One of the benefits of being an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) is the opportunity to learn other languages, and get mingled with other ethnic races.
As I am exposed to different cultures, traits and characters in a multi-racial working environment, I’ve started to value our culture and racial upbringing – not that I do not loved it before, but I appreciated it more than I do before. It maybe a long story to tell, but really, I’m proud to be a Filipino.
Here’s the kicker, when I went for vacation just recently, I bought a Philippine flag pin and wears it daily in my bag which I never did, especially when I was working in the Philippine government.
That admiration in our culture was challenged even more when my eldest child, Alliah, requested me to make a poem in Filipino, as she is one of the selected student to represent their class for their schools’ Buwan ng Wika 2017 celebration. The theme for this year’s buwan ng wika is, “Filipino: Wikang Mapagbago.”
I have not written a poem before, but with due respect, here is what I wrote. WARNING! The thought maybe unclear and incomplete and it may sound corny. If you have something to add please write it below in comments.
FILIPINO: WIKANG MAPAGBAGO
Ang wikang Filipino, ay sumasalamin
Sa kultura at tradisyon na sariling atin.
Kagaya ng mundo na puno ng pagbabago
Ang ating wika’y sumusunod sa uso.
Paglago ng teknolohiya, dala’y bagong mga salita,
Na ‘di maririnig nuong dekada sisenta.
Kagaya ng laptop, iphone, iPad at social media.
“Selfie” dito, “chat” duon, gadget ng walang puknat hanggang ma-“lowbatt,”
Mga estudiyante, sa pag-aaral walang problema,
Basta’t may internet, kay google umaasa.
Impormasyon at koneksiyon
abot kamay ng bagong henerasyon.
Sabay sa imbensiyon, ang wika’y yumayabong,
Mga bagong salita, dumadami at umu-usbong
Pati nga ang “Tag-lish,” usong-uso sa ngayon,
Dati pang sosyal lang, ito pala’y sandata sa globalisasyon.
Kung ikaw ay magawi, Sa bayan ng ibang lahi
Ikaw ay magalak, matuwa at magbunyi,
Mga Yemeni, Indiano, Pakistano at Arabo,
Nagsasalita ng wikang Filipino
Kaya’t ating pagyamanin, ipagmalaki’t tangkilikin,
Pambansang wika na nagbuklod at humubog sa atin.
Tulay sa pagunlad, ng bagong henerasyon
Tungo sa moderno at mapaghamong panahon.
ALSO READ: Uswag Wikang Filipino, Uswag!
