ANGARA CALLS FOR STRONGER PINOY TIES THRU FILIPINO LANGUAGE

Speaking at a conference in California this week, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara lauds Filipino communities overseas for continually pushing Filipino to their younger generations and maintain the Pinoy identity even while abroad.

"It is not a very easy position to be away from one's country and cultural ties; yet our Filipinos in any corner of the international community have strongly sustained their love and patriotism through regular gatherings and imbibing in their children the values that make us all Filipinos. This is a unique trait, and we must keep it alive," urged Angara, father of the National Heritage Act and the laws that created the National Museum and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.

Angara reminded the Filipinos in California and in the United States that the Filipino language is one significant mark that identifies us with our history and our affinity with national heroes, such as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini.

"Along with Pres. Manuel Quezon, they have all fought for our freedom to express our identities as Filipinos, and we must continue this with our values. As we roam the world, let us show them the strength that liberated us in the past, and let us continue teaching our children the language and history of our nation to keep them grounded with Filipino values, with speaking the Filipino language as a first step." urged Angara.