Filipino language

On November 13, 1937, the First National Assembly created the National Language Institute, which selected Tagalog for the basis of a new national language. In 1961, this language became known as Pilipino which was later renamed as Filipino.

When the national language-based Tagalog was developed, Lope K. Santos wrote the Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa and introduced the Abakada of 20 letters in which only one letter represents one meaningful sound in Tagalog. The 20 letters of Abakada are written as a b k d e g h i l m n ng o p r s t u w y. The National Language Institute of the Philippines initiated the new language in 1973. As a language designed to be the lingua franca of the islands, it borrows many words from the various languages used throughout the islands, although grammar is based on Tagalog. In 1976, The alphabet consists of 31 letters which include the 26 letters of the English alphabet, plus the Spanish ñ, ll,rr, and ch, and the ng of Tagalog. In practice though, the digraphs are considered as their two constituent letters. By 1987, it was revised and rr, ll and ch, all of which are of Spanish origin, were removed leaving 28 letters.

See also: Kapang syndrome

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