Filipino (wikang Filipino)

Filipino has been the national language of the Philippines since 1957. It is based on Tagalog but also includes elements from the other languages of the Philippines, such as Bisaya, Ilongo, Cebuano and Ilokano, and from Spanish, English and Chinese. Since 1978 Filipino has been used as the language of instruction in schools and universities throughout the Philippines, though English is also widely used.

The Filipino alphabet has under gone a number of changes over the years. The last major one was in 1987, when the letters ch, ll and rr were removed. The version of the alphabet shown below is the 1987 one.

Filipino alphabet (Alpabetong Filipino)

Notes

The letters C, F, J, Ñ, Q, V, X and Z are only used in proper names and nouns, scientific and technical terms and words native to other Philippine languages
The independent syllable ›ng‹ (the genitive marker) is pronounced [naŋ]

Sample text in Filipino

Ang lahat ng tao'y isinilang na malaya at pantay-pantay sa karangalan at mga karapatan. Sila'y pinagkalooban ng katwiran at budhi at dapat magpalagayan ang isa't isa sa diwa ng pagkakapatiran.

Listen to a recording of this text

Alternative version of the sample text

Ang lahat ng tao ay ipinanganak na malaya at parepareho sa dignidad at mga karapatan. Sila ay binigyan ng katwiran at konsensiya at dapat makitungo sa isa't isa sa espiritu ng pagkakapatiran.
Translated by Eugene Carmelo C. Pedro

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Links

Information about the Filipino language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_language

Commission on the Filipino language
http://www.komfil.gov.ph

Related languages

Balinese, Batak, Bikol, Bugis, Buhid, Cebuano, Cham, Chamorro, Drehu, Fijian, Filipino, Hanuno'o, Hawaiian, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Javanese, Kapampangan, Makasar, Malagasy, Malay, Mandar, Maori, Marshallese, Moriori, Rarotongan, Redjang, Rotuman, Samoan, Tagalog, Tagbanwa, Tahitian, Tetum, Tongan, Tuvaluan, Waray-Waray, Yapese

Other languages written with the Latin alphabet

> Discount Hotels in Manila

190 Hotels in Philippines by DirectRooms