The 2022 presidential candidates and the Spanish language

Pepe Alas

Apr 28

Who among our presidential candidates will treat the Spanish language with utmost importance should they win?

During the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, hopes were high among the Spanish-speaking community and "hispanistas" that the language of Cervantes will finally be put back in our country's rightful place. After all, she and her husband Mike are native Spanish speakers. In 2007, Arroyo issued a memorandum encouraging the teaching and learning of Spanish throughout the country. She is also a member of the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española, our country's oldest state institution. Unfortunately, all her efforts in returning the Spanish language fizzled out as she got busy parrying various controversies left and right.

The late Noynoy Aquino replaced her in 2010 but did absolutely nothing for the return of the Spanish language into the mainstream. Things took a turn for the worse when Rody Duterte came into the scene six years later. The Spanish language never stood a chance since Duterte has proven himself to be a bona fide hispanophobe.

Now that the Duterte administration is finally coming to an end, what are the chances that the Spanish language might make a big come back in the next regime? Let us evaluate the possibilities…

1. Ernesto Abella, a former spokesperson of Duterte, is a certified bookworm. He is a frequent customer of F. Sionil José's Solidaridad Bookshop. He was also a former evangelist and was in fact the founder of a Christian charismatic group. While well-read people are generally open-minded, leaders of evangelical groups tend to go the opposite direction, especially when our country's Spanish past is being discussed. They have tendencies for hispanophobia since they, more often than not, associate the Spanish language to Catholicism, their greatest religious rival.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: LOW

2. Leody de Guzmán is the standard bearer of the anti-imperialist Partido Lakas ng Masa, a political party that advocates left-wing politics. In short, Ka Leody is a leftist. 'Nuff said.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: LOW

3. Norberto Gonzales is an advocate of constitutional reforms. Constitutional reformists are generally open to suggestions and know how to listen.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: MEDIUM

4. Pánfilo Lacson's main objective is to restore public trust in government. Clearly, returning the Spanish language as an official or co-official (or even national) language is far from his goals. But his running mate, Tito Sotto, has a soft spot for Spanish. Sotto's grandfather, former Senator Vicente Sotto, was a staunch defender of the Spanish language. The former Eat Bulaga! co-host even took courses in Instituto Cervantes de Manila a few years ago (rumor has it that he's aiming for a diplomatic position in South América, hence his Spanish language studies). If Lacson and Sotto make it, the latter can be a big influence to the former regarding the full return of the Spanish language to our country.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: HIGH

5. Faisal Mangondato is a Muslim. 'Nuff said.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: LOW

6. When asked by Toni Gonzaga on which part of our history he wishes to change, Bongbong Marcos said: "Sana hindí na tayo na-colonize (I wish we had not been colonized). I would do away with the Spanish colonization, with the three hundred years." This makes him no different with Duterte. However: there is a figurehead looming in his background: former President Arroyo herself! It has already been revealed that Marcos, Duterte, and Arroyo have forged an "unholy alliance". The elder Arroyo can play as his advisor in case he wins. Moreover, it should be remembered that his father, the late dictator himself, issued a presidential decree in 1973 declaring the officiality of the Spanish language despite its absence in the 1973 Constitution. His mother Imelda is also a Spanish-speaker.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: MEDIUM

7. José Montemayor Jr.'s background is on medicine. Not much is known about him aside from that and his recent appearances in televised debates. But his political party, the Democratic Party of the Philippines, espouses popular democracy. Continuous lobbying for the Spanish language under such a climate may be encouraged.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: MEDIUM

8. Isko Moreno's mestizaje looks might spur in him a liking for Spanish. Other than that, his brief stint as Manila Mayor saw him as an advocate of built heritage. Also, Spanish Ambassador Jorge Moragas paid him a visit in 2019 and even gifted him with Nick Joaquín's "Manila, My Manila". Love him or hate him, Isko has an affection for the past.
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: HIGH

9. Manny Pacquiáo has a smattering knowledge of Spanish due to his many visits to Spanish-speaking cities in North América back when he was still a prized fighter. In fact, he was dubbed by the media as "The Mexican Assassin" for having defeated several Mexican greats such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Érik Morales, and Juan Manuel Márquez. Last year, he also divulged that he is a "half Spanish," and that his grandfather "is a pure Spanish".
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: HIGH

10. Let's hear it from Leni Robredo herself: "we hope to continue nurturing and building warmer ties between our two countries, whether it involves creating more opportunities in investment, trade and commerce, or pushing a deeper appreciation of our shared heritage through various modes of engagement, tourism, cultural events, education and the arts. Since the end of the Spanish era, we have shared so many responsibilities together which we will be sharing in the coming years."
FIGHTING CHANCE FOR SPANISH: HIGH

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