james soriano Language learning identity privilege

James Soriano’s Language, learning, identity, privilege an insult to the Filipino Language?

By On · 10 Comments

What James Soriano wrote in his article Language, learning, identity, privilege is considered an insult to the Filipino Language

One of the most controversial issue after the exhibit Mideo Cruz “Poleteismo”- Kulo, is James Soriano‘s article entitled Language, learning, identity, privilege. James posted the said article last August 24, 2011, 4:06am at the Manila Bulletin .

If you haven’t read his full article yet, you might be asking what’s so controversial about his article? Why so many people are mad about it that the article was forced to be removed from Manila Bulletin’s website. Well see and read for your self. Warning! For those who are not like James Soriano, and love’s his language, Filipino, well then this might hurt you big time!

james soriano Language learning identity privilege part 1
james soriano Language learning identity privilege

And to think this article was posted during the Celebration of our Filipino language – “Buwan ng Wika”!

At first I felt disgusted at what he said. I know you might also be at rage by what he just said. But we can not fully blame James. What James is now, is the result of the teachings of his parents and his environment. He was raised that way, he was raised thinking that English was his primary language and not Filipino.

There is nothing wrong in learning English. In fact English is the universal language and we should all learn to speak English fluently. But to degrade the Filipino language is an insult to the Philippine people. Not only that he has degraded the Filipino language but he has also degraded the Helpers, Drivers, street vendors by leveling them with the Filipino language.

What is more alarming, is James Soriano is not the only Filipino in this country who has the same mind set and situation. There are many out there, whose parent also forced their child to speak ONLY in English and consider Filipino as “just another subject”.

You have a high social status or considered “elite” if you or your 3 year old child speaks in English. And you’re considered stupid or pea brain if your grammar in English is wrong. You’re being ridiculed if you can’t pronounce English with the right accent and intonation.

Just as Dr. Jose Rizal said once… “and hindi marunong mag mahal sa sariling wika, ay higit pa sa mabahong isda“. A person who could not love his own language is more rotten than a smelly fish.

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  • Arvin9595

    Para sa mga tao na mahilig pumuna ay tingnan muna ang inyong sarili kung wala bang dapat punahin. Linisin muna ang sarili bago maghangad na luminis para sa isang tao. Hayaan siya kung anuman ang kanyang sinabi sa sinulat. Opinyon niya iyon kaya dapat na respetuhin. Huwag mag react dahil kung mag react para sa kanyang sinulat ibig lang sabihin ay totoo ang laman ng sinulat niya.

    http://www.arvin95.blogspot.com

  • Anonymous

    It’s true that it is just his honest opinion, but sensitive topic like that should be keep for yourself or just to a small group. Just like Mideo Cruz’s Kulo exhibition, it was his art, his expression and “opinion” on how he view his art. But for many, it was an insult.

    Just like I said we can’t blame James for writing the article because that’s how he sees it. But we can’t also blame other people if they got hurt from what he said.

  • Sherlyn Pollo Mabilangan

    I, myself is not good in Filipino but I know the value of our language. Perhaps he is unaware that a nation’s pride are having its liberty and its own language. As to whose fault is this article, blame it to the editor of the newspaper. There should be responsible journalism. As for Jame’s parents and his environment, why blame it on them? We are individuals capable of thinking for our own. Yes, he is entitled to his opinion but this one is a distorted and shameless opinion. To James Soriano, since your mother tongue is English then claim your nationality as an American or English and let’s see if they will will treat you as one of them.

  • Rinoa18

    yeah hindi rin nmn tama na idegrade nya ang sarili nyang nasyon at wika.pero maybe kea ito napost s manila bulletin s buwan ng wika kase related ang topic un nga lng ang taong nagsulat ay walang pgmamahal s sariling wika at lahi-at kaylangan nten malaman n may mga taong ganun ang paniniwala.i think dapat mging aware tau na dapat mas mabigyan ng pagpapahalaga ang Filipino subject nang sa gayon eh mging proud ang mga katulad ni James

  • angsalarin

    ‘wag mag-react? bakit ‘wag? dahil sa pag inglesero ka matalino ka na? opinyon n’ya yun oo tama ka pero hindi dahil sa may opinyon ka, tama lang na apakan mo ang ibang tao. ibig mo bang sabihin na tama s’ya kaya ‘wag mag-react? eh kung hindi ka ba sandamakmak na pulpol, tinarantado ka na ok lang sa’yo? ang ibig nyang sabihin na ang tagalog o Filipino ay isang “skill” para makausap mo ang mga katulong, tindero, mamang drayber, at mga taong walang pinag-aralan ay isang insulto. ang salitang ingles ay salitang pang-komersyo at kaylanman ay hindi magiging natatanging salita ng mga taong may pribilehiyo.

    wat da pak is rong wid yu pipol?

  • ReelSJ

    What Soriano and other elitists don’t know seven educated people like Jose Rizal wrote beautiful poetry and literature in Tagalog. Nakakahiya talaga! My Tagalog is not the best, but I’d really like to learn how to speak it well and appreciate Tagalog literature. Our language is not just the language of the street.

  • Oz03

    Oo opinyon nya yon pero hindi rin tama na siraan nya ang sarili nyang wika.
    Sabagay nagkaroon din ng sya ng “bad and good” signs.
    dahil sa sinabi nya hindi maiiwasan na magalit ang mga tao sakanya.
    pero kung mapapansin nyo nabuksan ang mga isip natin na dapat pla nating bigyan ng pansin ang ating wika dahil sa mga taong kagaya nya na hindi nagmamahal sa sariling wika.

  • Boyetcusi

    James – pls read the book of Mr. Alex Lacson, let’s build our nation up, pls dont pull it down. Pwede namang purihin ang Ingles na hindi minamata ang ating sariling wika.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cherylou-Segura/100001621625440 Cherylou Segura

    language is not a standard of status in life and level of education you have…language cannot be measure in unlogical form

  • Cory86

    James Soriano is correct is what he said in his article. Tagalog is the language of the low poor people and who are unlearned. What is wrong with that, he just want the Philippines to progress by using English so that it will be competitive in the world. It is time to move on… and not only Tagalog is not useful, it is not also a beautiful language, whoever said it is beautiful must be on drug overdose. And Jose Rizal is advocating love to one’s native language and Tagalog is definitely not the native language of the whole Philippines.