Don't worry, Be Happy!

A school without harm could be perfect for students to learn in.

Happy Schools Movement: the movement seeks to promote every school in the region as a better and enjoyable place to study. Through this program, the learners’ full potential is given the greatest attention by creating a happier and more positive school culture. The welfare of the learners is primarily and always the concern of the HSM guided with four pillars such as responsive school leadership, relevant classroom instruction, conducive and healthy learning environment, and good governance.

The movement aims to inculcate in the minds of pupils that school is not just a place for learning but also a place for fun and enjoyment as they enjoy what they are doing.

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Solidaridad

Head north to Vigan City in Ilocos Sur and join in the city’s celebration of the annual World Heritage Cities Solidarity Cultural Festival. Interesting cultural activities are lined up including Paseo de Vigan where you get the chance to rent period costumes and have your photo taken at historic Crisologo St; heritage walking tour all weekends of September; Zarsuela Ilocana, singing competition, choir competition, folk dance competition, literary competitions at the Vigan Convention Center; trade and food fair at the parking lot behind the Convention Center; and a lot more.

The festival is rooted in Vigan City being part of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), an organization founded on September 8, 1993 in Fez, Morocco, to unite cities included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The organization aims to bolster support to preserve and promote the member cities’ respective World Heritage.

Vigan City was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999 for having the “best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia”. Established in the 16th century, Vigan City boasts of intact examples of colonial architecture that reflect the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia.

http://vigancity.gov.ph/

Uncultured Swine

Let us set aside politics and unnecessary issues to pave the way for the Buwan Ng Wika (Philippine Language Month) celebration. This seems to be the only longest observation and celebration of our languages. But for some reason, we have been only focused on the national language, Filipino when we should also be aware of the many languages that abound us.

First, our national language is Filipino. Second, we have eight major languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Waray, Bicolano, Cebuano and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). Third, we have around 185 languages and dialects. Fourth, whether you accept it or not – the official language or as Peter Wallace coined it, the “language unifier” is Filipino and English. Yes, there is much debate on this but let’s leave it for now.

In 1946, President Sergio Osmena, through Proclamation No. 35 of March 26 declared a week-long celebration of the national language which lasted from March 27 to April 2 each year, the last day being the birthday of the Filipino writer Francisco Baltazar, author of the Tagalog epic Florante at Laura. Proclamation No. 186 of September 23 was later signed in 1955 by President Ramon Magsaysay to call it Linggo Ng Wika. In 1997, another Proclamation signed by President Fidel V. Ramos was made to lengthen the celebration into a month; thus, it became Buwan ng Wika. It was also made to fall on the birth month of President Manuel Quezon who was known to be the father of our national language or Ama ng Wikang Pambansa. He felt that our countrymen needed to unite using one national language (Tagalog later changed to Filipino) without forgetting their ethnic languages or dialects.

Reference: https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2019/08/12/1942565/buwan-ng-wika-hindi-lang-wika-buhay#rI18AmIVDBtHT2g5.99