THE Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) launched a Filipino language tutorial series to strengthen cultural ties between overseas Filipinos (OFs) and their ancestral homeland.
Under the CFO's Virtual Sentro Rizal program, non-resident Filipinos, particularly second- and third-generation youth abroad, will learn the Philippine languages and rediscover their cultural heritage.
Called "Filipino One-on-One," the series features short-form instructional videos introducing basic words, phrases and everyday expressions in some of the country's "most widely spoken languages," the CFO said.
The lessons cover practical topics such as greetings, self-introductions, family terms and common conversational expressions, providing learners with an accessible entry point into Philippine languages and culture.
The CFO said the project addresses a growing challenge confronting Filipino communities around the world: the "gradual loss" of linguistic and cultural connection among younger generations born and raised outside the Philippines.
"While many overseas Filipinos maintain strong emotional ties to their family's homeland, language often becomes one of the first casualties of migration," the CFO said in a statement.
"By the second or third generation, many young Filipinos abroad are no longer able to speak or understand the languages spoken by their parents, grandparents or relatives in the Philippines," it added.
The language series seeks to "reverse that trend by making Philippine languages more accessible through digital platforms familiar to younger audiences," the CFO said.
The initiative also reflects the CFO's mandate to strengthen ties between OFs and the Philippines.
The initial modules feature lessons in Tagalog, Ilocano, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, and Waray, with a Bikolano module scheduled for release in July.
