QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday announced that she has approved an ordinance that would establish the Manuel L. Quezon (MLQ) Filipino Language and Literature Scholarship Program, primarily aimed at strengthening the city’s commitment to accessible education, cultural development, and promotion of the national language.
Effectively amending “The Expanded Scholarship Code of Quezon City,” the new measure would include a dedicated scholarship track supporting students, educators, and researchers pursuing Filipino language, literature, linguistics, translation, and related disciplines, Belmonte said.
The program offers scholarship for tertiary and post-gradute students.
It aims to promote academic excellence in Filipino studies, encourage creative and literary production, support scholarly research, strengthen national identity, and expand opportunities for marginalized and underrepresented communities. Under the Scholarship for Tertiary Students, qualified applicants enrolled in Filipino Language, Filipino Literature, Journalism, Philippine Studies, or Education programs with a Filipino major may receive up to P160,000 per academic year at private institutions, or a P50,000 annual stipend at public institutions.
The Scholarship for Postgraduate Students, meanwhile, supports scholars pursuing Filipino Language, Philippine Studies, Philippine Literature, Comparative Literature, or Linguistics with a Filipino focus, according to the ordinance.
Qualified applicants may receive up to P105,000 per school year, subject to submission of a research proposal for promoting the Filipino language and literature.
The ordinance also establishes a Creative Writing and Literary Grant to support young writers and established authors producing original works in Filipino, including poetry, fiction, essays, and drama.
Each recipient may receive P10,000 in stipend support and up to P30,000 in publication assistance, for a total grant of P40,000. “Quezon City is the home of the nation’s capital heritage and the legacy of President Manuel L. Quezon, the Father of the Filipino Language. By institutionalizing this scholarship program, we are investing not only in our students, but also in our identity as a people,” Belmonte said.
“This initiative ensures that Filipino language and literature continue to thrive in our schools, our communities, and future generations,” she added.
Its main proponent, Councilor Aly Medalla, emphasized the council’s role in expanding access to education and cultural programs.
“By integrating this scholarship into our Expanded Scholarship Code, we are opening more doors for young Filipinos, educators, and writers to develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to nation-building through language and literature,” Medalla said.
