Every language must be allowed to develop by itself, but having a Tagalog-based Filipino and promoting its national use seems to be counter-intuitive. It does not promote the development of other native Philippine languages and their inherently rich literary traditions either. It only makes their native languages appear less significant than Tagalog. We might have learned of “Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang),” an Ilocano epic poem in our Pilipino or Filipino class, but I’m quite sure that our Yakan brothers and sisters from Basilan have interesting and entertaining stories to tell too. The same stories which they would want their children and future generations to enjoy and remember. The same legacy that may not be passed on to future generations of Filipinos because they’re not in Tagalog or not translated into a predominantly Tagalog-based Filipino, and hence will not be covered in the Filipino syllabus.