Abra folk slam ‘tagalized’ Ilokano orthography

By Freddie Lazaro

BANGUED, Abra – A group of writers from Abra, along with instructors and students of state college in the province have joined the call for the rejection of the Tagalized Ilokano orthography released recently by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).

In a forum on the basic Ilokano orthography held at the Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST) last week, the local writers, instructors and students appealed to the KWF to stop “bastardizing” the Ilokano language.

 Viloria, the president of the Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas (GUMIL Filipinas), said the protest against the KWF’s controversial Ilokano orthography, particularly on its attempt to revise the Ilokano language, and the questions on the competence of KWF Commissioner Purificacion Delima and KWF Chairperson Virgilio Almario has snowballed in recent weeks.

He said the protest had gained support from provincial governments of Cagayan, Ilocos Sur and La Union, and the officials of the Department of Education in the Ilocos region.

               Maria Theresa Benas, president of the GUMIL – Abra, said the Ilokano language has a rich culture on orthography that should be preserved.

She said that nothing can be changed in the Ilokano language orthography as it is unique and can stand alone.
Joel Manuel, an Ilokano language expert and a multi-awarded Ilokano writer, conducted the lecture on basic orthography on Ilokano language.

Manuel discussed the proper and basic styles in writing the Ilokano language.

The institutionalize the learning of the proper writing of Ilokano language, the Abra writers are seeking the establishment of specialized program for the language in ASIST.

“It is now the high time for the people of Abra to have formal opportunity to know the standard Ilokano orthography,” said Benas.