HISTORICAL MARKER. Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Chairman Virgilio Almario and Bacolod City Councilor Anna Marie Palermo lead the unveiling of the marker of the Tindalo tree planted by former President Manuel L. Quezon at the public plaza during Bacolod’s inauguration as a chartered city October 19, 1938, in a ceremony held on Monday. The occasion marked the commemoration of Quezon’s 141st birth anniversary. (PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY – The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) paid homage to former president Manuel L. Quezon on his 141st birth anniversary during a ceremony hosted by the city government here on Monday.
KWF Chairman Virgilio Almario, who led the program held at the Bacolod public plaza, said this year marks the first time the commemoration was held outside Quezon City.
Quezon, the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, was an important part of Bacolod’s history.
He signed the Charter of Bacolod City on June 18, 1938, and on October 19 of the same year, he came to Bacolod for its inauguration as a chartered city, led by then mayor Alfredo Montelibano Sr.
On the same occasion, Quezon planted a seedling of the Tindalo tree at the plaza, where it proudly stands until this day.
On Monday, Almario, who also chairs the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, was joined by Councilor Anna Marie Palermo in the unveiling of the marker of the native tree, which symbolizes the "faith, hope, and dreams of the forefathers, who wholeheartedly gave their time, service and honor for the development and prosperity of the City of Bacolod."
Palermo said the KWF chose Bacolod to host the commemoration of Quezon’s 141st birth anniversary because the late president had a significant contribution to the city’s history.
“We are very proud that we are also part of the history of President Manuel L. Quezon. The Tindalo tree should be a pride of Bacolod, and it is. It’s been there for the past 81 years. It’s a mute witness to the history of Bacolod,” she added.
Quezon, born on Aug. 19, 1878, is also acknowledged as the “Father of the National Language”.
“Mahalagang isipin natin na ang ating pinagpupugayan ngayong umaga ay isang punongkahoy na tumutubo din sa Pilipinas. Hindi siya banyaga. Katulad na lang ng ating wikang pambansa na isang wikang katutubo (This morning, it is important to note that we are paying homage to a tree that is native to the Philippines. It is not foreign, just as our mother tongue is native to us),” Almario said.
This August, the country observes Buwan ng Wika with the theme, “Wikang Katutubo: Tungo sa Isang Bansang Filipino”.
The program at the Bacolod plaza on Monday morning served as a kick-off to the KWF-organized, three-day Pambansang Kongreso sa Katutubong Wika at the SMX Convention Bacolod.
Among the participants is the group of Glenda Nad, director of the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura of the Aurora State College of Technology based in Baler, the hometown of Quezon.
Nad said they conducted an ethno-linguistic study on the language of Casiguran, funded by the KWF. (PNA)
