Before proceeding with this piece, re- Mr. Manuel A Collao’s “down-spiralling English” (August 10, 2006), I’d like to say that:

1. Igua man palan nagbabasa kang sacuyang mga isinusurat na mga caisipan; and

2. Saludo ako ki Manoling (an mga ina mi palan magtugang!) nin huli ta maski na ngani ang ibang caisipan niya iba kesa sacuya, igua siya nin cusog-boot na ipahayag sa publico an mga ini.

      Your theory that peoples not dominated by other cultures can maintain their own language. This is true with Japan, most probably because of its geographical isolation. But, among those other topnotchers in the IESAT in 1983, Finland was conquered by Sweden, and then “passed on” to Russia nearby. Korea was under the Chinese, and later, the Japanese. Hungary was under the Mongols as early as 1241, then partitioned between the Austrian Habsburgs and the Ottoman Turks. And yet, all these developed countries were teaching their children in their own dialects.

      That was also one of the recommendationgs of the EDCOM in 1991. That Congressional body, which had been formed to overhaul the country’s very defective educational educational system, had also recommended to our government the immediate printing of the needed textbooks and other teaching materials in Filipino, our national language.

      That, and other valuable recommendations, however, were not accepted by our *&(%$)+ government. Do you Know why?

      I’m not sure, but I think, well nevermind. But, I’m sure that if our children were taught in a language they understand and had textbooks written also in a language they understand, we’d have better citizens in this country.

      Incidentally, do we have to have English in order to produce good farmers, carpenters, bus or motor vehicle drivers, mga paratinda sa sa’dan, parasira’, mga coreador sa jueteng, musikero, even grade school teachers?

      ANONG MGA KARAHAYAN ANG NACU-A NA, ASIN NACUCU-A KAN SATUYANG NACION SA PAGIGING DAYOPOT CAINI SA TATARAMON NA ENGLISH ASIN SA AMERICA?

      Tibaad mangalas ka kun maaraman mo an estoria magpoon kan treaty of Paris (1898) sagcod sa panahon kan free trade, Parity Rights, US Bases, political (but not economic) “independence,” the floating rate, etc. kiisay ang Filipinas may utang na P5 trilliones ngonian? R.A. Ibarbia