speech of filipino writers

The 9 Most Epic Battle Speeches Ever Given By Filipinos

Usually, when we think of epic speeches, what pops up to our minds are the likes of William Wallace, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and a who’s who of famous greats (and villains also) in the pantheon of history.

Related Article:  8 Epic Battles in History Where Filipinos Kicked Ass

Here in the Philippines, the best that we could probably recall is Douglas MacArthur’s famous “ I shall return” speech during World War II. Yet, making speeches that sound totally epic is not exclusive to foreigners; a lot of Filipinos have also made speeches designed to rouse the fighting spirit of their audience. As we’ll see later on, these speeches are just as epic as their foreign counterparts.

Note: The following speeches have been translated to English for easy understanding.

Rajah Besar Tupas’ Speech To His People (1565).

The speech, made by Cebu’s last Rajah Besar Tupas on the day of his battle (April 27, 1565) with the forces of Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, exhorted the people of Cebu to rise up and repel the invader just as the men of Mactan (a reference to Lapu-Lapu) did long ago.

Also Read: 0 Fascinating Facts About Cebu

In the same speech, he also warned that should they lose, the Spanish would deprive them of their land and liberty. True enough, with his loss Tupas was forced to convert to Christianity and sign a peace treaty with Legaspi, effectively giving the Spanish control over Cebu.

Worthy Excerpt: 

“Let us, then, arm ourselves and repel these invaders. We must defend our country. We can make and end of them as the men of Magtang did of their predecessors who came here in the days of our grandfathers.”

Read full text of speech here

Tamblot’s Speech To the Boholanos (1622).

As we can all remember, one of the earliest uprisings during the Spanish period happened in Bohol in 1621 and was led by the babaylan Tamblot who wanted the people to return to the religion of their forefathers. What made this speech more epic was the fact Tamblot made it during the battle with the Spanish and in the midst of a heavy downpour.

Read More: The Tamblot Uprising (1621 – 1622)

Knowing the rain rendered the Spanish guns useless, Tamblot urged his followers to charge the Spaniards since he believed their deities provided them a miracle with the unexpected downpour. With this victory, he assured them, all of the Visayas and the rest of the country would surely rise up.

Unfortunately for Tamblot, he didn’t count on enemy native soldiers using their shields as an umbrella for the Spanish, thus enabling their guns to remain dry and usable. In the end, his uprising was crushed.

Worthy Excerpt:

“We people of Bohol like to live free. Now that we see our chance, let us not lose it. Of all Filipinos, we have the reputation, as well as of being the tallest and of the finest Filipino features, of being the stoutest hearted. Now the time has come to rid ourselves of the oppression of the Spaniards. Let us show our spirit and live up to our reputation.”

Don Alonso Macombo’s Complaint To the Spanish Commander (1650).

During a time when the Sumuroy Rebellion of 1649-1650 was in full swing in Samar, the Spanish sent reinforcements all over the archipelago to quell the uprising. One such group, the Lutao (men from Zamboanga), was headed by Don Alonso Macombo.

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Eager to fight, the Lutao were instead made to build forts under the command of Don Gines de Rojas. Fed up with this routine, Macombo finally confronted Rojas one day and told him point-blank that they had not come all way from Mindanao to haul logs, but to fight . If they weren’t going to fight, they might as well go home, he said.

To prove themselves, Macombo urged Rojas to send them to the most dangerous campaigns. Rojas, of course, obliged them to their satisfaction and joy.

The Speech: 

“Why are you wearing us out with profitless labor? You weary yourself and keep your men exhausted on fortifications that are wholly unnecessary. We Lutaos came here from Zamboanga not to haul logs but to fight. If there is to be no fighting, then permit us to return to our homes. For the coxcombs and foppish adventurers from Manila, an assault may seem too dangerous an enterprise. But we are veterans and eagerly await the chance to distinguish ourselves. If you think us boasters, please assign to us the brunt of the battle that we may employ our courage in carrying out our own advice.” 

Datu Ubal’s Vow To Kill A Spanish Conquistador (1596).

Datu Ubal,the Muslim datu of Buayan in Cotabato, made this promise in front of his guests during a feast sometime in April 1596 that he would kill the highest-ranking Spaniard who would come to invade their land.

True enough, the unlucky Spaniard—a conquistador named Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa who was the leader of the Spanish expedition—met his end at the hands of Ubal two days later in the Battle of Buayan when the latter struck him in the head with a kampilan .

“Hear now my vow. May a thunderbolt strike me on land, a cayman devour me in the sea, and may never a woman look with favor on Ubal if I rid not the land of the Buhahayanes of this mercenary invader.”

Sultan Kudarat’s Speech To The People Of Lanao (1638).

If there is ever going to be a real-life Filipino equivalent of a badass movie speech, this would be it. Sultan Kudarat, the famous hero of Mindanao who successfully opposed Spanish attempts at colonization, made this speech to the Maranao (where he had sought refuge after the fall of his capital in Lamitan, Basilan into the Spaniards) in 1638.

Also Read: A hidden paradise in Sultan Kudarat

In his speech, he exhorted the people of Lanao to continue resisting and blasted those who had submitted and collaborated with the enemy. Sure enough, the people heeded his call to resist the Spanish; Kudarat himself lived until the ripe old age of 90 and was regarded as one of Mindanao’s most powerful Muslim rulers, having thwarted countless Spanish attempts to decisively defeat him.

“You men of the Lake, forgetting your ancient liberty, have submitted to the Castilians. Such submission is sheer stupidity. You cannot realize to what your surrender binds you. You are selling yourselves into slavery to toil for the benefit of these foreigners.”

Captain Andres Novales’ Speech To His Fellow Mutineers (1823).

The speech comes from Captain Andres Novales, an officer who was discontented with the way he and his fellow insulares (Spaniards born in the Philippines) were discriminated by the peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain).

In his speech, he lamented how Filipinos (the insulares called themselves as such) suffered prejudice at the hands of the peninsulares , being constantly bypassed for important positions in church and state affairs. So on the night of June 1, 1823, he and his fellow mutineers rose up in different parts of Manila. They also attempted to occupy Fort Santiago but failed after Andres’ brother Mariano refused to open the gates.

Also Read:  8 Amazing Facts From Philippine History You Never Learned in School

Spanish soldiers later quelled the uprising and executed Novales and the ringleaders. Yet for all his failure to overthrow the Spanish, Novales would later inspire future Filipino heroes, including Jose Rizal.

“We have the same rights, let us show the same valor in fighting for them. Who among us will be so mean-spirited as longer to stay in an ungrateful service where we are distrusted and wronged?”

Andres Bonifacio’s “To The Brave Sons Of The People” Speech (1897).

Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio published his exhortation “Mararahas Na Manga Anak Nang Bayan” to his men during a lull in the fighting between November 1896 and March 1897. In his speech, he praised the men for their courage on the field against the Spaniards who have resorted to cowardice by massacring civilians and plundering villages.

Did you know?   Andres Bonifacio Fought With A Revolver, Not A Bolo .

He also said that while losing one’s life is to be expected on the battlefield, it will be for a higher purpose. Hence, he urged them to continue fighting on until they can finally secure the liberty of their country from the Spanish oppressors.

“The bravery you have manifested since the start of this Revolution in fighting against the Spanish enemy is the clearest proof that you are not terrified by the noise of the preparations for the invasion here of the army of Polavieja.  That army, in a short span of time, has demonstrated marked cowardice and base conduct by torturing and killing multitudes of our non-combatant people.  Their burning of the towns here, their desecration of the purity of our women without regard to their weakness, the murder of the old and of helpless infants – these acts are not those of any man of honor and courage.  They cry out for vengeance and justice.”

Emilio Aguinaldo’s Address On The 1 st Anniversary of Declaration Of Filipino Independence (1899).

As polarizing a figure as Emilio Aguinaldo, even he found the time to make an epic speech. Made during the first anniversary of the declaration of Filipino independence in Angeles, Pampanga on June 12, 1899, Aguinaldo exhorted the people to continue the fight against America because their cause was just even though they were outmatched from the start.

Also Read:  7 Un-Heroic Deeds Of Emilio Aguinaldo

This speech was a far cry from his earlier positive tone towards America, an admiration that spurred him to regard the Philippines as under the protection of the “Mighty and Humane North American Nation” and ignore the warnings of Antonio Luna and Apolinario Mabini of the latter’s imperialist ambitions until it was too late.

“Let us go forth to the fight against America, a nation powerful in the sinews of war and rich in resources, although we can count only upon the valor and self-denial of our soldiers and the patriotism of the Philippine people. The contest is an unequal one, but no matter. Justice and right are on our side.”

Manuel Quezon’s Third Inaugural Address (1943).

Right up to his death, Manuel Quezon believed he would be returning home to see his country free from Japanese rule.

READ:  15 Mesmerizing Facts About President Manuel Quezon

On his third inaugural speech as president (his Vice President Sergio Osmeña graciously stepped aside and allowed him to remain president for the duration of the war) which was broadcast on November 15, 1943, Quezon asked the Filipino people to continue resisting the Japanese with all their might until Douglas MacArthur could fulfill his vow to liberate the country.

He empathized with their pain and suffering, and re-assured them that no matter how sick he was, he was always constantly working for the day he could finally return to his own country.

“My fellow countrymen, I am proud of you. I know that you have been wielding against the enemy two potent weapons: Filipino unity and faith. Stronger than any arm of destruction, your weapons are of untold and terrible power. Stronger than a thousand sheets of steel, with them you are invincible. Carry on, and today, I repeat to you with conviction what General MacArthur said when he arrived in Australia from Bataan: “I broke through and I will return. People of the Philippines, I will return with General MacArthur. Our day of redemption is at hand.”

