Tagalog Classes 2013

Through  the efforts of hardworking community member Mr. Rey San Miguel Aquino, another Conversational Tagalog class is now underway. He started the first Tagalog cass in 1999 under his HELP ( Heritage  Enrichment Learning Program)  and resumed the class in 2006. Mr. Aquino has been fondly called “Tatang Miguel”.

There are four adults currently enrolled in the class: Harlan ( “ Juan”) Hegger ; Joe ( “Jose” ) Baruta; William (“Bill”) Godfrey; and Cindy ( “ Tsintsa”) Collie. Both  Hegger and Baruta  attended  the  Basic  Conversational Tagalog  class  under  volunteer teacher, Janet Weglarz,  in the spring session of 2012, also  at the Bahay Kubo at the Philippine Village. Upon evaluation, these four students already know some Tagalog words so they were given a  handbook- Primer: Tagalog Handbook I . It is very helpful to them as it is a step by step handbook in learning to speak conversational Tagalog. Tagalog words are  phonetically written  to guide them in the proper pronunciation as it is read  in English, but  sound as Tagalog. In the two-hour session for the Tagalog class held every Saturday at the Bahay Kubo or the Cimafranca Library from 2:00-4:00 P.M.  , the students carry on simple conversation role-playing scripts.  Tatang Miguel makes  everyone in the class actively  participate in all the activities .

The students will show off their Tagalog speaking skills at their graduation ceremonies to be held on Sunday , April 7, on stage at PhilFest 2013.