thing closest to be considered the "elixir of life", the “ultimate panacea”.  And they need not search far.Modern-day scientists and health experts will all agree that breastmilk is the most nutritious food for babies. It is a complete source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential to the overall development of infants. The benefits of breastfeeding are encompassing as it improves one's immune system, guards babies against infection, improves mental abilities, makes one less likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes, and allegies in later life. Truly, breastfeeding is the real deal, the true wonder food.The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, after which 'infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond," as said in a WHO article entitled "Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding".The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) attests the many advantages of breastfeeding including health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychologic, social, economic, and environmental benefits. "The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.Furthermore, "breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child,", according to LM Gartner, et al in a 2005-published article entitled "Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk." In the Philippines, breastfeeding has been an automatic age-old practice of mothers who recently gave birth. Breasts of lactating mothers have been considered a convenient wellspring of milk-- free of charge! For Filipinos, breastmilk helps save money in a country where the price of formulated milk is sky-rocket high. But our "nanay"-- whether she be in the far-flung countryside or is in the backdrop of an ultramodern metropolis, should understand that breastfeeding is not only a cheap method of suppying her baby with food, but more importantly, breastmilk, through breastfeeding, provides health benefits to the growing infant.As such, the Philippines, together with more than 170 countries, is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week to put breastfeeding in the spotlight as a vital food for growing infants, and as a source of all the nutrients humans need in their physical, mental, even emotional development.World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated every year from August 1-7 in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The celebration is supported by the UNICEF, WHO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Pediatric Association. This year’s WBW's theme is “Talk to me! Breastfeeding – a 3D Experience”. The theme revolves around the spatial (the mother, home, community) and temporal (from pregnancy to weaning) dimensions of breastfeeding, and includes a third one which is communication. Communication has been lacking in the promotion of breastfeeding while as it is known by health experts to be a wonder food, the common person doesn't seem to know so. The goal from this year's theme is to educate the public, especially women about the health benefits breastfeeding could give to infants until it reaches maturity.With this celebration, Filipinos are expected to have a richer understanding of breasfeeding and breastmilk as a traditional yet effective way of feeding, rearing, and helping the young Filipino develop an intelligent mind and a healthy, robust body.

PSCO tuloy pa rin ang ayuda sa Child House

Bagaman kasado na ang paglipat ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) sa bagong tanggapan nito sa Lung Center of the Philippines, patuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay ng tulong ng ahensya sa mga programang matagal nang sinusuportahan nito.

Ito ang ipinahayag ni General Manager Atty. Jose Ferdinand Rojas sa programang Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Mariing pinabulaanan ni Rojas ang mga alingawngaw na ihihinto na ng nasabing ahensya ang pagbibigay ng tulong nito sa Center for Life Improvement and Health Development House Project o mas kilalang Child House. Sa halip, patuloy pa rin ang kanilang suporta sa nasabing programa sa kabila ng pagkakalayo ng tanggapan ng isa't isa.

Nilinaw ni Rojas na hindi maapektuhan ng paglipat ang tulong na iginagawad ng ahensya sa Child House sa kabila ng pagiging pribadong proyekto nito. Sa kabilang banda, aniya, mas magiging epektibo pa ang pangkalahatang serbisyong pangkalusugan ng PSCO dahil nasa loob ito ng isang pagamutan.

Ang Child House, isang pansamantalang tuluyan ng mga batang may sakit na kanser o ibang lubhang karamdaman, at proyekto ng kilalang hair stylist na si Ricky Reyes, ay nakapaloob sa Quezon Institute (QI) kung saan dating nangungupahan ang PCSO. Dahil sa isang milyong pondong inilagak ng PCSO sa proyekto, nananahan ang Child House sa isa sa mga gusali ng QI nang walang bayad.

Ang pag-alis ng PCSO as QI ay nangangahulugan din ng paglipat ng Child House ng kanilang tanggapan gayundin ng kanilang mga pasyente.

Ipinabatid naman ng ahensya na ipagbigay-alam lamang sa ahensya ang alinmang problema o konsern ng mga pasyente sa Child House at agaran nilang sosolusyunan ang kanilang mga hinaing.

