SC urged to allow courts to use Filipino language during ‘Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa’ celebration on Aug. 1 to 31

The Supreme Court (SC) has been asked to allow courts in the country to use the Filipino language to celebrate the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, the National Language Month, from August 1 to 31. The plea was contained in a letter sent to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo by the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association, Inc (PTLA) which is headed by Atty. Pete S. Principe as president. Attached in the letter was a resolution adopted by the PTLA on June 1, 2026. The yearly celebration of the National Language Month is mandated under Proclamation No. 1041 issued by then president Fidel V. Ramos. The PTLA’s letter sent to Chief Justice Gesmundo was dated July 8, 2026. The lawyers’ group said its request is in line with the government’s push for the strong use of Filipino language to strengthen the economic programs of the government. It noted that President Marcos himself has been using Filipino in his official meetings and instructions as well as in his speeches nationwide since 92 percent of Filipinos can fully understand and speak the Filipino language. “Tagalog is the nucleus of Filipino National Language and is known as the major native tongue and widely recognized as the leading language out of around 176 languages all over the country,” Principe said. He also recalled that Chief Justice Gesmundo used the Filipino language in his speech in Caloocan City when he was keynote speaker during the 2026 Independence Day celebration and during his speech at the 18th Graduation Ceremony of Bulacan State University Law School. At the same time, the PTLA noted that Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando was warmly applauded by delivering a speech mixed with Tagalog during the 20th Graduation Ceremony of the Bulacan State University Law School. PTLA Secretary General Atty. Yolando F. Lim, on the other hand, noted that Filipino is also dominantly used in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate sitting as Impeachment Court. “Noticeably, viewers are now strongly hooked on TV due to the very effective use of Tagalog by the prosecution and the defense panels. Even the Senator Judges switch Tagalog and English effectively for the benefit of the public,” Lim said. The PTLA cited that the use of the Filipino language is in line with Article XIV, Sections 6 to 9 of the Constitution. It said that Section 6 specifically states that the national language of the Philippines is Filipino. while Section 7 provides that “for purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.” It said that Section 8 states that the “Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish,” while Section 9 mandates Congress to “establish a national language commission composed of representatives of various regions and disciplines which shall undertake, coordinate, and promote researches for the development, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other languages.”