PGNV unveils Bantayog-Wika Gaddang

The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya headed by Governor Carlos M. Padilla and the Nueva Vizcaya Indigenous Peoples Organization (NVGIPO) in cooperation with the Komisyong ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) led the unveiling of the Bantayog ng Wika for Gaddang as part of the National Arts Month celebration last February 21, 2022 at the Provincial Museum and Library compound.

The Bantayog-Wika aims to document the indigenous languages of the Philippines through physical structure that symbolizes the value of indigenous languages and its Filipino values, practices, tradition, and history.

Governor Padilla expressed his sincere gratitude to KWF headed by Chairperson Dr. Arthur Casanova for his valuable support in preserving and sharing the language among the new generation.

“Ako po ay natatakot na balang araw maraming wika ang mawawala o mamamatay,” said Padilla in his speech expressing the need to strengthen local dialects in the province. “Ang hamon ngayon ay para sa NVGIPO para panatilihing buhay ang wika at aasahan niyong susuporta ang provincial government sa mga programang tulad nito,” added Padilla.

The bamboo-shaped edifice stands at 10-feet tall and is made from stainless steel. On its body, are some lines from the poem “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” by Andres Bonifacio written in baybayin.

These monuments are installed atop concrete pedestals with markers bearing information about the language it represents.

The KWF targets to install and unveil a total of 133 monuments equal to the estimated number of languages in the country. Out of these numbers, 39 are in danger of extinction, said the KWF.

It was also during the event that Schools Division Superintendent Rachel R. Llana launched the Gaddang Orthography and awarded copies of the books to the provincial government.“Maaari na nating gamitin ang wikang Gaddang sa ating pagtuturo sa mga lugar na ang local na salita ay Gaddang…dahil opisyal na ang pagkakaroon ng ortograpiya ng Gaddang,” Llana said.