Contest seeks youth views on PH languages

This as the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) launched its first Gawad Jacinto sa Sanaysay essay-writing contest, KWF senior language researcher Roy Rene Cagalingan said on Friday. (File Photo: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Facebook)

MANILA — Grades 7 to 11 students in public and private schools nationwide have an opportunity to express their views regarding Philippine languages in writing.

This as the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) launched its first Gawad Jacinto sa Sanaysay essay-writing contest, KWF senior language researcher Roy Rene Cagalingan said on Friday.

“Their essay-entries must tackle why our native languages are important and what knowledge can be gained from them,” Cagalingan said.

Learning about the youth’s views, he said, will help the KWF better promote and preserve Philippine languages.

Prizes at stake are PHP20,000 (first place), PHP15,000 (second place), and PHP10,000 (third place).

Entries for the Gawad Jacinto sa Sanaysay contest must be written in Filipino, unpublished, original, and are not mere translations.

The entries must follow rules in KWF’s “Ortograpiyang Pambansa” and “Manwal sa Masinop na Pagsulat”.

An entry can have a maximum of 1,000 words, either typed or printed on no more than four pages of short bond paper, with a one-inch margin on all sides.

All entries must be double-spaced and use size 12 Arial font.

Hard and soft copies of an entry must show the contestant’s pen name only.

“We’re already accepting entries for the contest,” Cagalingan said, noting that the deadline for the submission of entries is 5 p.m. on June 28.

People can contact the KWF regarding other details of the contest, he added.

The contest was named after Emilio Jacinto, a hero who died at the age of 23 but left writings advocating love of country, he said.

The holding of the Gawad Jacinto sa Sanaysay essay-writing contest is aligned with the country’s annual celebration of Buwan ng Wika every August, Cagalingan said.

The KWF will award winners of the essay-writing contest during this year’s Buwan ng Wika celebration.

He also said the contest supports the UN’s proclamation of 2019 as International Year of Indigenous Languages.