Written by FilipiKnow

in Facts & Figures , History & Culture

Last Updated January 21, 2022 01:34 PM

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PNoy’s speeches: When the president speaks the language of the people

Finally, we have a president of the republic who speaks the language of the people—both the educated and the less-educated, the haves and the have-nots. The publication of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Kayo ang Boss Ko sa Daang Matuwid: Mga Piling Talumpati (Filipinas Institute of Translation, 2012) is a milestone in the history of the Philippines, especially in the development of Filipino as the national language.   The book consists of 37 speeches delivered by PNoy on various occasions all over the country. It opens with his inaugural address “Tayo Na sa Daang Matuwid” on 30 June 2010, and ends with his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), entitled “Sambayanang Filipino ang Gumawa ng Pagbabago,” delivered last 23 July 2012.   The speeches are arranged chronologically, serving as veritable records of the achievements of PNoy’s administration. Many of the speeches (especially the SONAs) are also well-supported exposés of the excesses of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration.   Political and practical utilities aside, however, the speeches in this book are also examples of well-written and well-argued essays. The use of Filipino is almost elegant.   “Matatala si PNoy sa kasaysayan bilang ang pangulong ganap na nagbigay-daan sa Filipino bilang tunay na opisyal na wika ng gobyerno at kapaki-pakinabang na instrumento ng pambansang komunikasyon at pagsusulong ng kapakanan ng sambayanan. Mula rito, masasabi natin kung tunay nga ba siyang naging Pangulong maka-Filipino hindi lamang sa salita kundi lalo’t higit sa gawa,” according to the book editors Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr. and Michael M. Coroza.   Both editors are award-winning poets, and also recipients of the prestigious Southeast Asian Write Award from the royalty of Thailand. Baquiran is on the faculty of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Department of Filipino, while Coroza is with the Filipino Department of Ateneo de Manila University.   Filipino or Tagalog?   While the book is a laudable effort, I can already imagine the violent comments from non-Tagalog speakers about PNoy’s brand of Filipino. Why, it sounds very much like Tagalog! Is the president supporting, or worse, making it official—the Tagalization of our so-called national language? What is so national about it when it is just Tagalog?   Admittedly, this is a very difficult question to answer without fanning the flames of regionalism. Some would even call it “nativism” in today’s language politics, which can be potentially emotionally messy.   But perhaps we should look at the issue from a historical perspective.   The idea of a national language was based on an indigenous language first mentioned in the 1935 Constitution, during the time of President Manuel Quezon. One year later, Quezon created the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa, which chose Tagalog as the basis of the national language.   As expected, the choice was questioned by the Visayans. Why not Cebuano, which is widely spoken in the Visayas and Mindanao? This became the start of the “the war of the languages.”   Nevertheless, President Quezon was dubbed “The Father of the National Language” despite his Tagalog-centric leanings, considering that he is from the Tagalog heartland of Tayabas. Everyone recognized that his vision to develop a national language is an achievement in itself.   In the 1987 Constitution, under the presidency of Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the national language is clearly named—Filipino. It is still Tagalog-based, but there is a conscious effort to have it developed and enriched by other Philippine languages as well as other foreign languages like Spanish, English, and Arabic.   This means that the national language is still more an ideal than reality. Nonetheless, academic institutions like the University of the Philippines Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (SWF), aside from the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino under the Office of the President, are seriously and actively attempting to make the concept of the national language real and tangible.   For example, the SWF in U.P. Iloilo, first directed by Palanca Hall of Famer Leoncio P. Deriada, gathered words and concepts in the three languages of Panay, namely Aklanon, Kinaray-a, and Hiligaynon. Deriada also gave creative writing workshops in the different schools in Western Visayas, where he promoted his brand of Filipino that he calls “Visayan-laced Filipino.” This is a type of Filipino that is Tagalog-based, but is open to vocabularies and syntax from the Visayan languages.   From Gloria to PNoy   PNoy’s Filipino today is definitely Tagalog-based. Maybe he should, with the help of his speech writers, consider incorporating non-Tagalog words into his future speeches. Perhaps, if he is giving a speech in Cebu, he should use more Cebuano words. If he is in Iloilo, why not use Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a words? If he is in Ilocandia, why not put Ilocano words in his speech? And so on.   Or maybe we can just leave PNoy in his Tagalog-based Filipino. Since he was brought up in Metro Manila, he cannot help but be Manila-centric and Tagalog-centric in his language. Perhaps, we should wait for another great president who can speak several Philippine languages, and mix these languages in order to create a real and more representative national language that would truly be Filipino in form and content.   Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could have been this kind of president. I heard her once giving a radio interview when she was still President. It was broadcast all over the Philippines, and she was answering questions in Tagalog, Kapampangan, Cebuano, and Hiligaynon. Sayang, she squandered her chance to be a president who would champion the national language.   Whatever his future holds until 2016, once he leaves office, PNoy will perhaps be remembered as the president who spoke the language of the people. After all, more than 90 percent of the population can understand and speak Tagalog-based Filipino because of mass media.    In the words of National Artist Virgilio Almario on the back cover of this yellow book, “Tumutulong ang mga talumpati ng Pangulong PNoy upang burahin ang mga guwang at hanggahang panlipunan, upang mabilis na mapalaganap sa buong kapuluan ang anumang mensaheng pambayan, at upang higit na mailahok ang sambayanan sa pamamalakad ng bansa. Napakahalagang isipin ng madla na ‘kinakausap’ sila ng kanilang Pangulo ng Filipinas.” – YA/VS, GMA News

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Among the vast array of Filipino names in the world of literature, many have stood apart as exceptional contributors. These great writers practice a diverse array of writing styles and genres. From poetry and novels to essays and biographies, these best Filipino authors have demonstrated their expertise, earning a revered place in the literary world. Their profound insights and compelling narratives provide a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant culture and history of the Philippines, making them vital voices in the global literary landscape. 

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Jessica hagedorn.

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Jose Dalisay Jr. writes a popular online column where he’s more commonly known by his pen name, Butch Dalisay. Dalisay was imprisoned during Martial Law, and his experiences from this portion of Philippine history are brought to life in his first novel, Killing Time in a Warm Place . His second novel, Soledad’s Sister tackles the plight of overseas Filipino workers, and was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007. Within the Philippines, Dalisay has won 16 Palanca Awards, the country’s highest prize for literature.

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Introduction to Philippine English

• Pronunciation

The Philippines is home to over 100 million people spread across 7,107 islands in Southeast Asia. Among the more than 100 mostly Austronesian languages spoken in this densely populated archipelago is English, making the country one of the largest Anglophone nations in the world. 

Unlike most postcolonial nations, the Philippines did not inherit English from the British but from the Americans. When the Philippine-American War ended in 1902 and the islands officially became an unincorporated territory of the United States, the new colonial administration quickly introduced English as the primary language of government, business, and education. It established a new public school system and sent American English-language teachers all over the country. These American teachers were called Thomasites after the name of the ship they arrived in, the  USS Thomas.  

So effective were American efforts to make English the second language of the Philippines that within a few years, Filipino schoolchildren were learning it from Filipino teachers. By the 1920s Filipino writers such as Paz Marquez Benitez and Jose Garcia Villa had begun producing literary works in English. Within a few decades, English had been woven into the fabric of Philippine society, and not even independence from the United States in 1946 could unravel the threads of linguistic assimilation. 

Today, English is constitutionally named as one of the Philippines’ official languages, and it continues to be an integral part of local life and culture. English is the language of business, science, technology, government, education, and international communication. It is present in the country’s print and broadcast media, and in its vibrant artistic and literary scene. Filipino proficiency in English drives a thriving, world-leading outsourcing industry, as well as a rapidly growing education sector that is attracting increasing numbers of international students. 

The Philippine variety of English has evolved beyond the American standard, having developed distinctive features of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and discourse determined by the native languages and culture of its Filipino speakers.   

It is clear that what once a completely foreign language has been embraced by Filipinos and made their own. It is also true that the continuing presence of English in the Philippines gives rise to a number of very thorny issues related to national and regional identity, educational policy, and language politics. But no matter how these issues are addressed, it cannot be denied that in the little over a century that it has remained in their islands, Filipinos—with their rich indigenous heritage, colourful colonial history, and multiplicity of languages—have made an indelible mark on English. As Filipino writer Gemino Abad famously put it, ‘English is ours. We have colonized it too’. 

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Vocabulary 

Philippine culture is a complex, colourful mosaic combining indigenous Asian features with varied Western influences. The country’s rich diversity is reflected in its languages, including Philippine English, whose vocabulary is abounding in words and phrases that are uniquely Pinoy. 

The first Philippine additions to the English lexicon came in the form of plant and animal names borrowed from local languages. The following are just a few of the words that can be found in the  OED  with quotations dating back to the 18 th  century, before English came to the Philippines but right when English-speaking authors began writing about the region’s flora and fauna:  

• abaca , n.  (first attested 1751) – a kind of banana plant,  Musa textilis , native to the Philippines, the petioles of which yield a strong fibre; the fibre itself, used for making paper, ropes, matting, etc.; Manila hemp. 
• taclobo , n. (1885) – A bivalve mollusc, of great size, the Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) of the Indian and China seas.  
• tamarau,  n. (1898) – A diminutive black buffalo,  Bubalus mindorensis , peculiar to the island Mindoro, in the Philippines.    
• ylang-ylang , n. (1876) – an anonaceous tree ( Canangium odoratum ) of Malaysia, the Philippines, etc., with fragrant greenish-yellow flowers from which a perfume is distilled; hence, the perfume itself.  

However, it did not take long for even more creative coinages to make it into Philippine English vocabulary. Filipinos primarily acquire English as a second or even third language alongside local vernaculars, a situation that places English in constant contact with other languages, and makes borrowing a particularly productive means of lexical innovation. Philippine English is characterized by a host of words borrowed from a variety of linguistic sources, the main ones being Filipino, the Tagalog-based national language, and Spanish, the colonial tongue that preceded English. Loan words and loan blends such as the following form part of the everyday vocabulary of Philippine English: 

• balikbayan box , n. (1984) – a carton shipped or brought to the Philippines from another country by a Filipino who has been living overseas, typically containing items such as food, clothing, toys, and household products. 
• barangay,  n.  (1840) – a village, suburb, or other demarcated neighbourhood; a small territorial and administrative district forming the most local level of government; from Tagalog. 
• barkada,  n.  (1965) – a group of friends; from Tagalog, ultimately from Spanish  barcada  ‘boat-load’. 
• despedida party,  n. (1929) – a social event honouring someone who is about to depart on a journey or leave an organization; a going-away party; a blend of Spanish and English. 
• estafa,  n. (1903) – criminal deception, fraud; dishonest dealing; from Spanish.  
• kikay kit , n.  (2002) – a soft case in which a woman’s toiletries and cosmetics are stored; blend of Tagalog and English. 
• pan de sal , n.  (1910) – a yeast-raised bread roll made of flour, eggs, sugar and salt, widely consumed in the Philippines, especially for breakfast; partly from Tagalog, partly from Spanish.    
• pasalubong,  n. (1933) – a gift or souvenir given to a friend or relative by a person who has returned from a trip or arrived for a visit; from Tagalog. 
• sari-sari store,  n.  (1925) – a small neighbourhood store selling a variety of goods; blend of Tagalog and English. 
• sisig,  n. (1987) – a dish consisting of chopped pork, onions, and chillies; from Kapampangan. 
• suki,  n. (1941) – a buyer or seller involved in an arrangement whereby a customer regularly purchases products or services from the same provider in exchange for favourable treatment; also the arrangement itself; from Tagalog.    

