_Language

Programs and
Policies in
Multilingual
Societies_
 REGION II

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION

Cagayan Valley (Lambak ng Cagayan in Filipino; Tana’ nak Cagayan in the Ibanag Language;
Tanap ti Cagayan in the Ilocano Language) is a region of the Philippines, also designated as
Region II or Region 02. It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela,
Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino

The Cagayan Valley Region II is defined by the Cagayan River. The Province of Cagayan
occupies the lower course of the river, and the northeast corner of the island of Luzon (with a
few offshore islets). Cagayan’s area is 9,003 km2, its population 952,000 (by the 2000 census)
in twenty-nine towns, of which Tuguegarao is the capital. The provinces of the rest of the year.
Average annual rainfall is 2,500 millimeters. Due to the region´s high altitude and the interior
position of its valleys, it has greater seasonal changes compared with other regions of the
country.

Cagayan Valley Region means of livelihood is agriculture and fishing. The major agricultural
industries are rice and corn in which are the regions main crops. People are fishing the coast of
Cagayan, Isabela and Batanes and Magat Dam in Isabela. This region is also involved in
livestock production of cattle, hog, carabaos and poultry. Some of the regions livelihood is
furniture making of rattan and other indigenous materials in which are for export. This region
also exports fruits, fruit preserves and vegetables.

 LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS

  People of the Cagayan Valley Region can speak and understand english. The Major dialects
that are being used in this regionare Ilocano, Ybanag, Ytawes and Filipino. In Batanes, the
people speak Ivatan. The climate in this region is good and there are two pronounced weathers,
the dry which generally occurs beginning December up to May and wet from June up to
November. Hot months are from March to May and extend up to August.

COMMENTS

POSITIVE COMMENTS

I can say that this Region will definitely develop and improve in terms of languages. They can
speak and understand Filipino and English too which is good for them to communicate with
others. I also like their attitude and behavior which is being ” honest “for all times

NEGATIVE COMMENTS

Honestly , I don’t have any negative comment for this region 

RECOMMENDATIONS

One thing that I want to recommend or suggest in this region is to learn best and become fluent
and proficient to the languages of Filipino since this is the National Language in the Philippines
and English as the Second Language in the world. I suggest also to learn other languages like
Mandarin, Niponggo, Hangul and Spanish etc. just to improve their skills and abilities in terms of
languages.
 REGION V ( BICOL REGION

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION

Region V is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Bicol (also spelled Bikol) is composed of
four provinces in the Bicol Peninsula, the southeastern end of Luzon island, and two island-
provinces adjacent to the peninsula.
The region is composed of six provinces, namely, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. It has one independent component city, Naga City, and
six component cities - Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco. Masbate
City and Sorsogon City are cities within their namesake provinces.

The regional centers are Legazpi, the political and administrative center; and Naga City, the
cultural and religious center. Together with Sorsogon City, they are the leading cities in the
region in terms of urbanization and the hub of the economic activity

LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS

The people of the Bicol region, called Bicolanos, speak any of the several languages of the
Bikol macrolanguage, also called Bikolano, an Austronesian language closely related to other
Central Philippine languages such as Cebuano and Tagalog. Bicol languages include the Inland
Bikol of Bikol-Rinconada (Rinconada area), Bikol-Albay (Buhi, Cam. Sur; Libon, Oas, Daraga,
Albay and Donsol, Sorsogon), Bikol-Pandan (Northern Catanduanes). Standard Bikol is based
from the coastal Bikol language of the dialect of Legazpi City and is understood widely
throughout the region even though they cannot speak it fluently.

The Bikol macrolanguage is the dominant language of the region. The Filipino language
(Tagalog) is also spoken in northern parts of Camarines Norte as well as in the municipality of
Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. Two Visayan languages, Sorsoganon and Masbateño or
Minasbate, are spoken in Masbate and Sorsogon; they are collectively referred to as Bisakol.

COMMENTS

POSITIVE COMMENTS

I like this region because this is where my grandmother came from. They can understand
Filipino o Tagalog language and English as well, which is better to communicate with others
people or oother nationality.

