| If you have been anywhere in the Philippines, you | | | | the country for almost 300 years, surviving and |
| would know that Tagalog is the national language of | | | | finding their national identity is a fierce struggle and |
| this 7,107 island rich archipelago, known for its pristine | | | | these people triumphed. |
| beaches, fine white sand, and hospitable people. The | | | | The country is currently lagging behind its Asian |
| language used to belong in a set with Alibata, an | | | | neighbors in terms of economic development but it |
| ancient yet extinct alphabet system used by its | | | | has done one thing that even the Chinese people |
| ancestors before colonialism set in. | | | | would not have been able to understand until the |
| The most modern name for the national language is | | | | Philippines decided to fight for democracy with the |
| Filipino, which is known to include certain words that | | | | use of prayers and people's unity-hence the term |
| are used in several of the local dialects that are used | | | | people power: the force that the modern world |
| all throughout the different regions of the country. | | | | neglected, the same force that helped topple the |
| Tagalog is primarily spoken by the majority of the | | | | Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall, and helped countries like |
| inhabitants in the northern part of the country but | | | | Cuba to fight for democracy through its people, and |
| most of the people illiterate or not can speak the | | | | even East Timor for its new independence. |
| language as well as English which is the medium used | | | | Anyone who would like to discover the country and |
| for instruction. In fact, that is one of the strengths | | | | its people who seem to be naïve and passive |
| of Filipinos: their ability to speak and write in English | | | | yet fierce and vigilant of its freedom should |
| despite illiteracy. That is one of the primary reasons | | | | understand what it is to be Filipino and one good way |
| also why the country has become a favorite | | | | to do it is through learning the national language. Now |
| outsourcing hub of many foreign entrepreneurs. | | | | that the whole world is starting to realize that they're |
| The Filipinos can easily mix with any culture and any | | | | not the only ones existing, that there are people who |
| race. They have the knack to make any culture a | | | | are great and live life with integrity despite being |
| version of their own. Like the way Canadian English | | | | trampled on by many in its entire course of history, |
| or Australian English has come into life so is there | | | | you can learn the tagalong language on your own, |
| Filipino Americans and the greatest thing about it is | | | | without a Tagalog trainer or going to a university |
| that they do well and excel in whatever field they | | | | class for Tagalog lessons. You simply have to get |
| pursue. For a people who have been influenced and | | | | yourself a Pimsleur Tagalog language learning audio |
| placed under the rule of strong cultures such as the | | | | program and you're all set for learning the language in |
| Japanese, the Americans, and the Spanish who ruled | | | | a short and enjoyable time. |