The national language of the Philippines called Filipino was designated as such on November 29, 1937. It was then known as "Pilipino" and was based on the Tagalog language, which is primarily spoken in the Manila region and surrounding areas. The choice of Tagalog as the basis for the national language was due to its widespread use and the cultural and historical significance of the region where it originated. In 1973, the spelling was changed from "Pilipino" to "Filipino" to reflect the letter "F" in the country's name. Filipino is now one of the two official languages of the Philippines, alongside English.
Reference: "Commonwealth Act No. 184" (1937). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1937/11/13/commonwealth-act-no-184/
Comments