Enduring Tongues Expands Indigenous Language Learning to 7,000+ in Aklan Through Children’s Books

In a country rich with diverse cultures and stories, language is more than just communication, it’s identity, memory, and belonging. Today, that identity is being nurtured at an early age through Enduring Tongues, a youth-led initiative bringing indigenous languages back into everyday life for Filipino children.

In partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Enduring Tongues has successfully rolled out culturally rooted children’s picture books across 16 communities in Aklan. The initiative has already reached over 7,000 individuals spanning multiple ethnolinguistic groups, marking a meaningful step in preserving the Philippines’ linguistic heritage.

At the heart of the program is a simple but powerful idea: language preservation starts young. By introducing native languages through engaging, child-friendly materials, Enduring Tongues ensures that these languages are not only remembered but actively spoken and lived.

This collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind effort that blends education, culture, and community. Through thoughtfully designed picture books, children are able to see their own stories, traditions, and languages reflected in their daily learning, making cultural preservation both accessible and relatable.

The initiative also aligns with the global movement led by the United Nations through the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, which calls for urgent action to protect endangered languages worldwide.

Leading this inspiring movement is 17-year-old founder Maddi Sy, whose personal journey with language loss sparked the creation of Enduring Tongues. Having grown up fluent in her ancestral language, Lannang, she recognized how quickly languages can fade within a generation if not actively used.

“Language loss often occurs not through sudden disappearance, but through gradual disguise within a single generation,” Sy shared. “Enduring Tongues is designed to address this gap by integrating language exposure at an early stage where familiarity, usage, and cultural connection can be established and sustained.”

Beyond Aklan, Sy continues to expand her advocacy by developing children’s rhyme books in Lannang, further reinforcing her commitment to making indigenous languages more accessible to younger generations.

NCIP Regional Director Atty. Princess May Alcarde-Oral emphasized the importance of such initiatives in strengthening cultural continuity. The Commission has formally recognized Enduring Tongues as a key partner in advancing indigenous language preservation in the Philippines.

“Enduring Tongues demonstrates how language preservation can be strengthened through early childhood education and community-based materials,” she said. “By creating children’s picture books for communities in Aklan, the initiative supports not only language learning, but also cultural memory, dignity, and belonging.”

As language attrition continues to affect communities nationwide, Enduring Tongues stands as a hopeful and scalable model, proving that with the right tools, partnerships, and passion, heritage languages can thrive once more in the voices of future generations.

For more information, visit https://enduringtongues.org/.