Aside from direct borrowing, Filipinos employ a range of other methods to create new words, such as adding derivational affixes, creating new compounds, shortening and blending of words, inventing new initialisms: 

• batchmate , n. (1918) – a member of the same graduation class as another; a classmate; formed by combining  batch , n. with  mate , n. 
• KKB,  int. (and adj.)  (1987) – ‘ Kaniya-kaniyang bayad ’, lit. ‘each one pays their own’, used esp. to indicate that the cost of a meal is to be shared. 
• mani-pedi , n. (1972) – a beauty treatment comprising both a manicure and a pedicure; formed by clipping and blending the words  manicure,  n.   and  pedicure , n. 
• presidentiable , n.  (1840) – a person who is a likely or confirmed candidate for president; formed by adding the – able  suffix to  president , n. 

Philippine English speakers also translate directly from their other languages, change the function of words, coin neologisms based on analogy with existing English formations, maintain words that have fallen out of use in American English, and even totally transform the meaning of words:  

• carnapper,  n. (1945) – a person who steals a motor vehicle; a car thief; formed following the model of  kidnapper,  n.  
• comfort room,  n. (1886) – a toilet; an old-fashioned American euphemism that continues to be widely used in the Philippines. 
• high blood , adj.  (1997) – angry, agitated (e.g., I am so  high blood  because of this traffic jam!); use of a noun phrase as an adjective. 
• to go down,  phrasal v. (1993) – to alight from a vehicle; to get off a bus, train, etc., esp. at a specified stop; a translation of the Filipino verb  bumaba . 
• salvage,  v.  (1980) – to apprehend and execute (a suspected criminal) without trial; complete semantic change from the original English meaning ‘to rescue’. 

Grammar 

Some of the grammatical features peculiar to Philippine English include:  

Use of the plural verb form with a singular subject, especially when a phrase comes in between the subject and the verb 

• One of my friends  live  here. 

Use of the present perfect tense in cases where the simple past is expected  

• I  have done  it last week.  

Use of the past perfect in sentences that usually call for the present perfect  

• They  had already  left. 

The use of the present continuous instead of the simple present to express habitual aspect 

• She  is driving  to work every day. 

Article usage  

• He is going to United Kingdom to study at the Oxford University.  

Intransitive use of typically transitive verbs  

• We will  enjoy . 
• They cannot afford.  
• Do you like?  

Some of the characteristics that we describe here as grammatical features of Philippine English may seem like simple grammatical errors, of the type that English teachers try to drill out of their students. Indeed, these features have developed thanks in large part to imperfect learning of the morphological and syntactic principles of English by Filipinos, the majority of whom do not acquire the language at home but in the classroom. 

This does not mean that Filipino speakers of English who do not always adhere to the prescribed rules of standard British or American English are careless, unconscientious, and simply unable to completely master the language. In fact, having to learn English as a second or even third or fourth language in school makes Filipinos even more aware of grammar, as the learning process they go through requires a lot of conscious linguistic analysis. Their acquisition of English is dependent on the adherence to established precepts and patterns, and often their grammatical innovations result from their attempts to rationalize English and fit new structures into templates they have previously learned. 

This tendency can be easily observed in the junction between lexis and grammar, such as in the use of particle verbs. The complementation of verbs in English is highly arbitrary, and learning which verb goes with what poses difficulties that second-language speakers try to overcome through analogy. Filipinos, for instance, say  cope up with  instead of  cope with , because it follows the pattern of  keep up with.  Filipinos also generally opt for  result to  instead of  result in , given that other verbs that introduce an outcome go with the preposition  to  (e.g.,  lead to, give rise to ). If you must  ask for  things, Filipinos reason, then surely you must also  demand for  and  request for  them, instead of just  demanding  and  requesting.  

New grammatical features in Philippine English can also result from second-language speakers’ efforts to simplify particularly complex aspects of English grammar. One good example is the modal  would.  The system of modals in English is complicated in terms of both syntax and semantics: the verbs  will, would, can, could, may, might, shall ,   and  should  can be used to express permission as well as possibility, and the choice between present and past forms are not only important for tense harmony but also for conveying varying degrees of politeness or certainty.  

In the case of  would,  Filipinos are usually taught this verb as the past form of  will  in reported speech, as part of polite formulas such as  I would like to , and as the modal used in the unreal or hypothetical conditional of the type  If I were … I would.  Being accustomed to the use of  would  in contexts that require indirectness, politeness, and tentativeness, Filipinos habitually turn to this modal every time they wish to come across as courteous, formal, or unsure, even in cases where a British or American speaker would choose a different verb form. They tend to construct sentences like:  

• I  would  visit you tomorrow. (instead of I  may  visit you tomorrow   to express uncertain future) 
• Classes  would  be suspended next week.   (instead of Classes  will  be suspended next week   to make a formal announcement) 

This more generalized use of  would  could also be fulfilling an expressive need in Filipino speakers to sound less assertive, especially when stating personal opinions, intentions, and suggestions: 

• I think that due to global warming, there  would  come a time that the world would not experience snow anymore.   (instead of There  will/may  come a time…the world  will/may  not experience snow   to convey personal opinion) 
• She  would  be a teacher after graduation.   (instead of She  will  be a teacher… to express intention) 
• We  would  have to leave early.   (instead of We  will  have to leave early to make a suggestion) 

Some grammatical tendencies in Philippine English also reflect the type of English that Filipinos are usually exposed to. Filipino speech and writing tend to emulate the conventions of the formal, academic English Filipinos are used to hearing. This can be seen in the regular use of such redundant constructions as  I will be the one who will go  instead of simply  I will go , or of the formal relative adverb  wherein  even in informal speech. 

These examples of grammatical features of Philippine English reveal how differences in grammar, just like those in vocabulary, grow out of second-language speakers’ need to change and adapt English according to how they learn the language and use it to communicate. 

Pronunciation 

View the OED’s pronunciation model and key to pronunciation for Philippine English. 

Author: Danica Salazar, OED World English Editor

The opinions and other information contained in the OED articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

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Words Matter: Quotes From 2021's Most Influential Filipina Women

Be inspired by these quotes in honor of filipino american history month..

Posted October 18, 2021 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

• October is Filipino American History Month.
• There are many inspiring quotes from FWN's 2021 Most Influential Filipinas in the World.
• Writing a 10-word speech or personal motto is a helpful exercise that can clarify one's purpose and direction.

I have never belonged to a sorority. I thought about rushing in college, but never pursued the path of “Greek life.” Recently, however, I joined a sisterhood that I imagine parallels what it is like to feel connected to a group of women you want to help and who want to help you, what it feels like to belong to something bigger than yourself. This sisterhood is the Filipina Women’s Network.

I attended the 17th annual 2021 Filipina Women’s Network conference ("Be. Influential. The Future is Us.") this past September 2021 in San Francisco. The Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network (FFWN) is the organization for career women of Philippine ancestry. With members in 31 countries, the FFWN’s passion is to help Filipina women achieve previously unimaginable levels of performance in the public and private sectors. In fact, one of FFWN’s commitments is to femtoring—that is, developing the next generation of Filipina leaders in every segment of the economy through a female mentor (femtor) and female mentee (femtee).

For the 2019 award, Ellen Samson, CEO of American Geriatric, captured the spirit of the FFWN sisterhood beautifully. Ellen stated: “So thrilled to be in the company of like-minded, type A but grounded and humble Filipina leaders.” A 2021 Global FWN100™ awardee and professional kitesurfer, Paula Rosales, shared her feelings about FWN at the 2021 conference, saying, “Not sisters by blood but sisters by heart."

The women I met were strong, compassionate, wise, giving, and beautiful souls. The bond happened quickly among us but also has been built upon years of planning, leadership , and community of classic Filipina women who broke bamboo ceilings and were driven to pave the path forward. We connected, were vulnerable with each other, and shared wisdom all with a foundation on a herstory of Filipinas and matriarchs who spanned professional disciplines. For more information on this herstory, check out the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network archives and the Filipino American National Historical Society.

During the 2021 Global FWN100™ awards gala, the award recipients continued the legacy of women before us. We accepted accolades for our contributions to society while also accepting the call to do more for future generations. We were asked to provide 10 meaningful words as our acceptance speech. Ten words that represent how the work we do in our award category (i.e., builders, emerging leaders, innovators and thought leaders, policymakers and visionaries, founders and pioneers) helps to inspire an equal future for women and girls, helping Filipina women get that elusive seat at the table. One awardee described the 10-word limit as a useful exercise that “demands one reduce a whole philosophy into a short speech making each word count so much more.”

These directions paralleled the “Six-Word Memoirs,” a project founded by the U.S.-based online storytelling magazine Smith Magazine. The quotes inspired. The words were powerful. The 10-word speeches (and sometimes less) left such a powerful impact that I decided they must be kept alive, passed on further, and shared to an even larger audience. During Filipino American History Month, I am especially overjoyed to share these words articulated by amazing Filipina leaders who are literally making history as we speak. While not an exhaustive list, a majority of the speeches are listed and organized by award categories.

