One of the things the Philippines boasts of is being able to communicate in English fluently. Whereas neighboring Asian countries are still during learning the language as they opened their doors to the world, Japan, China, South Korea, and so on comes to mind. As such, foreign businessmen and tourists find it easier to consider travel to the Philippines because of the ease of communication.
The Filipinos’ in-depth knowledge of the English language is indeed a laudable feat considering there are about eight dominant regional dialects, along with Tagalog being the national language. This language facility plays a major role in Filipinos being highly marketable in the world job market. After all, English is spoken in 58 countries. This despite all English speakers flavor their speech with their inherent national accent. For instance, the British, Americans, Australians, New Zealanders, Scots, Welshes, do have marked variations not only in tone, accent, nuances, and terminologies. The Filipino English speaker is no exception, so let us put our judgment aside. They, however, all happily arrive at understanding each other in the end, even with a scratch on the head, some of the time.
So, have the Filipinos actually become more ‘nationalistic’ because of the total elimination of Spanish in its educational system? I would beg to differ. None of the dreamy-eyed nationalists who have strongly espoused the noble thought was successful in warding off the onslaught of foreign influence.
Sady, the allure of foreign goods makes the Philippines highly dependent upon imports. Unfortunately, our only major export is labor! No kidding! The world has moved on the computer chips, the attractiveness of local goods, like woven items such as baskets, purses, key chains, etc. have long been gone.
The ‘imported’ mentality never left even after the Spanish language left the educational system. It is stronger than ever, what with an infamous first lady shopping conspicuously in London and New York, and parading in designer handbags and clothing? Whether we like it or not, the first family unwittingly becomes the ideal most emulated, including the elite. As I recall, during President Corazon C. Aquino’s time, the simplicity in her jewelry and clothing put the fashionista ladies in the Senate and Congress to shame. They had to tone down their extravagant show of wealth and had to be careful not to outshine the lady president! Thus, that was a period when people were less ostentatious. People became a bit more down-to-earth and natural. Heavy make-up, revealing, loud, and garish clothes were not around at that time.
It is a crying shame that the 333-year Spanish rule has completely been obliterated in the language department. Eliminated not by the American occupiers, but by the short-sighted Filipino youth crying out for national identity. Shouldn’t that have been simply a personal cry for identity? Why was there the need to take it to the national level? Just imagine what would have happened had this infantile cry to nationalism (albeit, not patriotism), been ignored?
The Filipinos would have been able to nearly cover the world by being able to speak the language of 79 countries! The Filipinos would have assuredly rivaled most Europeans in linguistic abilities!
Picture this: Filipinos raised in their native dialect, taught Tagalog from kindergarten (national language), taught English and Spanish simultaneously in elementary years. How much more globally marketable can Filipinos be? Who would be able to rival them? The Filipinos would have been fluent in two of the largest-spoken language of the world. English covers all English-speaking nations such as North America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, even as far as Ghana, and all the Spanish and British colonies worldwide! Then armed with Spanish would have likewise been marketable to jobs in all Spanish-speaking countries such as all South/Latin America, Mexico, and Spain naturally. As such, Filipinos would have covered fifty-eight (58) English-speaking countries and twenty-one (21) Spanish-speaking countries, or a total of seventy-nine (79) countries they could easily find jobs in. The ability to communicate is simply the key to the job market. I am afraid the misplaced “nationalism” has been our undoing. It was, in retrospect, simply a missed opportunity.
*****