The first language marker in the country or bantayog-wika was unveiled last week at the EBJ Freedom Park in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique commemorating the local language of Kinaray-a.

Leading the ceremony were Senator Loren Legarda, Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) chairperson Virgilio S. Almario, Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy, and provincial officials.

“We need to comprehensively document all languages of our ethnolinguistic groups in the country and we should promote the continued use of such languages,” said Legarda. “The bantayog-wika project is one way of preserving our native languages.”

The project is a nationwide effort by KWF, which seeks to identify areas where languages originated.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra recently performed their first concert in the province in 25 years at the San Juan de Nepomuceno Church in Anini-y.

The concert was conducted by Herminigildo Ranera./WDJ