3 July 2018

Commissioner Ronald Adamat

Commission on Higher Education
C.P. Garcia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City

Re: Achieving flexibility, cultural appropriateness, and indigenous rights in the

implementation of the mandatory Filipino requirements in the new Gen
Ed curriculum

Dear Sir:

We respectfully yet urgently submit this communication, which pertains to the mandatory
teaching of Filipino subjects in the new General Education curriculum. While the Supreme
Court’s TRO halting the new Gen Ed curriculum and the subsequent reinstatement of Filipino
was a win for some groups, it was a deeply frustrating and sincerely felt pain for others.

We are aware of your efforts to champion the rights of indigenous peoples, cultures, and
languages. As a network of academics, officials, students and members of the public,
informally known as the Multilingual Philippines Network, we are raising awareness of the
fact that being a linguistically diverse country, we need education policies that respect this
diversity.

While we suspect many HEIs around the country are in favor of a leaner Gen Ed curriculum,
and would be relieved to not be burdened with additional requirements, we also understand
the realities CHED faces. At this point, it is probably not possible to rescind the
aforementioned memo. However, we would like to respectfully propose a modification that
could satisfy different groups, uphold academic freedom, protect Philippine languages,
embrace diversity, and secure indigenous rights for culturally appropriate education.

May we kindly suggest that CHED issue a memorandum clarifying that it recognizes
that Filipino is an evolving language being enriched by various Philippine
languages. Thus, the required 6-9 units of Filipino may include innovative use
and study of Philippine languages (e.g. Tagalog, Cebuano, Butuanon, Manobo, Teduray,
etc.) found in the region where the HEIs are. Furthermore, CHED would encourage HEIs to
innovate, diversify, and contextualize their Filipino syllabi based on the language use, needs,
and priorities of the students (especially in TEIs that train future MTB-MLE teachers) and
communities they serve. Towards that, the reinstatement of Filipino language departments
and staffing should be pluralistic: inclusive of Philippine languages in the broader sense.

We have prepared some documents for the Commission, attached to this letter, which
outline this concept of including Philippine languages in General Education curriculum. We
hope these documents will encourage CHED to support a flexible, inclusive implementation of
the Filipino requirements in the Gen Ed curriculum. Some of our colleagues from HEIs in the
regions are going to submit some sample syllabi that would be responsive to their linguistic
context. You can find a sample syllabus in this blogsite: https://bit.ly/2KJLpoL

We hope this proposal can be included in the Commissioners’ meeting agenda.

Furthermore, we would like to request a small meeting with you and any of our members, if
possible, to discuss and brainstorm this idea in person.

The signatories of this letter come from many different ethnic groups and backgrounds, but
we share a common concern for the future of our languages, cultures, and identities. Having
academic freedom regarding language instruction within the general education curriculum
shall protect that future.

For further communications, please contact Prof. Ched Arzadon at 0922-809-0812, Dr. Ariel
Agcaoili at 0945-190-5822, Firth McEachern at 0917-811-3221, or email
multilingual.philippines@gmail.com.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincere regards,

Prof. Ched E. Arzadon

College of Education, University of the Philippines–Diliman
Languages: Ilokano, Tagalog, English
Dr. Aurelio S. Agcaoili
Coordinator, Ilokano Studies Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa
President, Nakem Conferences International
Languages: Ilokano, Tagalog, English

Atty. Magtanggol C. Gunigundo

Former Congressman – 2nd District, Valenzuela City
Drafted the MTB-MLE Provisions in RA 10533
Languages: Tagalog, English

Prof. Voltaire Q. Oyzon

Director, Panrehiyong Sentro sa Wika, Leyte Normal University
Languages: Waray, English, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Tagalog

Elizabeth A. Calinawagan, PhD (Linguistics)

Dean, College of Arts & Communication
Professor of Filipino and Linguistics, UP Baguio
Languages: Ilokano, English, Tagalog

Dr. Shirley N. Dita

Immediate Past President, Linguistic Society of the Philippines
Professor of Linguistics, De La Salle University
Director, Lasallian Institute for Development and Educational Research (LIDER)
Languages: English, Ibanag, Itawit, Ilokano, Tagalog

Mhawi Rosero
Senior Research Officer, Philippine National Research Center for Teacher Quality, PNU
Consulting Linguist, Minasbate Language Society
Languages: Minasbate, English, Tagalog
Dr. Alfred S. Cabuang
Professor, De La Salle University
International Learning & Development Specialist of Royal Institution, Singapore
Languages: Hiligaynon, English, Tagalog, Pangasinan, Spanish, Italian

Atty. Manuel Faelnar

170+ Talaytayan MLE Inc. Akademiyang Bisaya
Languages: Cebuano, English

Firth McEachern
Consultant, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for
Innovation & Technology
Graduate, Harvard University
Languages: English, Ilokano, Tagalog, Arabic, Khmer, Cebuano

Michael R. M. Pangilinan
Executive Director, Institute for Kapampángan Research & Kulitan Studies
Lecturer for Kapampángan Culture, City College of Angeles
Languages: Kapampangan, Cebuano, Japanese, Aita Mag-Anchi

Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla

Director, Center for Teaching Excellence, West Visayas State University
Vice President, State Universities & Colleges Teacher Educators Association (SUCTEA)
Languages: Hiligaynon, English, Tagalog, Kinaray-a

Firie Jill T. Ramos

Secretary General, KATIG Writers (Katig-uban han mga Magsusurat ha Sinirangan
Bisayas)
Languages: Waray, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, English
Melinda T. Awid
Consultant, RICHPhil Inc. (Reaching the Indigenous Communities, Holistically)
Trainer, Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP)
Languages: Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Chavacano, Western Subanon, Southern Subanon,
Kinaray-a, Tigwa Manobo, English

Tony Igcalinos
VP, Programs & Development at University Research and Resource Development Inc.
Advisory Board, 170+ Talaytayan MLE, Inc.
Languages: Cebuano Binisaya, Tagalog, English

Josie D. Henson
President, DILA (Defenders of the Indigenous Languages of Archipelago) and Akademyang
Kapampangan
Past President, Rotary Club of Clark Field District 3790.
Languages: Kapampangan, English, Tagalog, Spanish

Jayzl V. Nebre
Founder, Hispanic-Filipino Society and Plurilingual Philippines
Languages: Tagalog, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Ilokano

Leslie L. Gumba
Trainer, RICHPhil Inc. (Reaching the Indigenous Communities, Holistically)
Trainer, Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE)
Trainer, Translators Association of the Philippines (TAP)
Languages: Binisaya, Chavacano, Hiligaynon, Bahasa Sug (Tausug)