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Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
(aka Institute of National Language or
Surian ng Wikang Pambansa, 1937-1987;
Linangan ng mga Wika sa Pilipinas, 1987-1992.)
was created on 13 Nov 1936 by Commonwealth Act
No 184.
The then-Surian ng Wikang Pambansa
was mandated to select which native Philippine
language would be used as the basis for the national
language. In 1937, the Surian, under its first
director Jaime de Veyra, proposed that Tagalog
be the basis for the national language and, in
1940, published an official grammar and dictionary,
the Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa (Grammar of the
National Language), written by Lope K. Santos,
and the Tagalog-English Vocabulary.
In 1987 the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa
became the Linangan ng mga Wika sa Pilipinas by
virtue of Executive Order No. 117. In August 1991
the Linangan was transformed into the Komisyon
sa Wikang Filipino through Republic Act No. 7104.
The law was implemented on 20 Mar 1992.
Those who served as directors of
the Surian after De Veyra were Lope K. Santos,
1941-1946; Julian Cruz Balmaseda, 1946-1948; Cirio
H. Panganiban, 1948-1954; Cecilio Lopez, 1954-1955;
Jose Villa Panganiban, 1955-1970; and Ponciano
B. P. Pineda, 1971-present. Pineda presided over
major changes in language policy: bilingual education
in 1974; Filipino, with Pilipino as the nucleus,
as the national language in 1983; and a Filipino
alphabet consisting of 28 letters in 1987.
Surian has contributed, not only
to the development of the national language, but
also to the development of literature and literary
criticism in Filipino through the publication
of critical works, the giving of annual awards
in poetry and essay, and the holding of forums,
symposia, and seminars.
In the late 1930s and 1940s, the
institute came out with a number of important
studies, among them, “Tinging Pahapyaw sa
Kasaysayan ng Panitikang Tagalog” (A Glimpse
at the History of Tagalog Literature), by Lope
K. Santos; “Ang Maikling Kathang Tagalog”
(The Tagalog Short Story), 1938, by Fausto Galauran;
“Ang Pagkaunlad ng Nobelang Tagalog”
(The Development of the Tagalog Novel), 1938,
by Inigo Ed. Regalado; “Ang Dulang Pilipino”
(Philippine Theater), 1947, by Julian Cruz Balmaseda;
“Duplo’t Balagtasan” (Duplo
and Balagtasan), 1949, by Teodoro Gener; and “Ang
Nobelang Tagalog Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas”
(The Tagalog Novel Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow),
1949, by Faustino Aguilar. In 1971 the works of
a new breed of critics and writers representing
a resurgent nationalist and social temper were
published. Among these works were “Ang Panulaan
sa Kasalukuyan” (Today’s Poetry) by
Bienvenido Lumbera, “Ang Hamon sa Nobela
in the Present Period) by Efren R. Abueg, and
“Ang Makata, Masa at Rebolusyong Pampanulaan”
(The Poet, the Masses, and the Poetic Revolution)
by Virgilio S. Almario.
The poetry award, the Talaang Ginto
(later called Gawad Surian sa Tula-Gantimpalang
Collantes), was initiated in 1963, followed by
the Gawad Surian sa Sanaysay-Gantimpalang Collantes
(essay award) in 1967. Previously focused on themes
related to National Language Week, the Gantimpalang
Collantes was transformed into a competition on
literary criticism in Filipino starting 1979.
The only one of its kind in the country, the competition
has recognized outstanding critical essays on
the works of Lope K. Santos and Amado Hernandez;
of the short story, poetry, novel, and play; of
literature in other Philippine languages and the
literary forms of a decade.
Prizewinning works in the awards
have been compiled in the following anthologies:
Talaang Ginto sa Tula: 1963-1969; Talaang
Ginto sa Tula: 1972-1979, Talaang Ginto: Gawad
Surian sa Tula-Gantimpalang Collantes (1980-1991),
Mga Sanaysay sa Alaala ni Lope K. Santos sa
Kanyang Ikasandaang Taon (Essays in Memory
of Lope K. Santos on his Birth Centennial), Panunuring
Pampanitikan: Mga Nagwagi sa Gawad Surian sa Sanaysay
(Literary Criticism: Winners of the Gawad Surian
sa Sanaysay), Panunuring Pampanitikan II,
1984-1988 (Literary Criticism II, 1948-1988),
and Gawad Surian sa Sanaysay-Gantimpalang
Collantes, 1989-1991.
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