NEGATIVE COMMENTS

They can understand Tagalog/ Filipino languages but they can’t speak it in fluent and proficient
way.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I suggest to be focus in Speaking Skills in order to easy to learn how to pronounce other
languages especially the Filipino and English languages and ofcourse learn other foreign
languages.
 REGION VI

(WESTERN VISAYAS)

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION

Region VI, Western Visayas, consists of six provinces; Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental,
Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo with 16 component cities making it the region with the highest
number of cities. Iloilo City is the regional center. The presence of almost all the government
agencies’ regional offices in the city and it’s geographical proximity to the provinces affirm Iloilo
City as the regional center. The province of Aklan occupies the northwestern coastal plain of the
island of Panay. Its 1,853 km supports a population of 441,000 in seventeen municipalities, of
which Kalibo is the capital. After strenuous and sustained political efforts, Aklan was separated
from Capiz by act of the national legislature in April 1956. Agriculture is a prominent part of the
economy, principal products being rice, maize, coconuts, and cut flowers. Ocean- fishing is also
important, as is tourism, Boracay, an internationally known, world-class white-sand island-resort
just offshore. Kalibo is known also for the mother of Philippine Festivals. Ati-Atihan held every
third week of January, the Bakhawan Eco-park (Philippines’ most successful mangrove
reforestation project), and Piñacloth weaving. Inland fishing and aquaculture yield several export
products.

Iloilo province is primarily the commercial and trade center of Western Visayas, with
commercial, industrial development and rural banks, financial and investment houses, insurance
companies, and real estate agencies and developers. Nevertheless, agriculture is the province’s
main source of livelihood. In fact, Iloilo’s production of rice, sugar and mango has made it one of
the country’s top agricultural producers.

LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS

The languages native to the inhabitants of Western Visayas are Hiligaynon, spoken in Iloilo,
Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and Capiz (where it is known as Capiznon). It is the lingua franca
of the region. Kinaray-a, spoken in Antique and parts of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan. Akeanon,
spoken in Aklan. Malaynon, spoken in Aklan. Cebuano, spoken in the eastern parts of Negros
Occidental

COMMENTS

POSITIVE COMMENTS

This region are good in speaking English . Mostly Visayan people are fluent and proficient in
English language that’s why they are lots of people northern part of the region in the Philippines
were really amazed and proud to this people in this Western Visayas Region.

NEGATIVE COMMENTS

They can speak fluently in English but sad to say they don’t know how to speak proficiently our
National Language which is Filipino .

RECOMMENDATIONS

I recommend to this region to learn our mother tongue and the only national language in the
Philippines which is Filipino, because for me this will be show who we are as a true Filipino.It
will serve as the foundation on how to learn other foreign language not only English
 REGION VIII

( EASTERN VISAYAS)

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION

Eastern Visayas is one of the regions of the Philippines and is designated as Region VIII. It
consists of six provinces, namely, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar
(Western Samar) and Southern Leyte. These provinces occupy the easternmost islands of
Visayas: Leyte, Samar and Biliran. The regional center is Tacloban City, one of two cities of
Leyte. Calbayog City is the lone city in Samar, one of the oldest in the country.
Dialects / Language

The main languages spoken are Cebuano and Waray-Waray (speakers of these languages
also call their languages "Visayan"). A third language known as Inabaknon is spoken in the
island of Capul in Northern Samar. Some claim the existence of another speech variety known
as Sagul spoken on the island of Biliran and is in actuality a mix of both Cebuano and Waray.
However, others claim that 'Sagul' is just codeswitching rather than a separate language. The
word 'sagul' means mixed in the Waray-Waray language and may simply refer to the practice
of mixing up both Waray-Waray and Cebuano which are spoken in Biliran.

Natural Resources

The region's sea and inland waters are rich sources of salt and fresh water fish and other
marine products. It is one of the fish exporting regions of the country. There are substantial
forest reserves in the interiors of the islands. Its mineral deposits include chromite, uranium(in
Samar), gold, silver, manganese, magnesium, bronze, nickel, clay, coal, limestone, pyrite and
sand and gravel. It has abundant geothermal energy and water resources to support the needs
of medium and heavy industries.

Culture

 Dances

Tinikling, the Philippines' national dance is folkdance that originated from the region, but the
most popular cultural dance among Warays is the Curacha, danced during feast celebrations
and special gatherings. The Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company, a local cultural group, held
highly successful performances around the world.

 Music

Waray people are music lovers whose folkloric music are mostly ballads in form, famous of
which is "Dandansoy" while "Iroy nga Tuna" (Motherland) is a patriotic song.

