In collaboration with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Philippine Normal University North Luzon (PNUNL) launched Global Voice Cagayan Valley 2024 on October 11.

The groundbreaking initiative aimed at preserving and promoting indigenous languages and cultures in the region while at the same time updating current information about these languages in SIL’s ethnologue repository website.

In his lecture, David Ebarhard from SIL Global emphasized language vitality saying that “Language is considered vital when it is actively spoken, learned by children, and used in diverse context such as education and social interaction.” “Language vitality is essential for preserving the cultural heritage, identity, and knowledge systems embedded in every language,” he further discussed.

Meantime, Dr. Agnes S. Reyes, Executive Director and Provost of the campus mentioned in her welcoming remarks the relevance of the program to PNU North Luzon as an Indigenous Peoples Education Hub catering not only the people but also their local or indigenous languages.

The program featured collaborative discussions with the Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups in the region focusing on key indicators outlined in the questionnaires of SIL, while David Ebarhard, SIL representative subsequently shared linguistic lectures related to the methodology of the ethnologue study.

This initiative and collaboration underscored the importance of language preservation in the face of globalization, aligning with the Philippines’ efforts to uphold cultural diversity and inclusivity.

The awarding of certificates marked the end of the program followed with a photo opportunity.