“Filipina Fearless Girl on Wall Street.” – Holly Vocal, Managing Director Bank of America Securities, USA

“Music evokes joy. Pursue your passion. The possibilities are endless.” – Arlene Tordecilla Ferrolino, President Filipino American Symphony, USA

“Global Filipina, now rising in the Middle East. Get ready!” – Joanne de Guzman Rico, Head of Marketing and Sales, NMC Bareen Cluster at NMC Healthcare, United Arab Emirates

“Fight for what you care about, empower others to join.” – Katherine Villanueva Lai, Partner Crowe LLP, USA

“In the spirit of bayanihan, we can do anything! Mabuhay!” – Cynthia CK Suero-Gabler, Senior Diversity and Economic Opportunity Representative, LA Metropolitan Transportation Agency, USA

"Female financial representation is minimal. I'm driven to elevate this community." Melissa Sanvictores, Vice President Business Development, Milestone Business Solutions, USA

Emerging Leaders

“This is for the undocumented, fierce often forgotten Pinay woman in SOMA” – Carla Laurel, Executive Director West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, USA

“Filipina Engineers, be unapologetically ambitious. We will change the world!” – Korina Alvarez Mercado, Manager Operational Excellence, Philippines Airlines, USA

Founders and Pioneers

“Head high, feet grounded. Embrace the power of a woman.” – Rhoda Castro Caliwara, President & CEO Executive Genesis Services Inc. Philippines

"Diversity. Inclusion. Level up and empower the world." – Grace Reyes, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, The Investment Diversity Exchange

“Grew up with strong fierce Filipina women. I am grateful .” – Marla de Castro Rausch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Animation Vertigo Inc. Animation Vertigo Asia USA & Philippines

“Grateful for educating to use intelligences to make a difference.” – Dr. Mary Joy Canon Abaquin, Founding Directress, Multiple Intelligence International School, Philippines

Innovators and Thought Leaders

“We all have wings, just trust yourself and fly.” – Paula Rosales, Chief Executive Officer, The Ocean Defenders, Philippines

“When someone puts you down, rise up and prove them wrong.” – Lucia Olalia Reyes­­, RN, MN Research Coordinator University of Calgary

“Break hearts wide open and create more moments of joy.” – Giovannie Espiritu, Actress. Filmmaker. Owner Hollywood Actor’s Workshop, USA

“Be grounded in culture. Overcome shifts courageously. And shine radiantly." – Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Masaya Medical, USA

“Own your own greatness. Lead, empower diverse leaders for positive change.” – Denise J. Lopez, Ph.D., Professor, Alliant International University, USA

" All women deserve the knowledge to cultivate healthy, vibrant bodies." - Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, DO, Senior Doctor at Parsley Health

Policymakers and Visionaries

“Empowered women, empower women. Thank you Tita. Love you Mom.” – Jessica M. Caloza, Commissioner, Board of Public Works, City of Los Angeles, USA

“When you go up, always reach back. This is Bayanihan!” – Natalie Garcia Lashinsky, Attorney, Husch Blackwell LLP, USA

“ Pinay sisters, we can create the incredible change we imagine!” – Nikki Fortunato Bas, City Council President District 2 Councilmember, City of Oakland USA

Previous Award Winners

“Learning is best experienced when you take someone with you.” – Edith Winterhalter, EdD, Associate Vice President, Budget and Strategic Business Operations, California State University, Northridge

“Lead. Mentor. Find your purpose. Make a difference.” – Maria Fides Balita, Financial Professional, Transamerica Financial Advisors

“In my daughters’ eyes, I can see the future." ( L yrics from singer Martina McBride) – Joyce Javier, MD, Associate Professor, Clinical Pediatrics | Department of Pediatrics & Population & Public Health Sciences

I witnessed these women be bold, intelligent, and compassionate. I watched them project their words on stage, and I felt empowered. Listening to their dynamic, brief speeches touched me. Words truly matter. I hope reading these quotes motivates you too. With that, I will end with my own 10-word speech I delivered at the FWN gala, "Follow your heart, and use your brain to get there."

Beebe, M. A., & Escudero, M. O. (2014). Dis-Rupt: Filipina Women: Proud. Loud. Leading without Doubt . Filipina Women's Network.

Smith, L. & Fershleiser, R. (2009). Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure . ISBN 978-0061374050.

Alicia Del Prado, Ph.D., is a counseling psychologist in private practice in Danville, CA. She co-authored Time to Talk (and Listen): How to Have Constructive Conversations about Race, Class, Sexuality, Ability, and Gender in a Polarized World.

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Tracing the Filipino Diaspora in the Arc of the Global Age: A Reading List

Albert samaha recommends books on the sprawling history of the philippines and the immigrant experience.

Over the five years I worked on Concepcion: An Immigrant Family’s Fortunes I probably spent more hours reading other books than writing my own. While extensive interviews supplied a vast collection of scenes, characters, and narrative turns, I needed guidance for discerning what overarching ideas my family’s story reflected. How did we fit into the arc of the global age? Which aspects of our journey were representative and which were unique, and why? I aspired to excavate the political and social forces that led to our exodus from the Philippines and shaped our experience in the States. For that historical research, literary inspiration, and contextual understanding, I had a deep pool to draw from.

Roberto Vallangca, Pinoy: The First Wave

Caridad Concepcion Vallangca, The Second Wave: Pinay and Pinoy ; The Third Wave: Quo Vadis

Tomas Concepcion, The Stranger

I was fortunate that many Filipino and Filipino American writers have already explored the subjects I aimed to dive into—all the more so that three of them were kin of mine who were central characters in my book: Writing a family history is much easier when your elders have recorded their experiences. My great auntie Caridad and her husband Roberto published a trilogy of oral histories chronicling three waves of Filipino immigrants in the 20th century. My granduncle Tomas, who moved to Rome in 1960, wrote a memoir, and though he published it in Italian, I helped him rewrite the English translation, which we nearly finished before he died.

Elaine Castillo, America Is Not the Heart

Growing up in the US, I didn’t encounter a single author of Filipino descent at any point in my schooling. It wasn’t until adulthood that I began to read writers who captured stories that reflected my family’s.

Elaine Castillo’s novel America Is Not the Heart , whose protagonist flees the political instability of the Philippines to start anew in turn-of-the-millennium Bay Area, was the first book I read that presented the contemporary diaspora I was most familiar with, a suburban landscape of souped-up imports, hole-in-the-wall family restaurants, and frequent use of the word “hella.” The protagonist’s love interest, Rosalyn, with her loose hoodies, California chill, and proximity to DJs and graffiti artists, could have been one of my cousins.

Carlos Bulosan, America Is In the Heart

Castillo’s title plays off of Carlos Bulosan’s 1946 classic, America Is In the Heart , a memoir of his years as a migrant worker in California, where he came to wonder: “Why was America so kind and yet so cruel?” Despite the racist violence and discrimination he faced, he maintained his hope that he was better off in his new land than his old one, where opportunities for a living wage were too scarce to pull him back and the American dollars he sent home went a long way.

By the time Castillo’s characters were in the States, there were fewer lynchings and more civil rights laws in the US, and Filipinos had become the fourth largest diaspora. But they arrived in America at a time of widening inequalities, and with their professional credentials invalid in the new country, they started fresh in the lower-paid service work that dominates the economy. In both books, memories of the old country hover over the bumpy landings. Nearly a century after Bulosan expressed tempered optimism in what America had to offer, Castillo cast light on the disillusionment among the Filipinos and Filipino Americans who wondered why the exodus had seemed so necessary.

From the unprofitable farm Bulosan’s family owned in the 1920s to the communist guerilla insurgency Castillo’s heroine joined in the 1980s, the conditions that drove both protagonists from the Islands traced to centuries of imperial occupation that left the Philippines underdeveloped and economically dependent on western powers. A rich tradition of Filipino literature details the ground-level consequences of imperial exploitation, together forming a vivid panorama of a colonized nation navigating the global age.

José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere

José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere , a staple of the Philippine curriculum, had been banned by Spanish colonial authorities for its depictions of their brutality and corruption.

F. Sionil Jose, Dusk

In F. Sionil José’s Dusk , the final novel in a five-part saga, a tenant farmer found momentary peace when the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898, only for the US to seize the archipelago, inspiring him to join the armed resistance against the new invaders.

Jessica Hagedorn, Dogeaters

By the time the States granted the Islands independence in the years after World War II, American influence shaped Philippine culture and politics, and the starlets, generals, and executives in Jessica Hagedorn’s Dogeaters aspired to assimilate into the empire underwriting their oppressive government.

Mia Alvar, In the Country

Mia Alvar’s short story collection In the Country lays out the consequences of the monopolies, embezzlement, and cronyism under US-backed dictator Ferdinand Marcos: a cratered economy that left many too poor to afford daily meals and compelled people to find work overseas, where they lived away from their families for months and often endured abuses as housekeepers, drivers, nurses, and deckhands around the world.

Gina Apostol, Insurrecto

Gina Apostol’s Insurrecto casts its eyes across that turbulent history, contrasting the Filipino version of events with the one America tells.

Cesar Adib Majul, Muslims in the Philippines

The conquerors keep the records—on the Islands, Spain erased traditions that had lasted thousands of years and America wrote the textbooks that educated schoolchildren. In recent decades, though, Filipino and Filipino American historians have centralized the Philippine perspective.

Cesar Adib Majul’s Muslims in the Philippines offers a comprehensively researched account of the sultanate dynasties that ruled the archipelago’s southern island and resisted Spanish conquest for three centuries.

Teodoro A. Agoncillo, Milagros Guerrero, and Oscar

Alfonso,  History of the Filipino People

In History of the Filipino People , a book that has been used in many Philippine schools, Teodoro Agoncillo, Milagros Guerrero, and Oscar Alfonso don’t shy from calling Spanish officials “crooked,” capturing the nationalist spirit rising at the time it was written, less than two decades after independence.

Luis H. Francia, A History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos

For a more straightforward and more recent survey of the archipelago, Luis H. Francia’s A History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos spans from pre-colonial history to the early 21st century, stitching together the characters who resisted and collaborated, framing their motives through the conditions that produced them.

Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, Little Manila Is In the Heart

For a glimpse of the early Filipino immigrant experience, Dawn Bohulano Mabalon’s Little Manila Is In the Heart presents a granular account of the Filipino community in Stockton, California, from its formation as a sanctuary in an era of “No Filipinos or dogs allowed” signs to its displacement during the urban redevelopment projects of the post-war decades.

Ambeth R. Ocampo, Rizal Without the Overcoat

To help frame how history is remembered, Ambeth R. Ocampo’s writing collections, notably Rizal Without the Overcoat, humanizes the nation’s larger-than-life figures, slicing through the mythology that tends to harden with time.

