18 August 2019, Bandar Seri Begawan – In celebration of the Buwan ng Wika this August, the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), organized a two-day seminar on the Filipino Language from 17 to 18 August at the Chancery.

Through NCCA’s sponsorship, Assistant Professor Eilene Antoinette G. Narvaez from the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature of U.P. Diliman served as resource speaker for the two-day seminar.

The first day of the seminar focused on “Ortograpiyang Pambansa,” which discussed the history and current practice of the Filipino language, as well as the rules and guidelines on its proper grammar and usage. On the second day, Prof. Narvaez delivered a whole-day presentation on “Teaching Filipino as a Second Language” and gave many useful tips on how to engage with students for a better learning of our national language.

The activity was attended by almost 100 Filipino teachers based in Brunei, most of whom serve as volunteers for the Filipino Language and Cultural Enhancement Program (FLCEP) which is held annually by the Embassy. The one-week FLCEP provides young Filipino children, 5 to 17 years old, with the opportunity to further enhance their knowledge of Filipino culture and language, and boost their sense of nationalism.

In his closing remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Christopher B. Montero acknowledged the valuable contributions of Filipino teachers in Bruneian society, while at the same time underlining the critical role they play in educating young Filipinos to embrace their Filipino culture and identity. END