Speaking our National Language will make our country more progressive

Do you think that at this point in time if we Filipinos will all stop speaking English, the economy will improve? Is the language the only deterrent to our progress? I don't think so. What we need is a good amount of intelligence in voting for our local and national leaders. It is very important that the country be governed by people who are really dedicated to improving the economy and not their own personal finances. We are rich in natural resources but it has always been overlooked. Language should not actually matter since we can show our nationalism in many ways and not only by speaking the native tongue. I think we tend to lose more by not being able to communicate well in English. We are earning from the internet right? and this is because we know how to write and express our thoughts in English. Do you see how many Filipinos are members of this forum and how many Chinese or Japanese or Singaporeans? English has become our advantage.

If I'm not mistaken, Cory Aquino made an initiative to bring back Filipino as our official medium of instruction but there were a lot of hindrances since there are subjects that uses english words that don't have a Filipino equivalent. Another hindrance in the Filipinos obsession with English where it becomes a norm for families to encourage to use the english language since not only does an english speaking filipino is being looked up to by his peers. That's aside from the fact that you need english to advance your career and land a job easily as a call center agent. But kidding aside, you may have a point based on the fact that there are countries whose economies are doing well in spite of the fact that they are not as good in english as we are. Maybe it worth a second try.

That is one factor but I guess it's not only the language but also the attitude. If you would also look at Singapore where they are primarily English speaking but they are progressive and the only thing that made them successful is their discipline.

Well, in my opinion the mandatory use of our national language won't haev a big factor on out national progress. The government should focus more in making the masses - "MASA" intellectual people rather than happy go lucky people who are always blinded by their emotions and have easily clouded judgements. If you compare our presidents way back before Corazon Aquino.. Our leaders were all LEADERS - they all had what it takes! and they have credentials to prove their claim to power. They are either topnotchers , suma cumlaude , magnacumlaude - the likes. They all have their aim in leading and the country was good and evolving in a positive manner. It's so sad to say that the event that made us famous all over the world which is people power is the start of our country's downfall. Democracy is the one that destroyed this country. We are not ready for democracy - we are not ready for a government RUN BY THE PEOPLE.. because majority of THE PEOPLE are ... no offense... STUPID. sorry for my response but that's what i really feel about this issue.

That would be impossible. We were colonized by different countries. It's our attitude that should change no matter what language we are using. It's the politics, corruption and the selfish, jealous ways of our people that should be changed.

The rich countries you mention do have a slight disadvantage compared to us in terms of speaking English. I once traveled to Japan, a first-world country and I struggled to communicate with English with the hotel people or even the tour-guide. Although I expected too much because I thought that they are schooled in English as a way of international communication. Turns out I was wrong, its better to just speak Japanese even if you look or sound foolish. That being said, I didn't count speaking Japanese Or English as a reason why their country is rich. I counted on their technology, their work ethic and otehr factors found on people. I guess you also have to look at different factors why their countries are so rich? Is it the government? Their efforts or ambitions? Or is it the attitude of the people? Is it something that they have inside of them as a nation? In our country, we rely on English to have jobs. Particularly, in the call center industry where you are supposed to be speaking faultless English to communicate with American customers. we work with what we have - and that is speaking communicating in English as if it was our own language. Yes, it does affect our patriotism or nationalism. But not to a critical extent, in my opinion.

I think with the combination of various factors, then it is possible to make a country progress, instead of just a common national language. It is too simplify to state that by forcing everyone or the population in a country to speak the same language, then the country will be more progress automatically. The strong mentality of the people like having the wills to succeed, unyielding determination to achieve excellent in daily activity, high quality work ethic and the high literacy rate of the population are also major factors in a nation progessive status. Japan is one of the most recent example one can learn in term of economic and social progress any nation had achieved in the far east.

There could be other factors and not only the spoken language. The problem here in the Philippines is that we have many local dialects. The Filipino language at present is a mixed of different languages like Spanish, English, Chinese, Malays etc. I would probe more about this possibility but right now I am happy that most of us are bilingual -speaking Filipino and English at the same time.

True and honest heart, not greedy and willing to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of others may be can add to the progression of our country's economy.