A collage of Baybayin characters, a Tagalog proverb, and Cebuano and Ilocano greetings surrounding the word “Filipino.” The Baybayin symbols are shown as a representation of the pre-colonial script, not as a literal phrase, underscoring the inclusivity and evolution of the national language.
The Philippines’ national language has shifted from Wikang Pambansa to Pilipino and finally to Filipino, as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. More than a name, Filipino reflects unity in diversity and continues to evolve with the people.
MANILA – What’s in a name? For the Philippines’ national language, the journey from Pilipino to Filipino is more than a matter of spelling. It reflects decades of constitutional shifts, cultural debates, and the continuing effort to define a shared national identity.
At the center of this evolution is the 1987 Constitution, which in Article XIV, Section 6 declares:
“The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.”
This provision formally adopted Filipino as the national language, replacing the earlier designation Pilipino under the 1973 Constitution. More than a change in terminology, the adoption of “Filipino” signaled inclusivity, embracing the diverse linguistic traditions of a multilingual nation.
From National Language to Tagalog
The journey began with the 1935 Constitution, which mandated the creation of a “common national language based on one of the existing native languages.” At that stage, it was simply called the National Language (Wikang Pambansa).
In 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon issued Proclamation No. 134, selecting Tagalog as its basis. By 1940, with the publication of a grammar guide and dictionary, Wikang Pambansa was formally taught in schools, laying the foundation for a national tongue.
The Pilipino Era
By 1959, then Education Secretary José Romero issued Department Order No. 7, officially naming the language Pilipino. This name was later carried into the 1973 Constitution, which recognized Pilipino as the national language.
However, the Tagalog-based orthography of Pilipino excluded letters such as F, J, V, and Z. These sounds were present in other Philippine languages, leading to criticism that Pilipino was too narrow and failed to represent the country’s linguistic diversity.
From Pilipino to Filipino
The framers of the 1987 Constitution sought to address this limitation. By adopting the word Filipino, they restored the full Philippine alphabet and broadened the scope of the national language. Filipino was envisioned as a living, evolving language that would draw not only from Tagalog but also from Cebuano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Waray, and other tongues, alongside loanwords from English, Spanish, and other world languages.
Filipino as a People
Beyond language, Filipino also refers to the people of the Philippines. During the Spanish colonial period, the term Filipino originally applied to Spaniards born in the archipelago. By the late 19th century, nationalist leaders such as José Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar redefined the term to mean all natives committed to the struggle for independence.
After independence in 1946, Filipino became the official demonym for citizens of the Republic of the Philippines. Today, a Filipino may be Cebuano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Tausug, or from any of the country’s many ethnolinguistic groups. In this way, Filipino carries a dual meaning: it refers both to the people and to the language that unites them.
Language as Nationhood
The shift from Wikang Pambansa to Pilipino and finally to Filipino underscores that the national language is not static. As stated in the 1987 Constitution, Article XIV, Section 6, Filipino is meant to evolve and be enriched by the country’s many languages.
For Filipinos, this journey represents more than the growth of vocabulary. It reflects the continuing effort to strengthen unity and identity across more than 7,000 islands, bound together by a shared, ever-evolving voice.
Timeline of the National Language