Catherine Ceniza Choy, Empire of Care

A growing field of social scientists has sharpened the collective understanding of how the Filipino diaspora has spread and adapted to new environments—and answered questions I’d long pondered.

Why are there so many Filipino nurses in the US? From the country’s years as an American territory, they spoke English and attended American-built training programs, and as Catherine Ceniza Choy’s Empire of Care details, those colonial years established an economic dependency that compelled waves of medical professionals to decamp for a distant land where they faced discrimination while their homeland’s health care system sputtered.

E.J.R. David, Brown Skin, White Minds

Why was Filipino culture so absent from the American landscape even though we comprise the fourth-largest immigrant diaspora? Navigating three centuries under colonial authority, our ancestors mastered the art of assimilation, and over time that survival tactic birthed a mentality that elevated western traditions over ancestral ones, a collective psyche that helps perpetuate the imperial hierarchy upholding colonial caste systems, as E.J.R. David unpacks in Brown Skin, White Minds .

Anthony Christian Ocampo, The Latinos of Asia

Why did my family shop in grocery stores filled with Chinese people but worship in churches filled with Mexican people? As Anthony Christian Ocampo’s The Latinos of Asia explains, the archipelago’s history at the nexus of eastern commerce and western colonization created a layered ethnic identity that left many in our US-raised diaspora well-equipped to blend into the social ecosystems around us but unsure what defined our Filipino identity, what collective experiences distinguished us from the communities we assimilated into.

Matt Ortile, The Groom Will Keep His Name

While our diaspora traces to a shared history, it contains countless strands veering off in many directions. The story I chronicle in Concepcion is one thread in a vast tapestry. Other writers of Filipino descent have unspooled their own stories, an expanding canon showing the wide-ranging experiences within our communities.

In his essay collection The Groom Will Keep His Name , Matt Ortile examines the social dynamics and model minority fallacies he stepped into upon landing in the US as a child.

Meredith Talusan, Fairest

In her memoir, Fairest , Meredith Talusan interrogates the colorism and gender conventions she encountered on her journey from child star in the Philippines to Ivy League graduate in America.

Jia Tolentino, Trick Mirror

Jia Tolentino’s essay collection, Trick Mirror , presents a second-generation narrator grappling with the deluding culture of a country where perception outweighs reality.

Cinelle Barnes, Monsoon Mansion

In Monsoon Mansion , Cinelle Barnes recounts her family’s efforts to maintain their dwindling wealth in the Philippines at a time when more and more Filipinos were looking for opportunities overseas.

Jose Antonio Vargas, Dear America

Jose Antonio Vargas’s Dear America details the indignities and absurdities of living as an undocumented immigrant in the US.

Grace Talusan, The Body Papers

In The Body Papers , Grace Talusan traces the generational traumas weighing on her immigrant childhood but left unspoken in a diaspora accustomed to keeping silent about our troubles.

__________________________________

Concepcion: An Immigrant Family’s Fortunes is available from Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2021 by Albert Samaha.

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'Kayo ang boss ko,' 'Walang kamag-anak' and other memorable quotes from the inaugural speeches of Philippine presidents

By PhilSTAR L!fe Published Jun 30, 2022 2:31 pm

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. officially assumed office as the 17th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2022, at noon.

In h is inaugural speech, Marcos Jr., who won by a landslide 31 million votes during the May elections, said Filipinos rejected the politics of division in electing him as president. He reiterated how he offended "none" of his rivals during the campaign period, as he stressed on his message of unity.

"When my call for unity started to resonate with you, it did so because it echoed your yearnings, mirrored your sentiments, and expressed your hopes for family, for the country, for a better future," he said.

As the country enters into a new administration,  PhilSTAR L!fe takes a look back at the inaugural addresses of the country’s recent presidents.

Here are the most memorable quotes from the speeches of previous Philippine presidents Rodrigo Duterte, Noynoy Aquino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito and Cory Aquino.

Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2016 - 2022)

The country’s 16th President and the first from Mindanao held his inaugural speech at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacañang Palace on June 30, 2016.

The long-time mayor of Davao reiterated his campaign for change in his address, borrowing the Filipino writer F. Sionil Jose’s words, “We have become our own worst enemies. And we must have the courage and the will to change ourselves.”  

“Love of country, subordination of personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished – these are among the lost and faded values that we seek to recover and revitalize as we commence our journey towards a better Philippines. The ride will be rough. But come and join me just the same. Together, shoulder to shoulder, let us take the first wobbly steps in this quest,” he added.  

Duterte also told the Filipinos that they “draw strength from democratic governments” and his administration is “no exception.”    

I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality… In response, let me say this: I have seen how corruption bled the government of funds. I have seen how illegal drugs destroy individuals and ruin families’ relationships…Look at these from that perspective and tell me that I am wrong.

“That is why we have to listen to the murmurings of the people, feel their pulse, supply their needs and fortify their faith and trust in us, whom they elected to public office,” Duterte said.  

Duterte's inaugural speech was the rare instance when he stuck largely to the script, as his preferred style of public speaking usually entailed veering off-script with his extemporaneous remarks.

“I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality… In response, let me say this: I have seen how corruption bled the government of funds. I have seen how illegal drugs destroy individuals and ruin families’ relationships…Look at these from that perspective and tell me that I am wrong,” he said.  

Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (2010 - 2016)

A year after his mother and former president Corazon Aquino’s death, the inaugural speech of Benigno S. Aquino III happened at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 30, 2010. Prior to his presidency, Noynoy also used the catchphrase “ Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap ” for his anti-corruption campaign slogan.

“ Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya . Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito . Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kinakailangan ,” he said, paying homage to his parents, former president Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who fought for the country’s democracy.   

Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa. Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo.

“Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa. Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa,” he said.  

“ Kayo ang boss ko , kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo,” was the famous line during his inaugural address which remained a mainstay during his entire presidency.  

Aquino, the 15th president of the Philippines, passed away on June 24, 2021 at the age of 61.  

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001 - 2010)

After the ouster of Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo held her first inaugural speech on January 20, 2001, at the Our Lady of EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City.  

“As we break from the past in our quest for a new Philippines, the unity, the Filipino’s sense of history, and his unshakeable faith in the Almighty that prevailed in EDSA ’86 and EDSA 2001 will continue to guide and inspire us,” Arroyo said.  

Her first inauguration focused on her desire to eradicate poverty and improve economically as the country moves forward with the pursuit of having a better Philippines.  

She motivated Filipinos to believe in the nation’s potential while assuring them that she will be working hard on bringing out this aspiration.  

“We have long accepted the need to level the playing field in business and economics. Now, we must accept the need to level the playing field in politics as well. We have long aspired to be a world class economy. Now, we must also aspire to develop a world class political system, one in tune with the 21st Century,” the former President stated.  

“The world of the 21st Century that our youth will inherit is truly a new economy, where relentless forces such as capital market flows and advances in information and communications technology create both peril and opportunity. To tap the opportunities, we need an economic philosophy of transparency and private enterprise, for these are the catalysts that nurture the entrepreneurial spirit to be globally competitive,” she added.  

As we break from the past in our quest for a new Philippines, the unity, the Filipino’s sense of history, and his unshakeable faith in the Almighty that prevailed in EDSA ’86 and EDSA 2001 will continue to guide and inspire us.

As for the commencement of her second term, Arroyo’s second inaugural speech happened on June 30, 2004 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Cebu.  

“We must end with justice the conflict brought about by EDSA 1, 2 and 3. There are more things that bind rather than tear us apart as a nation. We are a vibrant country with a lively democracy and fervor burning in our hearts. Industry, patience, fear of God and love for family are common values we hold dear,” she said.    

She ended her speech with a message highlighting how she intends to serve the public once again with her leadership.  

“Everyday, I shall get up and work for you. I shall make good and I shall do good for the good of all and not just for the cameras. The canvassing for public attention is over. I expect you to get up everyday to hold me accountable, in the full glare of transparent leadership. I shall wield the power of the Presidency to uphold truth and justice.   I devote my life and treasure to serving your mandate. Do your responsibility and I shall do mine.   United, how can we lose? Together, we will prevail!”  

Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1998 - 2001)

Joseph Ejercito Estrada, an actor prior to entering politics, ran under the campaign slogan “Erap para sa mahirap,” in keeping with his image of championing the causes of the poor. He was proclaimed as the 13th president of the Philippines in 1998. He held his inauguration at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 30, 1998.    

Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak o anak na maaaring magsamantala sa ngayon. At ngayon pa lamang sinasabi ko sa inyo, nag-aaksaya lamang kayo ng panahon. Huwag ninyo akong subukan.

“Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak o anak na maaaring magsamantala sa ngayon. At ngayon pa lamang sinasabi ko sa inyo, nag-aaksaya lamang kayo ng panahon. Huwag ninyo akong subukan,” he said following his statement of abolishing graft and corruption in the government,” Estrada said with the purpose of establishing justice in institutions.  

However, Estrada was overthrown after the EDSA II Revolution following a series of protests and key Cabinet defections on January 16 to 20, 2001. The political crisis was triggered by his trial on plunder charges. Later on, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned him.  

Fidel V. Ramos (1992 - 1998)

Fidel V. Ramos delivered his inaugural speech at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Under his presidency, he aimed for unity between all Filipinos, as was heard in his speech on June 30, 1992.  

“Some of us think that empowerment means solely the access of every citizen to rights and opportunities. I believe there is more to this democratic idea. Our ideology of Christian democracy, no less than its Muslim counterpart, tells us that power must flow to our neighborhoods, our communities, our groups, our sectors and our institutions–for it is by collective action that we will realize the highest of our hopes and dreams,” Ramos stated.     With this unity, he envisioned a better country, not only with peace agreements but also renewed the faith of investors for the nation’s economy.  

“We cannot dream of development while our homes and factories are in darkness. Nor can we exhort enterprise to effort as long as Government stands as a brake–and not as a spur–­to progress.”  

He also mentioned Jose Rizal several times in his speech. Ramos highlighted that Filipinos should be able to follow the national hero’s dreams for the country.  

We cannot dream of development while our homes and factories are in darkness. Nor can we exhort enterprise to effort as long as Government stands as a brake–and not as a spur–­to progress.

