Page 439 - Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines

American accent.
In contrast, Margie’s father struggled with the language because he attended a
public school in Cagayan twelve hours from Manila. He can read and write, but
hesitates when he speaks because he is afraid of pronouncing words incorrectly.
When Margie was growing up, he took English classes. One time, he got angry at
Margie’s brother and said, “Lintik kang bata ka...” Years later, Margie would ask
her Filipino teacher, “Why did my father call my brother a lighting?”

Margie grows up knowing the Filipino words for objects, a few body parts, and
people: kalamansi, adobo, lola. She also knows that the prefix mag- when
accompanied by a verb in English renders the verb Filipino—“mag-toothbrush ka
na”—especially when commands are given. She knows basic greetings like
“Kumusta” and “Magandang umaga” and “salamat.” She watches a few Filipino
movies but her household does not subscribe to the Filipino channel so she is not
familiar with “Wowowee” (a Philippine variety show broadcast on ABS-CBN) nor
addicted to any Filipino soap operas. Her mother tells her: “Mahal Kita.”

It is in college that life changes for Margie Louella. To learn more about her
identity, she enrolls in a Filipino/Tagalog class. She watches Filipino plays on
identity by Teatro ng Tanan; one is entitled “Tunggalian” (Conflict); and the other
is based on Freddie Aguilar’s song “Anak.” As she dances the tinikling at the
Philippine Cultural Night (PCN) at her university, she also learns the favorite PCN
word— diwa or “spirit.” She becomes fascinated with the word saing...sinaing
(cooked rice), magsaing (to cook rice)—ah, there is a Filipino word for cooking
rice, and many words about rice. She tries to learn the baybayin and considers
getting a tattoo of the word “Malaya” (“Free”). She becomes aware of student issues
and joins the campaign for Filipino American Studies and Philippine Studies.

She learns about Filipino American history and the struggle of the farm workers.
She becomes more involved in community organizing. At the Filipino community
center, she greets the older Filipinos with “Kumusta na po kayo?”

Margie Louella joins a Filipino American political group. As her political
consciousness grows, she learns the word “hustisya,” and in political rallies can
shout: “Makibaka, Huwag Matakot” (Struggle, Do Not Be Afraid!) and “Ibagsak!”
(Down!). However, when one speaks to her in Filipino, her conversational ability is
limited to five minutes.
Margie Louella travels to the Philippines three times:

First, to visit family, during the Christmas holiday season. She notices her relatives
straining to speak to her in English.
Second, she returns for three weeks, spending half the time with her family and
the other half volunteering with Karapatan (literally, “Rights”), a human rights
organization.