PCSO vows continued support for Child House patients

Despite the imminent transfer of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to its new office at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, the agency gave assurance of its continued support to its long-time charity projects. 

This vow of ongoing service to needy health patients was made by PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas in the government program Communication and News Exchange Forum (CNEX) at the Philippine Information Agency.

Rumor has it that the PCSO will stop giving support to the Center for Life Improvement and Health Development House Project, also known as Child House, after the agency decided to transfer its office from the Quezon Institute (QI) to a more structurally-sturdy building.

The move was made by PCSO officials after receiving reports that the QI buildings are already susceptible to damage and collapse.

The Child House, a private project initiated by renowned hairstylist Ricky Reyes, is a temporary shelter for children with cancer and those who are in critical health condition.

The said project has been receiving support from the PCSO, with their office lodged at one of the QI buildings free of charge, courtesy of the PCSO, through its more than P1 million fund.

The fear of discontinued support by the PCSO stemmed from the relocation of the agency's operation which meant relocation of the space-dependent Child House.

To allay the fear of Child House patients, PCSO, through Rojas, made it clear that it would not stop giving support to Child House patients, and whatever concerns they have, they should directly contact the PSCO, through the Executive Office or the Office of Board Directors, and the agency will provide viable solution in the soonest possible time.

Filipino: Sandata ng Sambayanan, Tulay sa Kaunlaran

Wika ng isang post-kolonyalistang teoriko na si Edward Said: "Kaalaman ay kapangyarihan ("Knowledge is power"). At sa likod ng bawat matagumpay na paglinang ng kaisipan ay ang isang sandatang sinasabing pinakamakapangyarihan sa lahat-- wika.

Mula sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo, ang bawat bansa ay may tinituring na opisyal na wika. Ang Estados Unidos at Inglatera ay may Ingles; ang Hapon ay may Nihonggo; ang Tsina ay may Mandarin. Bawat kalinangan ay hinuhubog ng wika, at ang kalidad ng kaisipan ng mamamayan ay nakasalalay sa kahusayan niya sa wika.

Ang Filipinas ay binubuo ng mahigit pitong libong pulo, at hindi kataka-taka na ang heograpikal na sitwasyon natin ay nagdulot ng pagkakaroon ng iba't ibang wika o lenggwahe; ang bawat lengguwahe ay may tinatawag na varyant o dialekto. Sinasabing mayroong higit 120 na lengguwahe at dialekto ang bansa. Sa kabila ng pagkakaiba-iba sa aspektong heograpikal, kultural, at lingwal, bakit nagkakaunawaan pa rin ang mga Filipino?

Wikang Pambansa ang tinaguriang opisyal na wika ng lahat sa anumang transaksyon: sa paaralan, sa negosyo, sa pamahalaan. Mahaba-haba at masalimuot ang kasaysayan ng pagkakatatag ng ating wikang pambansa. Nabuksan ang kamulatan ng mga mamamayan ukol sa kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng wikang panlahat nang ipainaloob sa Konstitusyon ng 1935, sa pangunguna ni Pangulong Manuel Quezon, ang pagkakaroon ng isang wikang pambansa na gagamitin sa lahat ng transaksyon sa bansa.

Taong 1937 din naitatag ang Surian ng Wikang Pambansa na pangunahing layunin ay ang pumili mula sa mga katutubong wika ng gagamiting batayan sa pagpapalaganap at pagpapatibay ng wikang pambansa ng Pilipinas. Sa taong ding iyon, sa pamamagitan ng Executive Order No. 134 s. 1937, nahirang ang Tagalog bilang batayan ng ating wikang pambansa. Ginamit din ang Pilipino bilang wikang panturo sa mga paaralan at sa sirka ring ito nabuo ang Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa ni Lope K. Santos na siyang naging opisyal na talasanggunian ng mga mag-aaral sa balarila o gramatika at istruktura ng wikang Pilipino. Ang pamantayan sa pagpili ng wikang pambansa ay nagdulot ng malawakang protesta at diskusyon mula sa mga akademiko hanggang sa mga pulitiko sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa. Lalong naging maugong ang diskusyon nang itinagubilin ng Komite ng Wika sa nakaraang 1973 Kumbensyong Konstitusyunal na bumuo ng wikang pambansa mula sa pinagsanib-sanib na wikang katutubo ng mga Filipino.