“Tulad ng natanaw ni Rizal, ngayon na ang panahon upang sabihin sa ating sarili–na kung nais nating makaahon, kung nais nating umunlad, dapat tayo’y kumilos sa ating sariling pagsisikap. Sa pagkilos na ito, sabi ni Rizal, “dapat nating ibuhos ang buong liwanag ng ating mga kaisipan at lahat ng tibukin ng ating puso,” he said.    

Cory Aquino (1986 - 1992)

Former president Cory Aquino held her inaugural address on February 25, 1986—the notable day in Philippine history when two candidates— Cory Aquino and Ferdinand Marcos Sr. —claimed the presidency and delivered their speeches with the former at Club Filipino, San Juan and the latter at Malacañang Palace.  

“Ninoy believed that only the united strength of the Filipino people would suffice to overturn a tyranny so evil and so well-organized . The brutal murder of Ninoy created that unity in strength that has come to be known as “Lakas ng Bayan”–people power.”    

Former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino Jr. was assassinated on August 21, 1983. Ninoy’s assassination eventually started a chain of events that would eventually lead to the People Power Revolution of 1986.  

“ People power shattered the dictatorship , protected those in the military that chose freedom, and today, has established a government dedicated to this protection and meaningful fulfillment of our rights and liberties.”  

The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, in which millions of Filipinos took part in, ended the dictatorship of then president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.    

People power shattered the dictatorship. Now, by God’s grace and the power of the people, we are free again

“We became exiles, we Filipinos who are at home only in freedom, when Marcos destroyed the Republic fourteen years ago. Now, by God’s grace and the power of the people, we are free again ,” she said.   

Research compiled by Ada Pelonia , Raychele Mendoza, and Sofia Valderama    

TAGS: rodrigo duterte president noynoy aquino sona gloria macapagal arroyo PRRD Inaugural speech

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Philippine Poetry: Its Form, Language, and Speech

Philippine poetry is a unique and vibrant art form that incorporates rich history, diverse cultures, and the voices of countless individuals. Although it shares many similarities with poetry from other parts of the world, Philippine poetry also has distinct features that set it apart. To fully appreciate these nuances, it is important to understand the essential elements of poetry that define it.

A Journey Through Form, Language, and Speech

Early 20th-century Filipino poetry embraced Romanticism, with verses brimming with love and passion. A prime example is “Florante at Laura” by Francisco Balagtas, a timeless epic tale that explores love, betrayal, and resilience.

As the years progressed, poetry shifted towards Formalism, where the poet’s focus leaned more towards the form and language used, exemplified by works like “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” by Rizal. This poem emphasizes the importance of education and nationalism using elegant and formal language.

Today, Philippine poetry thrives in its modernity. Authors like Eric Gamalinda and Marne Kilates exhibit a spirit of experimentation, pushing boundaries and exploring diverse themes.

Nowadays, writers are more adventurous in their craft.

Elements of Poetry

So, what are the elements of poetry? Elements of poetry used by local writers in the Philippines include:

Rhyme Scheme

• Idea of a speaker

Senses and Images

Writers use these to describe their impressions of their topic or object of writing. These are carefully chosen and phrased words to create imagery that the reader can see through his or her own senses.

Filipino poets are known for their ability to paint vivid pictures with words, engaging all five senses:

The Five Senses in Poetry

Sight (visual).

Using evocative language to paint visual imagery, like “the vibrant colors of a bustling market” or “the soft glow of fireflies at night.”

Sound (Auditory)

Employing descriptive words to capture the sounds of nature, city life, or even emotions, like “the crashing waves on the shore” or “the rhythmic beating of a drum.”

Smell (Olfactory)

Evoking specific scents to create a richer experience, like “the aroma of freshly baked pandesal” or “the earthy fragrance of the rice fields after rain.”

Taste (Gustatory)

Using words that conjure up specific flavors, like “the sweetness of ripe mangoes” or “the bitterness of strong coffee.”

Touch (Tactile)

Employing tactile descriptions to make the reader feel the texture of something, like “the roughness of old tree bark” or “the softness of a mother’s hand.”

Use of Figurative Language

Filipino poets also often use figurative language like metaphors, similes, and personification to further enhance their sensory descriptions. This creates a deeper connection with the reader, allowing them to not just see but also feel, hear, smell, taste, and touch the world within the poem.

Diction 

The words in a poem are carefully chosen to express just the right feeling or idea. This is called diction. Filipino poets pick words that not only mean something specific but also evoke emotions or memories. Take Jose Corazon de Jesus’ “Bayan Ko” for instance, where every word feels charged with passion, stirring a sense of pride and unity.

This refers to the way the author arranges words, meters, lines, and stanzas to create a coherent sound when the poem is read out loud. It may be formal or informal, depending on the way the poem was written by the poet.

Have you ever noticed how some poems sound like songs? That’s because of their rhyme scheme. It’s like a musical beat that makes the poem flow smoothly.

While not a defining feature of all Filipino poems, rhyme scheme can be a powerful tool for creating musicality, memorability, and emphasizing specific words or phrases.

Idea of a Speaker

When you read a poem, it’s like someone is talking to you. That someone is the speaker. Sometimes, the speaker is the poet themselves, but other times, it’s a character or persona created by the poet.

Technically, speaker in the poem is the voice that talks to the reader . Sometimes, it refers to itself as “I” or “me” or, sometimes, in the third person (she, he, his, her).

You should also note that the speaker is not necessarily the poet. The poet may have a different persona in mind while writing the poem and may not have taken the situations in the poem from his or her life experiences.

This refers to the arrangement of words and lines, either together or apart. It also refers to the way the interdependent parts of it are organized to form a whole poem.

From traditional forms to experimental free verse, Filipino poets harness the power of structure to evoke specific moods, convey profound insights, and engage readers on a visual and intellectual level.

In Francisco Balagtas’ epic “Florante at Laura,” the meticulously crafted structure lends a sense of grandeur and narrative cohesion to the sprawling tale of love and heroism.

This is the natural or unnatural arrangement of words in a poem. A poet may use a word grammatically or not — often called a poetic license – and may invent words, too.

Filipino poets have the freedom to use poetic license which allows them to play around with the structure of their sentences. They may use unconventional word order, bend grammar and syntax to suit the demands of rhythm, meter and aesthetic impact. By not following the usual linguistic norms, poets add a sense of spontaneity, creativity and linguistic innovation to their verses.

In the works of contemporary Filipino poets, such as Merlinda Bobis and Conchitina Cruz, the playful manipulation of word order adds an extra layer of complexity and intrigue to their poetic compositions.

Key Takeaway

Philippine poetry is a beautiful expression of emotions, colors, and sounds. It allows us to see the world from a poet’s perspective. By looking at the different parts of a poem, such as sensory imagery, diction, rhyme scheme, speaker, structure, and word order, we can understand its meaning and beauty. Let’s explore the world of Philippine poetry and appreciate the magic within its lines.

If you’re looking for more resources about  literature , then make sure to browse my  website .

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The Alpha Female: Speech and Thought Presentation of the contemporary Filipino woman in Magnificence

Maria cecilia jhadziah diva, volume 2 issue 4, december 2022.

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This paper sought to unravel the contemporary views on Filipino woman through speech and though presentation using Magnificence written by Estrella Alfon. Speech and thought presentation is primarily concerned as to how a writer reveals the speech and thought of their characters as they interact with other characters in the literary work. As literature remains a reflection of the society, speech and thought presentation gave way to the perception of how a Filipino woman is now seen in the society. The analysis revealed the following views: an unconventional woman as a mother; an equal partner; and a ‘magnificent’ and headstrong woman. As these contemporary views on Filipino were explored, an acceptance to more progressive perspective on the Filipino women will most likely emerge in the future.

Keywords: speech and thought presentation, Magnificence, contemporary woman, Estrella Alfon

Alfon, E. D. (1960). Magnificence: And other stories . Manila: Regal Pub. Co

Casambre, A. L., & Rood, S. (2018, September 25). Early Feminism in the Philippines . The Asia Foundation. https://asiafoundation.org/2012/03/07/early-feminism-in-the-philippines/.

Castence, P. S. (1977). The changing role of the Filipino women in a changing society. ALF Research Journal, 10 (1), 6–17.

Dials, J. G. (2017). Feminism in Philippine Mainstream Short Stories in English. International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics , 3 (4), 181–188. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijlll.2017.3.4.130

Grow, L. M. (1990). Brutality in the Fiction of Estrella D. Alfon . NSUWorks. Retrieved June 1, 2021, from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_facarticles/137/

National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (2015, June 2). The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature . https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts- sca/literary-arts/the-literary-forms-in-philippine-literature/

Puryadi, A. F. B. A. (2019). Speech and Though Presentation of the Main Male Character in Åsne Seierstad’s The Bookseller of Kabul: Stylistic Analysis (Thesis). Universitas Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta. https://repository.usd.ac.id/33503/2/154214054_full.pdf

Sarip, H. D. (2021). The Images of Women in Selected Contemporary Short Stories by Contemporary Filipino Women Writers. International Journal of English Language Studies , 3 (2), 111–119. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijels

Stiftung, F. E., (2001). Brief History of the Filipino Women’s Struggle for Participation in Politics. Retrieved May 19, 2018, from http://library.fes.de/fulltext/iez/01109004.htm#E9E4.

Simpson, P. (2004). Stylistics: A resource book for students . London: Routledge.

Tarrayo, V. N. (2015). The Woman in the Mirror: Imaging the Filipino Woman in Short Stories in English by Filipino Woman Authors. International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies , 3 (1), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15909

Tiangson, S.D. (2018). Images and Gender Role Development of Filipino Women on Selected Short Stories. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies , 7 (1), 144. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejms.v7i1.p144-154

Zebari, Z., & Mohammadzadeh, B. (2021). Speech and Thought Presentation in Chance by Alice Munro: A Stylistic Analysis. Advances in Language and Literary Studies , 12 (1), 77. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.12n.1.p.77

Cite this article:

Diva, M.J. (2022). The Alpha Female: Speech and Thought Presentation of the contemporary Filipino woman in Magnificence. International Review of Social Sciences Research, Volume 2 Issue 4, pp. 1 - 17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53378/352925

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Speak Like a True Local with These Advanced Tagalog Phrases

The origin of Tagalog vocabulary and its significant grammatical differences compared to English make it relatively difficult for many people to master. The Foreign Service Institute has listed Tagalog as a Category III language, making it as challenging to learn as Hebrew, Greek, and Russian. The good news is that everything should be smooth sailing once you’ve gotten past the hurdles of things like verb–pronoun relationships, verb conjugation, vocabulary, and pronunciation. And, if you’re reading this guide on advanced Tagalog phrases , it means you’ve gotten past those hurdles. It also means you’re ready to take on more challenging aspects of the Filipino language.

