Bruneians want to learn Filipino, too

BANDAR SERI BEGWAWAN—Twenty-three Bruneians attended the Filipino language class opened  recently by the Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) Language Centre.

“They want to learn the Filipino language because they hear it everywhere and everyday,” said Frieda Marie Adeva, a lecturer recruited from Malaysia by the UBD to teach in Brunei’s premier university.

“There see Philippine movies and television dramas. They love Jericho Rosales and Kristina Hermosa (the stars of the popular TV drama Pangako Sa Iyo, replayed on Brunei and Malaysian networks, and on cable television.

“There are many cognate word or words—for example kanan, (right), tolong (help). The Filipino language is easier to learn compared to Korean or Japanese, students say.

“There are a lot of native speakers around. Their parents are Filipinos. Three of my students are half-Bruneians. They learn the language from their amahs.

“They relate to the Filipino culture. One student remembered the sinigang (sour broth) her mother used to cook, until she passed away last year.

“Brunei-based diplomats have also expressed interest in learning the Filipino and English languages,” said Adeva, who was also based in China for seven years, before teaching in a KL university, where she was recruited by UBD.

“There is a continuing interest among Bruneians to learn the Filipino language,” said Adeva. The students have also been taught how to perform the Subli, (a ceremonial dance), and Cariñosa,” a Hispanic dance using fans and handkerchiefs, and the songs Leron, Leron Sinta, a folk song reflecting Filipino humor, and Calesa, a happy, lively song about a horse-drawn carriage, she said.

Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul, Minister Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat said the Filipino language and cultural enrichment programme in Brunei has been duplicated in other Philippine diplomatic posts.

“The Philippine Embassy introduced the Filipino culture and language to the host country, and to student visitors by exhibiting Filipino handicrafts and products,” during the UBD language Centre’s “Speaktakular Week” as part of the university’s silver jubilee celebrations, said Philippine Embassy Information and Cultural Attache Eleanor Belgica. Welfare Officer Zenaida Ramos demonstrated the cooking of empanada, a fried stuffed bread.

A Filipino booth joined the Arabic, Borneo, French, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mandarin, Spanish showcase of the 10 language courses offered at UBD.