SAN JOSE, Antique – Senator Loren Legarda urged the conservation of “Kiniray-a” language in the province.
Legarda said with around 130 dialects in the country, the Kiniray-a language is distinct and should be promoted as a tourism attraction
“Antique is the host of the first language marker because of Kiniray-a,” said Legarda.
The senator proposed a walking tour from the language marker to other tourism and historical sites around Antique’s capital town to promote the language.
Kiniray-a, the local language in Antique, is one of the oldest languages in the country, especially on Panay island.
Antique governor Rhodora Cadiao said the province is taking pride at hosting the 10-feet stainless steel language marker, being a tangible representation of the recognition of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) of Kiniray-a as an old language.
Provincial Tourism officer-in-charge Cheryl Lynn Quanico noted the language marker was designed by sculptor Luis “Junyee” Jr.
“The language marker has been designed like a bamboo pole being then the medium of writing of the early inhabitants,” Quanico said.
Inscribed on the marker is the “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan” written by Andres Bonifacio, who fiercely fought for the country’s freedom. (With a report from PNA/PN)
