In continuation of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa celebration last August, Gateway Gallery will focus on the current challenges faced by Philippine communities that speak indigenous languages as its latest KulturaSerye offering. The webinar, titled “Mga Katutubong Wika ng Pilipinas, Nasaan Na?”, will be aired live on September 25, 2021 at 2 pm on the Gateway Gallery Facebook page.

Of the country’s over 130 indigenous languages, 39 of them are in various stages of endangerment, amplifying a need for their urgent preservation and revival. This problem is real as it impacts or alters the culture and the community of the groups speaking these languages. As a result, it affects the country’s heritage.

The webinar will feature two speakers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. Professor Eilene Antionette Narvaez of the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature will talk about “Filipino Bilang Pambansang Wika” while Professor Jesus Frederico Hernandez of the Department of Linguistics will discuss “On The Verge of Silence: The Story of Linguistic Fragility and Language Endangerment in the Philippines.” The online discussion will be moderated by KulturaSerye’s John Carlo Santos, who teaches at UP Los Baños.

The webinar is a timely opportunity for culture enthusiasts especially learners and teachers who can gain insights into the complex nature of culture as seen through the lens of language. Viewers who complete the webinar will be given digital certificates of attendance after they completed an online evaluation of KulturaSerye.

Gateway Gallery’s KulturaSerye is supported by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation and co-hosted by media partner The Philippine Online Student Tambayan (The POST).

Gateway Gallery, the art museum of the Araneta Group, is devoted to the promotion of Philippine culture, heritage, and art. It is located at 5F Gateway Tower in Araneta City and is managed by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), the social development arm of the Araneta Group. 

For inquiries on the webinar or other details of its programs, email at gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com. Connect with its social media accounts on Facebook, (GatewayGalleryPH), Instagram (gateway.gallery), Twitter (gateway_gallery), and YouTube (Gateway Gallery). It is currently closed to comply with the health protocols of the government.