Don’t worry: challenging doesn’t always mean complex, and advanced doesn’t necessarily mean intimidating. In this guide, you’ll encounter words and phrases that you won’t typically hear in everyday speech . Here, you’ll be introduced to expressions reserved for things like academic writing, resume writing, and formal business meetings. Moreover, you’ll have the opportunity to express your ideas and opinions more effectively by learning advanced Filipino idioms.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

• Useful Phrases for Formal Speech and Writing
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1. Useful Phrases for Formal Speech and Writing

The following phrases are not something you’ll get to use or hear every day. They are often used in formal speech and writing. You may not always be given the opportunity to use them, but when the right time comes, it’s better that you have them in your arsenal of advanced Filipino phrases.

Ayon sa pananaliksik… (“According to research…”)

2. Power Phrases for Resumes

Formal or business writing in the Philippines is primarily done using the English language. In the Philippines, having a good command of English gives one the advantage of securing a job. Being able to speak English fluently is seen as equivalent to being able to effectively interact with other cultures. That doesn’t mean you can’t write your resume in Filipino. If you’re a foreigner, being able to write a resume in fluent Tagalog is a sign of knowledge and dedication. It will show the employer that you’re serious about your application and are also creative and willing to think outside the box.

Palagi kong ginagamit ang aking buong kakayahan. “I always use my ability to the fullest.”

3. Smart Phrases for Business Meetings

While English may be the primary means of communication in the Philippine corporate world , Tagalog steals the limelight during business meetings. Unless there are any non-Filipino speakers at the conference, everyone is free to use a mix of English and Tagalog as a medium for expressing their thoughts and opinions. That said, it’s always an advantage to know some formal Filipino words and expressions when at a meeting, as it gives the impression that you know what you’re talking about and that you’re there to do business.

Maaari nating pamunuan ang mga kalakaran sa ekonomiya sa halip na sumunod lamang. “We can lead the trends in the economy instead of simply following.”

4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

The Filipino language has some of the most captivating idioms and proverbs. Referred to as salawikain or sawikain in Tagalog, sayings or idioms play an essential role in Filipino culture. They are passed down from one generation to another, primarily through oral tradition, and are often humorous (or even bizarre) while still offering practical wisdom from older times.

Maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan. “All hell will break loose.”

5. How FilipinoPod101 Can Help

Congratulations! With these advanced Filipino phrases, you’ll be able to communicate in Tagalog more fluently and more confidently! Are there other advanced Tagalog words and phrases you wish we had  included on this list? Let us know in the comments. 

That said, you know that the phrases on this list are not all there is. Here at FilipinoPod101 , you can further enhance your skills with lessons from our archives and other free resources . You can rest assured that there’s a lesson tailored to your needs, whether it’s about vocabulary , key Filipino phrases , or grammar .

And speaking of tailored lessons, if you wish to take a more personalized approach to learning Filipino, you can do just that with MyTeacher . This service is included with a Premium PLUS subscription, and it gives you access to exclusive lessons and lets you enjoy 1-on-1 coaching with a professional Filipino teacher. With this approach, you’ll be able to track your progress in real time and have someone guide you in choosing the most appropriate learning path based on your needs. 

Sign up with FilipinoPod101 now to enjoy all these features and more!

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10 Filipino poets and poems to explore on World Poetry Day

• 21 March, 2022
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March 21 is World Poetry Day, and what better way to celebrate than by exploring our country’s own rich poetry scene?

With so many languages and dialects to utilize when describing our rich history and experiences, the Philippines has a lot to offer to the poetry world. Here are 5 poets and 5 poem collections/works to discover on World Poetry Day.

Dovegelion by Jose Garcia Villa

A National Artist for Literature in the Philippines, Jose Garcia Villa was a poetry giant both in the Philippines and in America. Dubbed the “Pope of Greenwich Village”, Villa wrote amongst other literary giants including W.H. Auden, Tennessee Williams, and Gore Vidal.

Dovegelion contains rare and never before published works by Jose Garcia Villa. The title coming from his pen name “Dovegelion” for dove, eagle, and lion. Jose Garcia Villa was definitely a prolific poet, leaving behind numerous works and never shying away from playing with the structure and content of his poems.

Ophelia Dimalanta

Author of collections Flowing On , Love Woman , and Lady Polyester: Poems Past and Present , Ophelia Dimalanta uses sensual stanzas to express her stories and observations. Dimalanta embraces eroticism, saying that it “can be applied if it is functional; if it is important to what you are writing about.”

We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman

A contemporary take on a novel-in-verse, We Belong is Cookie Hiponia Everman’s ambitious debut that intertwines a Filipina immigrant story with the mythology of our country.

There isn’t much that Stella and Luna know about their mama, Elsie, other than she immigrated from the Philippines when she was young. As Elsie prepares her kids for bed, they ask her for a story. Elsie gifts them with two—one about her own childhood as a resolute middle child adjusting to the life of immigration, and that of Mayari, the legendary daughter of a god.

Benilda Santos

A recipient of 3 Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature in poetry (for both English and Filipino works), Benilda Santos has proved herself as a poetic power.

Santos’ Kuwadro Numero Uno: Mga Tula was the winner of the National Book Award. Her other poetry collections include Pali-palitong Posporo and Alipato: Mga Bago at Piling Tula .

Santos is also known for her poem Medusa , which is her own rendition of a Greek myth from the point of view of a female monster.

HAI[NA]KU and Other Poems by AA Patawaran

A mix of poems about the big and little things in life. This collection provides humorous and witty takes on love and loss, independence, introspection, and the people/things that walk in and out of your life.

Merlie Alunan

Fluent in languages other than English and Tagalog, Merlie Alunan’s works are sometimes conceived and drafted in Cebuano or Waray before taking their final form in English.

Merlie Alunan’s work includes both poetry and non-poetry collections: Pagdakop sa Bulalakaw ng Uban Pang Mga Balak , Sa Atong Dila: Introduction to Visayan Literature , and Tinalunay: Hinugpong mga Panurat .

To inspire other non-Tagalog writers of the country, Merlie Alunan has organized and facilitated numerous writing workshops in the hopes to get more Waray poems released in the mainstream poetry scene.

In Case You Come Back: Poems, Confessions, Apologies, and Promises by Marla Miniano and Reese Lansangan

Musician Reese Lansangan collaborates with writer Marla Miniano to create a poetry collection chronicling the fascinating intricacies and rituals that make-up everyday life.

From adventures to marshmallows and paper cuts to pixie dust, no rock is left unturned, and no topic is brushed past in this all-encapsulating poetry collection.

Edith Tiempo

Edith Tiempo displays masterful power over language as she vividly describes scenes and events while still scattering various symbols across her stanzas. Another recipient of the National Artist Award for Literature, Edith Tiempo may best be known for her poem The Return . It is a chilling poem about a case of dark nostalgia that comes upon an old man as he tries to relive his youth.

The Last Time I’ll Write About You by Dawn Lanuza

Veteran Filipino YA and romance author Dawn Lanuza makes her debut into poetry with The Last Time I’ll Write About You .

Dawn Lanuza explores any and all things love, the perfect poetry collection for anyone coming from the month of love with any lingering feelings (whether they be good or bad).

Barbara Jane Reyes

With work like Letters to A Young Brown Girl and Diwata , Barbara Jane Reyes is a poetic powerhouse to watch out for.

In Letters to A Young Brown Girl , Reyes expresses all the complicated emotions that come from growing up not only as a young girl, but as a young brown girl. Reyes calls out all the hurts brought upon young brown girls’ fragile and precarious sense of self as they grow-up. Candid and raw, Reyes’ voice is that of an empowered woman standing up for herself, and an encouraging light leading the way for the young brown girls following after her.

In Diwata , Reyes brings to light, not monsters or paranormal beings, but the real-life horrors within our Filipino history and culture. Reyes puts a spotlight on the mistreatment of Filipinas through the years and the overbearing control that was forced upon both their bodies and minds.

And that’s 10 poetry collections/works and poets for you to check out to celebrate World Poetry Day.

Roses are red Violets are blue We love poetry, and you should too!

Don’t be afraid to dip your pen into the poetry scene and even write a few stanzas yourself if you feel so inclined.

Other POP! stories you might like:

10 books by Filipina authors to discover this National Women’s Month

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'S' is for solidarity, not strike. 'Sesame Street' writers reach a deal

Ayana Archie

Rachel Treisman

In this 2008 file photo, Big Bird reads to Connor Scott and Tiffany Jiao during a taping of Sesame Street in New York. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

In this 2008 file photo, Big Bird reads to Connor Scott and Tiffany Jiao during a taping of Sesame Street in New York.

Writers for Sesame Street and their management reached a tentative three-year agreement late Friday, just ahead of a looming deadline for a union-authorized strike.

The deal offers writers minimums for animation and new media programs, paid parental leave, protections against artificial intelligence and new media residuals.

" 'S' truly is for Solidarity," the Writers Guild of America Sesame Workshop Negotiating Committee said in a statement . "We are glad to have a contract in place that allows Sesame to do what it does best – lead."

Thirty-five WGA union members had unanimously authorized a strike earlier this week if a deal wasn't made by Friday. They will vote on the new agreement in the coming days.

'Sesame Street' introduces TJ, the show's first Filipino American muppet

"This agreement is a testament to our dedication to our creative talent, and we appreciate the WGA's collaboration in working with us to establish this new industry benchmark," said a spokesperson for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that produces the mainstay children's program.

The union and Sesame Workshop began negotiating a new contract for the writers in February.

The threatened strike would have started Wednesday, outside of Sesame Workshop's offices in New York City.

"Sesame Workshop writers won a new agreement that recognizes the value of the incredible work they do to educate and enlighten children around the world," WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said in a statement.

