On Federalism and Parliamentary Form of Government - Languages - http://maxpages.com/defender/federalism

As regards GMA's inclination to federalism, I am still ambivalent towards the idea of
federalization. I like it but then, on the other hand, I'm afraid our province would just
become a part of one huge region where my cabalens won't always prevail when it comes to important decisions on matters favorable to them in particular. The idea of a Central Luzon state is not attractive to us Kapampangans in DILA, including Cabalen Edwin and Cabalen Gus. If the federal state boundaries or division would be set according to ethno-linguistic lines, then, we'll be all for it. The idea of Sagabay Dindo in that provinces should themselves become federal states would be fine, but this does not seem to be the idea in the minds of Pimentel and the other politicians proposing this new system. For one thing, although economy is very important, we don't worry much for Pampanga, and Cebu for that matter, as they are already rich provinces. What DILA is more concerned about is the would-be eventual loss of our languages.

Cabalen Ernie

Table 8. Language/Dialects Generally Spoken in the Households:
Central Luzon, 2000

Language/Dialect Number of Households Percent

Central Luzon 1,632,047 households 100.00%

Tagalog 985,419 60.38%
Kapampangan 405,106 24.82%
Ilocano 187,354 11.48%
Sambal/Zambal 22,228 1.36%
Kankani/Kankaney 12,533 0.77%
Other local language/dialects 18,697 1.15%

Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

This is why I'm not interested very much in the federalization of the Philippines
where my province would just be one among many in a region called Central Luzon. Yes, despite the fact that San Fernando may be the regional center. The province might just as well be a part of the whole big country if the division is
not according to ethno-linguistic lines. Anyway, I don't think a new system would
really boost its economy, as whatever the government system would be,
considering its strategic location, Pampanga would never be neglected, and highways and other infrastructures will continue to be built there.

But I'll be all for it if they just convert each province into a federal state. Or if they divide the country according to major ethno-linguistic boundaries so that the Kapampangan-speaking population will have all to themselves a federal state they can truly call their own. For we were originally a nation to begin with. Just like the Tagalogs, Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Warays, Ilocanos, Pangasinanes, etc. Each of us had separate nations called "barangays" before the coming of the Spaniards. Now that they can no longer become nations, each should at least be entitled to having a federal state in what could be the United States of the Philippines, or perhaps the Federal Philippine Republic. But, I don't think this is what Sen. Aquilino Filibuster has in mind when he proposed federalization for the country.

So, I'm more in favor of the present set-up than have Kapampangan be within or under a Central Luzon federal state. Considering its strategic location being a part of "heartland", Pampanga is in good hands and we won't worry much about its economic condition, as the government will for sure always give it priority.

The language is what I'm more worried about. I'm smelling its disappearance from a
century away. It stinks! We've got to stop this stench from suffocating all non-Tagalog areas with our last dying breath. Shall we? There is just too much to lose if it is the very core of our culture that would vanish in thin air.

Warm regards,
Ernie

P.S.
My province, meaning the land or territory, will always be there, just like Cebu, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental. All provinces, for that matter, may in the future be populated by a people speaking another language such as Tagalog. But they will still be there and won't go away. But our languages, Kapampangan, Cebuano and Ka-raya, not being physical like the land where their speakers live, are fragile and can disappear.
And so my philosophy tells me it is my language that I have to hold closer to my heart. Although, of course, compared with other provinces, it is my province, by part to me, that is the dearest of all.

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

Visitors: 00280

Page Updated Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:33pm EDT