National Language Month – August 1, 2026

Expected National Language Month Deals

Throughout August, National Language Month inspires a variety of promotions and educational initiatives. Look for special deals from language learning platforms like Duolingo and Rosetta Stone offering discounts on Filipino language courses. Bookstores such as Fully Booked and National Book Store often feature sales on Filipino literature, history books, and cultural texts. Online retailers like Lazada Philippines and Shopee Philippines may host themed sales on local products, traditional apparel, and educational materials. Cultural centers and museums frequently offer free or reduced admission to exhibits celebrating Filipino heritage. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August approaches.

History of National Language Month

According to Proclamation No. 1041, signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos on July 15, 1997, August is ‘Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa,’ or National Language Month. The anniversary falls on the birthday of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, recognized as the ‘Father of the Philippine National Language,’ who was born on August 19, 1878.

This highlights to Filipinos the necessity of cherishing one’s native language. We are referred to as stinky, decaying fish if we neglect or forsake them. Language is indeed the heart of a nation; it is a part of one’s identity, and it connects individuals. It’s a tool for us to convey our feelings and thoughts, and there’s nothing more valuable than speaking in your mother tongue and communicating with those who speak the same language.

More than 170 different dialects are spoken in the Philippines, with each region having its distinct dialect expressing its personality and culture. Filipino culture is as varied as its dialects, with diverse traditions, customs, food, and even religions. Ones from the North would speak a distinct dialect than people from the South. As a result, during the Spanish colonial period, no language could unite the entire country. When the Americans arrived and the Philippines became part of the Philippine commonwealth, the 1937 Philippine Constitution declared Filipino, a Tagalog-based variety, to be the official language.

Since then, the Philippines has observed National Language Month in August. In 1997, what began as a one-week festival in 1954 was expanded to a month-long celebration. The festival coincides with the birthday of the Philippines’ second president, Manuel L. Quezon, who is known as the “Father of the Filipino Language” because it was he who unified the country’s various languages.
But it’s not just the Tagalog-based Filipino language that’s being praised. National Language Month also commemorates the various indigenous languages in the Philippines to promote, conserve, and encourage the usage of native dialects.

To commemorate the occasion, numerous activities will be held in schools on August 19, which is National Language Day. Filipino declamation competitions, collective oration contests, Filipino essay-writing contests, and the wearing of cultural costumes are examples of these.