Sesame Street's first Black female puppeteer wants to keep inspiration flowing

The 54th season of the show began in November and contains 35 weekly episodes.

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Did USC set ‘very bad precedent’ by canceling valedictorian speech over safety threats?

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Five months ago, USC cited safety as a rationale for banning economics professor John Strauss, who is Jewish, from campus after student activists said they felt threatened when he approached them at a protest and said “Hamas are murderers. ... I hope they all are killed.”

“Our north star is protecting the safety of our community,” a USC spokesperson said at the time.

Now the university is again citing safety concerns for canceling a Muslim valedictorian’s speech at its May commencement ceremony.

More than six months after the Hamas attack on Israel that started a war, campus administrators nationwide are struggling to uphold principles of free expression amid mounting pressure from donors, legislators and activists who claim an ever-expanding amount of speech — or potential speech — subjects students not only to physical danger but also to psychological harm.

Free speech advocates note that the decision regarding Asna Tabassum, a USC senior who is graduating with a major in biomedical engineering, was not caused by anything she said or planned to say. Instead, the university said, online discussion had taken on an “alarming tenor” as activists objected to her minor — resistance to genocide — and a link to a pro-Palestinian website Tabassum had shared on her Instagram profile .

“This sets a very bad precedent,” said Alex Morey, director of campus rights advocacy with the nonprofit civil rights group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “Moving forward, are they going to cancel every speech that could have anything to do with Israel-Palestine because they’re worried about ‘safety concerns’?”

Free speech experts fear that USC, in canceling its valedictorian’s speech, is paving the way for a censorious commencement season, offering others a playbook on how to silence potentially controversial speakers in the weeks to come.

“A university, except in the most exceptional cases, should not be giving in to threats of violence in order to suppress speakers,” said Keith Whittington, a political scientist at Princeton University and author of “Speak Freely: Why Universities Must Defend Free Speech.”

“It’s a corruption and compromise of the university’s very basic commitments.”

The use of safety concerns to shut down campus speech did not start after Oct. 7. But, Morey said, universities have increasingly canceled events as they have seen an uptick in protests of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.

Last month, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas halted a public lecture from a visiting Israeli professor 15 minutes after he started speaking when pro-Palestinian protesters burst into the room.

Asaf Pe’er, an expert on theoretical high-energy astrophysics, was not speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His lecture was on black holes.

Rather than stop the disruption, citing the protesters’ 1st Amendment rights, UNLV police escorted Pe’er off campus “to ensure his safety.”

Other cancellations in the name of safety have taken place across the country, from Indiana University shutting down an art exhibit by Palestinian artist Samia Halaby to the University of Vermont canceling an in-person appearance by a pro-Palestinian poet .

Experts who track campus speech say university leaders have predominantly targeted speakers expressing support for the Palestinian cause.

“It’s definitely the pro-Palestinian speech that we are seeing very broadly being subjected to institutional punishments,” Morey said. “That’s not to say that there aren’t cases where pro-Israel or Zionist speakers are being punished.”

Part of the reason pro-Palestinian activists are targeted in greater numbers is that more students have embraced the Palestinian cause in recent years.

Some protests have crossed the line into unprotected expression, Morey said. But there is also growing pressure on university officials from donors and legislators worried about antisemitism to crack down on pro-Palestinian speech.

“It’s a pressure cooker for administrators,” Morey said. “In these cases, we want to make sure that their lodestar are student and faculty rights, rather than who is exerting the most pressure.”

When USC announced that Tabassum would be the valedictorian, two groups — Trojans for Israel, a campus student group, and EndJewHatred, a national movement dedicated to fighting antisemitism — spoke publicly against her.

In an Instagram post , Trojans for Israel said Tabassum “propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric,” but did not cite anything she had written or said publicly. Instead, the post points to a link she had shared on her social media page that leads to a website describing Zionism as a “racist settler-colonial ideology.”

In an interview with The Times , Tabassum said she had not spoken to administrators about her speech, in which she said she had planned to convey hope and emphasize that “we must continue to use our education as a privilege to inform ourselves and ultimately make a change in the world.”

“The university has betrayed me,” she said.

USC administrators contested the idea that Tabassum’s inability to speak is a free speech issue.

“There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement,” Provost Andrew T. Guzman said in a campuswide letter . “The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period.”

The 1st Amendment guarantees only that the government refrains from abridging freedom of speech. But experts on campus discourse asserted that as an institution of higher learning, USC has a responsibility to defend freedom of ideas.

USC communications professor Christina Dunbar-Hester, chapter president of the USC American Assn. of University Professors, said in a statement that it was disingenuous to frame Tabassum’s speech as a security issue without specifying a threat.

Guzman, she noted, did not offer any details, saying only that the discussion had “escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement.”

And that, Dunbar-Hester said, raises the question of whether USC faced a specific credible threat or was just trying to find a way to get around controversy.

“Here, we have capitulated to a ‘heckler’s veto’ before the fact,” she said. “Why is the burden of a potential threat placed on the shoulders of the valedictorian rather than those who would disrupt her?”

Dunbar-Hester said USC’s action — coming days before conservative legislators in Washington grilled the president of Columbia University — plays into the hands of “anti-intellectual reactionaries” who cynically sought to “demonize campus communities that express solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle.”

Howard Rodman, a professor of the writing division at the USC School of Cinematic Art and former president of the USC-AAUP chapter, said administrators decided to cancel Tabassum’s speech without buy-in from the faculty.

“I have spoken to many people who feel that this is a disastrous decision, and no one who feels that it was a correct decision,” he said.

Among USC faculty, Rodman said, there was no widespread agreement on free speech.

“There are people who say, ‘We’re 1st Amendment absolutists,’ who believe that the remedy for speech you don’t like is more speech,” he said. “There are people who believe that the structural question of who owns the megaphone supersedes that. ... ‘Why should the people who own the apparatus of the transmission of ideas have the sole access to it?”

Rodman blamed officials, donors and legislators for the assault on campus free speech.

“The traditional values of the university are under assault by donors who wish to determine policy,” Rodman said. “They’re under assault by a government that places restrictions on what you can do once you have received government money.”

Students have also played a key role in setting up a climate of censorship, experts say.

About a decade ago, Morey said, 1st Amendment attorneys at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression began to notice a shift: Students, who had long advocated for their own free speech rights, were increasingly asking administrators to regulate words and ideas.

In 2014, students at Wellesley College started a petition calling for the removal of an outdoor statue of a man in his underwear, claiming that it was a source of “triggering thoughts regarding sexual assault.” The following year, students at Yale University demanded that Nicholas Christakis step down from his position as faculty-in-residence at Silliman College, after a viral moment in which he tried to converse with students who took offense at an email his wife, Erika Christakis, wrote to students questioning administrators’ guidelines on Halloween costumes.

Commencement ceremonies have long been a magnet for protests, with a rich tradition of students and faculty heckling speakers, turning their backs on them or forcing them to withdraw.

For more than a quarter of a century, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has kept a campus deplatforming database that has tracked such disputes, starting with media mogul and Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner’s withdrawal from a 1998 commencement at Macalester College after students protested the team’s use of an Indian mascot.

By 2016, disinvitations were so common that President Obama, speaking at a Rutgers commencement, chided students for pressuring former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to drop out as commencement speaker two years before due to her role in the Iraq war.

“I don’t think that’s how democracy works best, when we’re not even willing to listen to each other,” Obama said .

The focus on safety intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic as students became involved in Black Lives Matter protests, Morey said.

At USC, administrators made business professor Greg Patton “take a short-term pause” from teaching a communications course in August 2020 after Black students complained that a Chinese-language example he used during class sounded like a racial slur and caused them mental harm.

In a letter to MBA students, a dean wrote that such language was “simply unacceptable” for faculty to use because it could “marginalize and harm you and hurt your feelings of psychological safety.”

In November, administrators told Strauss he could not teach undergraduates that semester after he declared: “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they are. Every one should be killed, and I hope they all are killed.”

Strauss swiftly found himself the subject of dueling petitions: One called for USC to fire him and create a “safe learning environment free from hate speech or discriminatory behavior”; another urged officials to allow him back on campus, arguing that “Jewish people should not have to hide for their safety.”

In early December, USC administrators announced they had lifted all of the restrictions on Strauss.

Over the last few years, commencement disputes over controversial speakers calmed down as universities exercised more caution over who they invited. “They tried to avoid controversy, not by canceling speakers, but by avoiding inviting speakers in the first place,” Morey said.

The focus of controversy may now be turning to students.

Last year, a law student speaking at the City University of New York’s law school commencement caused a national furor when she called for a “revolution” to take on the legal system’s “white supremacy,’’ CUNY’s collaboration with the “fascist NYPD” and Israel’s “project of settler colonialism.”

After the New York Post ran a front-page story about the student, Fatima Mousa Mohammed — headlined “Stark Raving Grad” — CUNY’s Board of Trustees and chancellor announced that 2024’s commencement would not feature student speakers.

Figuring out what is a legitimate security threat on campuses has become increasingly fraught as activists and administrators blur the line between physical and psychological safety.

“Part of what has happened on university campuses for quite some time has been a claim about a kind of emotional and psychological safety,” Princeton’s Whittington said. “That’s primarily a conceptual argument — one that doesn’t seem to require any evidence in order to assert. Universities then can be extremely sweeping in who they might decide to censor or suppress or punish, in reaction to those kinds of complaints.”

Canceling speech while upholding safety in a vague way, without outlining a concrete threat or distinguishing between physical or psychological harm, would only encourage more complaints, Whittington said.

“Universities have an important obligation to explain that these kinds of concerns about emotional psychological safety are just not something that they can be responsive to at all,” Whittington said. “And in the case of genuine threats to physical safety, there ought to be a very high bar before the university is willing to take the step of shutting down a speaker.”

The irony of what happened to Tabassum is it has given her a much bigger platform.

In the last 48 hours, she has conducted a whirl of media interviews, appearing on CNN’s “NewsNight” and in a front-page story in The Times.

“When you silence us,” she said, “you make us louder.”

More to Read

USC cancels appearance by director Jon Chu, others amid valedictorian controversy

April 19, 2024

USC students protest the ‘silencing’ of valedictorian with cancellation of speech

April 18, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Canceled valedictorian speech is another self-inflicted black eye for USC

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