Being Proud of our own Filipino-English Diction (May 2011)

By Rico Hizon

(Delivered during Toastmaster’s International District 75 Annual Conference in Manila)

Every single day for the past 10 years on BBC World News, over 350 million people from all over the world wake up to the sound of my voice.

What I say can make or break their business. How I say it, however, will affect how they will react – whether to stay calm or panic.

DELIVERING THE NEWS

Delivery is key.

Apart from having complete, accurate and relevant information, the news must be read clearly to ensure that it is easily understood.

And for that, I am grateful for my education from the Philippines.

Tubong Maynila po ako! I was born, raised and educated here in Manila. Hindi po ako nag-aral sa Amerika o sa UK.

Hindi po ako nag Cambridge o Harvard.

I learned to speak well and clearly thanks to the patience of my parents, siblings and my teachers at La Salle Green Hills and De La Salle University.

My looks and my diction often leave people wondering about my nationality.

On many occasions, I’ve been asked if I’m a western-educated Chinese, Singaporean, Malaysian or even Indonesian.

They wonder because of my eyes, skin color, and the way I speak English.

I guess you can say its Pinoy super power.

We have the gift of languages. But what sets us apart is how, with any language we use, we are able to speak it clearly.

PAN-ASIAN DICTION

The Filipino diction is – clear, simple, neutral, easy to understand.

The Filipino enunciates clearly, pronounces every syllable in a pleasant — even — and non-threatening tone modulated for every ear to capture its essence….

And when we speak English, for instance, it is neither American nor British English.

It is a Pan-Asian diction. It does not pretend to sound western but both Asians and non-Asians can easily comprehend what is being said.

There are a variety of accents speaking the English language and there is no need for the Filipino to imitate … the American, British or whatever accent just to say its proper English.

We have our very own, and that is what makes us a cut above the rest.

And that’s why I am where I am. It’s because of the Filipino English diction.

People often mistake the American accent for good diction. And yet, there is no real American accent because there is the Southern drawl, the Texas twang, and a host of so many others ….

It is too, difficult to keep track….

But that’s beside the point.

Someone pointed out, we are Filipinos. We don’t have to speak good English.

But don’t you think it’s amazing that we do, despite the fact that we’re not?

EDUCATION

During my time, English was the medium of instruction.

When I graduated Grade School in 1980, High School in 1984 and University in 1988, majority of students could carry a very decent English conversation, because during my generation we had very good teachers who encouraged us to speak the language fluently.

We either spoke in English or we spoke in Tagalog.

Mixing them up into Taglish was unacceptable.

Even earlier, during my parents’ and grandparents’ time, the country had citizens that were very good in English regardless of their educational attainment because English was widely and strictly used.

But today when I look around me and speak with the youth, I think we are dwindling race. English as a second language of Filipinos is fast deteriorating.

In fact, it has become a third language after Filipino and the more widely spoken Taglish. Not many can speak at least two or three sentences of straight English.

Worse, the diction is twisted to favor a twang often taken as a sign of being sosyal or wealthy.

And believe me, nothing could be further from the truth.

MEDIA

The media has played a major role in the inability of many Filipinos to speak English well.

TV programs these days are all in Taglish.

Even the news is no exception.

What do we do? How do we stop the spread of “Here na me, where na you?” and “Yes, op kors, dats rayt”

And it also does not help, that when people text or sms, the language and the writing is inappropriate.

And thus their inability to learn correct spelling, impacting their ability to communicate clearly and correctly – whether it be in English or Tagalog.

The key lies in recognizing that proficiency in communicating in English is indispensable.

Speaking in English is not unpatriotic.

We are not less Filipinos for mastering another language.

We are only making good use of our gift for languages to forge ahead.

English should be the medium of instruction in schools.

Spoken in the presence of trained teachers, children will learn to speak fluently and clearly, because when we master one language, whether it be English or Tagalog, we prepare our youth to challenge themselves to stretch and excel in their language skills, and basically, setting the foundation from an educational perspective.

There should be more English television programs such as documentaries and talk shows on commercial/terrestrial television with at least one dedicated English newscast.

Such shows these days are all on cable channels and are beyond the reach of the less privileged.

It is also equally important that we Filipinos read English text more often. Doing so further improves the grasp of the language.

Nowadays less Filipinos read and enrich the mind through books, editorials or websites.

And because of this, poor reading skills translate into poor writing and poor diction.

Indeed, sometimes the answer truly lies in reading between the lines, as well as from cover to cover.

GLOBALIZATION

In this age of globalization, it is inevitable that the Filipino will interact with peers and colleagues in the international community.

We can rightfully expect to hear even more accents, even more variations of the English language.

