Because Spanish is part of the Philipino cultural heritage, and English isn't . The fathers of this hispanic nation spoke in Spanish and it is a sign of respect to study what they said in their original language so one can understand exactly what they wanted to mean. About Tagalog, I guess that many words have simply not equivalents in Tagalog. Aside from the patriotic reason, the efforts needed in translating more than 17 millions of documents are far bigger and more expensive than simply learning Spanish. In the end Spain will economically support the reintroduction of Spanish in Philipines. Another reason not mentioned is that call centers require philipinos who speak Spanish and they are paid more than in the case of English only call centers. Philipines is trying to open commercial ties with Hispanic America and Spain, where a substantial Philipino community lives since recent years.
El español volverá a ser asignatura obligatoria en Filipinas
They have more points similar to Hispanics than to Anglos:
1. They are Catholics. They do not have strange religions like the Scienciology or Mormons, like the Americans.
2. They have Spanish Names and Surnames
3. They like to eat well, not like Americans or British, hamburgers or crap, respectively.
4. English is a neutral language, but if they speak Spanish again, they come back to a family of more than 500 million people. A person from Philippines, from Peru or from Mexico working in London, in Madrid or in Los Angeles are like cousins. That is not the same with Anglos.
5. The cultural heritage. It is explained above. They have 300 years of history in common with Spain, not USA.
6. Only Spanish and English, perhaps Chinese, are strong languages, useful in the XXI century.
7. Linguistically and phonetically, Spanish is easier for a Tagalog speaker than English. The same for Japanese or African people, for example.
1. They are Catholics. They do not have strange religions like the Scienciology or Mormons, like the Americans.
2. They have Spanish Names and Surnames
3. They like to eat well, not like Americans or British, hamburgers or crap, respectively.
4. English is a neutral language, but if they speak Spanish again, they come back to a family of more than 500 million people. A person from Philippines, from Peru or from Mexico working in London, in Madrid or in Los Angeles are like cousins. That is not the same with Anglos.
5. The cultural heritage. It is explained above. They have 300 years of history in common with Spain, not USA.
6. Only Spanish and English, perhaps Chinese, are strong languages, useful in the XXI century.
7. Linguistically and phonetically, Spanish is easier for a Tagalog speaker than English. The same for Japanese or African people, for example.
I don't understand well what Gloria plans .
1. Does she want to make Spanish an official language?
2. Does she want to introduce Spanish in Schools as an optative subject?
3. Does she want to make Spanish compulsory in schools?
1. Does she want to make Spanish an official language?
2. Does she want to introduce Spanish in Schools as an optative subject?
3. Does she want to make Spanish compulsory in schools?
Answers:
1. It is a first step to make Spanish third official language
2. No. Compulsory.
3. Yes.
1. It is a first step to make Spanish third official language
2. No. Compulsory.
3. Yes.
Great Spanish is gaining terrain.
I think I know what see wants to do, first she wants kinds to learn it at a very young age so within a generation they'll all speak it well, after that they will love it because it is easier and classier than tagalong or English and then they’ll make it the main official language.
I think I know what see wants to do, first she wants kinds to learn it at a very young age so within a generation they'll all speak it well, after that they will love it because it is easier and classier than tagalong or English and then they’ll make it the main official language.
Already tagalog has plenty of spanish things in it, so Spanish will not be completely allien to the Filipino students when they make the first approach to this language in schools. It think that verbs will be the main difficulty, but Filipinos are know as great polyglots, so I don't think that the Spanish verbs will prevent them from learning Spanish. For example , first lesson: yo follo, tu follas, él folla, ella folla, nosotros follamos, vosotros folláis, ellos follan. It's very easy.
They aren't even done yet introducing English to the whole Phillipine Society, and already they want to introduce Spanish.
Poor Pilipinos..
Poor Pilipinos..
In fact English is so poorly introduced that they need another language more suitable for they cultural idiosincrasy. I think that Spanish will fit better.
There are other interesting points: the powerful Catholic Church in Philippines is more comfortable with Spanish language than with the language of Protestants, Scienciology, Mormons and other strange sects.
There are several Asiatic countries that speak English: India, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. They need another language to specialize economically with call centers and a bridge between Anglo, Hispanic and Asiatic companies. Economically, that is a good idea.
There are several Asiatic countries that speak English: India, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. They need another language to specialize economically with call centers and a bridge between Anglo, Hispanic and Asiatic companies. Economically, that is a good idea.
Well, we'll just have to wait and see whether Spanish will be successfully introduced there.
Only time will tell.
Only time will tell.
Spanish will be re-introduced, not just introducid. Prior to the US invasion there was a thriving Spanish speaking community in Philippines. Spanish was the main language in Manila.
<< Spanish will be re-introduced, not just introducid. Prior to the US invasion there was a thriving Spanish speaking community in Philippines. Spanish was the main language in Manila. >>
Not sdo fast, Tagalog is the native language of the Manila area and Spanish is just used in formal setting and only elite Filipinos have the previlege to speak it becaise the Spanish authorities did not want the Indios to learn Spanish because if they did they would have had a linguistic unity and it would have been easier for the Indios to unite because they could easily communicate with each other. The Spanish relied on the divide and rule tactic by letting the Indios' vernacular languages to abort unity. They wanted the Indios to remain ignorant to maintain their grip all over the archipelago.
Not sdo fast, Tagalog is the native language of the Manila area and Spanish is just used in formal setting and only elite Filipinos have the previlege to speak it becaise the Spanish authorities did not want the Indios to learn Spanish because if they did they would have had a linguistic unity and it would have been easier for the Indios to unite because they could easily communicate with each other. The Spanish relied on the divide and rule tactic by letting the Indios' vernacular languages to abort unity. They wanted the Indios to remain ignorant to maintain their grip all over the archipelago.
No, Manila was a Spanish speaking area before the US conquest. Check Philipines history. Those natives who had not chances to learn Spanish lived in other parts of the country, but Manila had a closer contact with Spain and Mexico, and the elite you talk about had their headquarters in Manila. Appart from them there was bourgueoise class which used Spanish as their working language. There were even Chinese and Japanese migrants who spoke in Spanish for doing business.
About the Spanish colonization, they simply didn't want to impose their language, like US tried when they replaced Spain as the colonial power. Those Filipinos who learned Spanish did it because they wanted . On the contrary US tried to impose the English language.Remember that the Filipinos also revolted against US , no just Spain.
About the Spanish colonization, they simply didn't want to impose their language, like US tried when they replaced Spain as the colonial power. Those Filipinos who learned Spanish did it because they wanted . On the contrary US tried to impose the English language.Remember that the Filipinos also revolted against US , no just Spain.
About Gloria Arroyo, it would be interesting to note that she speaks Spanish perfectly. She is member of the Spanish Academia of Philippines.