Economy

Primary sources of revenue are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and services.
Mining, farming, fishing and tourism contribute significantly to the economy Manufacturing firms
include mining companies, fertilizer plants, sugar central, rice and corn mills and other food
processing plants. Tacloban is the hub of investment, trade and development in the region.

Other industries include mining, rice, corn and sugar milling, coconut oil extraction, alcohol
distilling, beverage manufacture and forest products. Home industries include hat and basket
weaving, metal craft, needlecraft, pottery, ceramics, woodcraft, shell craft and bamboo craft.

Education

Eastern Visayas is home to several state universities, including the prominent University of the
Philippines Visayas (UPV Tacloban College). The region is also home to the University of
Eastern Philippines (UEP), located in Catarman, Northern Samar, which holds the most
number of baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate courses among universities in the region.
The Zonal Agricultural University for the Visayas under the National Agriculture Education
System concept, Visayas State University (VSU) is also in the region, located in Baybay City.
Also, the region is home to Palompon Institute of Technology, a maritime school in the
Philippines providing deck and engine cadet. Its main campus is located in the municipality of
Palompon, Leyte province.

COMMENTS

POSITIVE COMMENT

Regon VIII for me is like Region Vi where proven and identified that they are good in speaking
English . They can speak also other foreign languages .

NEGATIVE COMMENT
Just like Region Vi they can’t speak Filipino / Tagalog fluently and proficiently.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I recommend that focus again to learn how to speak Filipino in a fluent and proficient way
Because this help them to know who we are , where we came from and it’s part of our culture.
 REGION X

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION

Region X, usually called Northern Mindanao, is composed of 5 provinces: Misamis Oriental,

Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin and Lanao del Norte. It is comprised of 9 cities:
Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, El Salvador, Ozamiz, Tangub, Oroquieta, Malaybalay, Valencia, and
Iligan. The whole region covers a total land area of 19,279.60 sqr km. with a total population of
4.297 million as of the 2010 Census. It has 84 municipalities and about 2,020 barangays.
Northern Mindanao, which geographically lies within Latitude 7º15′ to 9º15′ North and Longitude
123º30′ to 125º30′ East, is bounded on the North by the Bohol Sea, on the South by Lanao del
Sur and North Cotabato; on the West by Zamboanga provinces; and on the East by Agusan
Provinces and Davao.

Climate
Three types of climates prevail in the different areas of this region:

1. Type II—No dry season with very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to
January in the province of Camiguin and Misamis Occidental.
2. Type III—Relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year,
affecting Misamis Oriental and Central Bukidnon.
3. Type IV— Throughout the duration of the year, rainfall is evenly distributed in
Northeastern Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. 

Northern Mindanao is a region rich in culture, which can be seen in their numerous festivals.
One of the most popular festivals in the region is the Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City.
They celebrate the feast day of St. Augustine every 28th day of August. Another festival is
Kaamulan festival in Bukidnon. It is an ethnic cultural festival wherein people allocate a relative
amount of their time to remember the culture and traditions of the seven ethnic tribes in their
area. It is also considered as a thanksgiving festival to celebrate their bountiful harvest.
Moreover, another famous festival in the region is the Lanzones festival in Camiguin, which is a
4-day celebration of this fruit. It is held every 3rd week of October. It is essential to note that the
sweetest Lanzones can be found in the islands of Camiguin. Regularly celebrating different
causes as one whole community shows that the citizens of Region 10 value camaraderie and
friendship.

LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS

There are a lot of ethnic languages in the region. Bisaya, Boholano and Cebuano are the major
ones. Native languages are still used like Higaonon in Misamis Oriental, Marinao in Lanao Del
Norte, Subanen in Misamis Occidental, Binukid in Bukidnon and Kinamiging in Camiguin.
English and Tagalog are also understood but not usually spoken.

COMMENTS

POSITIVE COMMENTS

In terms of profile , culture and festivals that they have , I can say that they are lucky to have
this . I like their character of being friendly and having unity to others and to each other, I hope
this kind f attitude will spread and adapt of other regions and provinces.

NEGATIVE COMMENTS

It is sad to say that they can’t speak English and Filipino / Tagalog 

RECOMMENDATIONS

I suggest that they need to focus and learn Filipino and English languages because this will be
the guide and lead to developed countries. It will help the learn how to speak this languages to
learn also other foreign languages and to develop and improve their speaking skill and to have a
better knowledge to all languages in this world .