As such, this should spur our youth to even greater heights, to cement our place in the international scene as the most skilled, in communicating in the English language.

You have to give it to the Pinoy, we are still the best English speakers on this side of the planet.

So I believe, it is time to stand up, stand out, speak proudly as a Filipino and be heard across the globe loud and clear.

I know I did!

Live from the Toastmasters International Conference this is Rico Hizon reporting. Proud to be Filipino! Proud of our Filipino-English Diction! Mabuhay ang Pinoy! Long Live the Filipino! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Long Live the Philippines!

Courtesy of goodnewspilipinas.com


http://goodnewspilipinas.com/2011/05/04/being-proud-of-our-own-filipino-english-diction/

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-- Napoleon Hill, author

Pretty Clear Weather Tonight

Coconut water exports soar 315% in first half of 2011 (Oct 2011)

Philippine coconut water is going places.

Coconut water exports jumped 315 percent in the first half of the year to 7.5 million liters, after the popularity of the refreshing beverage started to take off overseas, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said.

Last year the country exported only 1.80 million liters in the same period.

The PCA said the natural product was exported to the United States, Europe, the Middle East and South America, all of whose markets saw a surge in coconut water consumption.

Americans were the biggest consumers, downing 6.19 million liters this year for a 387-percent increase over last year’s 1.27-million liters.

Exports to Europe rose to 213,220 liters from the last year’s 72,280 liters. Asia and the Pacific bought 360,412 liters this year over last year’s 145,778 liters, while Latin and Central America imported 483,338 liters from 190,990 liters the previous year, the PCA said.

PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes said coconut water had become a popular energy drink abroad because of its natural qualities and lack of chemical preservatives.

Coconut water is rich in potassium and magnesium, and contains a considerable amount of vitamin B which aids in strengthening the muscles, delaying fatigue and maintaining normal heart function.

It is also regarded as a good source of electrolytes and glucose and has been found suitable for intravenous rehydration. It is also a healthy and effective treatment for urinary stones.

Philippine coconut water was in the news recently after President Aquino returned from a visit to the United States where he met with American businessmen who had put up a coconut water processing firm in Camarines Sur.

To meet future demand, Forbes magazine revealed that the Department of Agriculture and the PCA will implement a massive replanting of coconut trees under the Participatory Coconut Planting Project.

The Philippines is the world’s top exporter of coconut products, particularly copra. In the first seven months of 2011, coconut exports totaled $1.22 billion, a 34.74 percent jump over the $908.72 million in the same period last year, the PCA said.

(Story courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Kristine L. Alave)

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Asian Development Bank says Philippines can grow 7-8% (Oct 2011)

The Asian Development Bank said the Philippines should aspire to post an economic growth of 7 to 8 percent a year, stressing that the country has the resources needed to achieve the goal.

According to an ADB economist, the country simply has to resolve administrative and regulatory factors that hinder the entry of more businesses so that more investments will come in, thus accelerating growth.

“The country should not be satisfied with a 4- to 5-percent growth; aspiring for a 7- to 8-percent growth is good because that range is what is needed to reduce poverty,” ADB assistant chief economist Joseph Ernest Zveglich Jr. said Wednesday in an interview following the CEO Forum organized by Punongbayan & Araullo.

The Aquino administration originally aimed for the economy to grow by 7 to 8 percent every year during the duration of its term, but recently cut the target on grounds it may be too ambitious at this time.

Earlier this year, the economic team set a 2011 growth target of 5 to 6 percent. This month, the team reduced the range to 4.5 to 5.5 percent, taking into account the adverse effects of a weak global economy.

For next year, the team set the growth target at 5 to 6 percent, giving up on the 7- to 8-percent goal for the meantime due to challenges confronting the economy.

Zveglich said, however, that there is reason to support a higher growth target since required resources are available, such as a skilled and educated workforce, as well as natural resources.

Achieving the goal would require the determined effort on the part of the administration to improve the business climate.

The ADB economist said that the Philippines could, for instance, streamline the procedures in setting up businesses to encourage more entrepreneurs to set up shop.

Zveglich also said regulations should be consistent to spur investment growth, which will lead to economic growth.

In the first half, the Philippines grew by 4 percent, slowing down from the over 8 percent registered in the same period last year.

Officials said that while the average growth of 4 to 5 percent over the past decade was decent, that pace of growth does not allow the benefits of economic expansion to trickle down to the masses.

Economists say that this is why poverty incidence in the country is still high at 26 percent even if the Philippines has grown consistently over the past decade and has avoided recessions that other countries experienced.

(Story courtesy of Michael V. Remo of Philippine Daily Inquirer)

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