Naresolbahan lamang ang isyu sa pambansang wika nang maliwanag na ipinaloob sa 1987 Konstitusyon na Filipino ang pangunahin at opisyal na wika ng bansa. Nakasaad sa Artikulo XIV, Seksyon 6 na:

         

"... the National language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages."

sa Seksyon 7, nakasaad na:

           

          "For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English. The regional languages are the auxilliary official language in the region and shall       serve as auxilliary media of instruction therein."

Kung kaya't mula sa orihinal na tawag na Tagalog ni Pangulong Quezon noong 1939 hanggang sa tawag na Pilipino noong 1959, ang opisyal na wikang pambansa ng Filipinas ay tinawag na Filipino mula 1973 hanggang sa kasalukuyan. 

Yumabong ang Filipino sa larangan ng panitikan, agham, at teknolohiya, at kasama ng pagyabong nito ay nagkaroon ng wikang nagbibigkis sa mga mamamayan ng bansa. Samantala, ginagamit pa rin ang ibang rehiyunal na wika sa mga lokal na transaksyon. Ang Ingles naman ay tinaguriang lingua franca o wikang ginagamit sa pakikipagtransaksyon sa mga dayuhan sa bansa.

Patunay ang pagpapahalaga sa ating wikang pambansa nang ilabas ni Pangulong Corazon Aquino ang Proklamasyon Blg. 19 noong ika-12 ng Agosto 1988 na nagdedeklara ng pagdiriwang ng Linggo ng Wika mula ika-13 hanggang ika-19 ng Agosto kada taon. Upang higit na mapaigting ang pagmamahal ng mga Filipino sa tinaguriang wikang pambansa, idineklara ni Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos ang buong buwan ng Agosto bilang Pambansang Buwan ng Wika sa pamamagitan ng Proklamasyon Blg. 1041 noong ika-15 ng Enero, 1997. Hanggang sa ngayon, ipinagdiriwang ng buong Filipinas ang Buwan ng Wika sa buwan ng Agosto.

At sa taong ito, sa pangunguna ng Komisyong Wikang Filipino (KWF), ating ipinagdiriwang ang Buwan ng Wika na may paksang-diwa na, "Ang Filipino ay Wikang Panlahat, Ikaw at Lakas sa Tuwid na Landas".

Sa buong buwan ng Agosto ay maraming nailapat na gawain ang pamahalaan upang maipagdiwang ang Buwan ng Wika. Ilan sa mga programang naitakda sa buwan na ito ay ang sumusunod:

Agosto 1:     Pagpupugay sa Watawat at Pambukas na Palatuntunan     

Panauhing Tagapagsalita: Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa,     

Malacañang Grounds, Maynila

         

12-13           Pambansang Worksyap sa Filipino: Wikang Filipino sa Ika-150

taon ni Rizal, University of Perpetual Help-Rizal,

Angono, Rizal

         

13                Forum Pangwika

Philippine Information Agency Auditorium

Visayas Ave, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon 

14                Araw ng Pagkatatag ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino

1610 Gusaling Watson, J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Maynila

         

19                Gawad Sagisag Quezon 2011

Panauhing Pandangal, Pangulo Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III

Heroes Hall, Palasyo ng Malacañang, Lungsod Maynila

Pag-aalay ng Bulaklak at Paggunita

Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Pangulong Manuel L. Quezon

Quezon Memorial Shrine, Lungsod Quezon

         

30                Kumperensiyang Pangwika

Bayview Park Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Lungsod Maynila

         

31                Pampinid na Palatuntunan

Gawad Dangal ng Wikang Filipino

Gawad Komisyon sa Sanaysay

Bayview Park Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Lungsod Maynila