ShareThisMANILA – A college student in Manila is lauding President Benigno S. Aquino III for choosing to deliver many of his speeches in Tagalog.
“It’s a plus point as more people can understand him better,” La Consolacion College psychology student Emilyn Castillo said Thursday on the side of the ‘Report Kay Boss’ townhall-like meeting at the school to mark the end of Mr. Aquino’s first 100 days as head of State.
President Noynoy Aquino
She believes speaking in Tagalog bridges communication gap between the President and his constituents, noting this dialect is spoken across all social classes nationwide.
For some people, however, English is hard to understand.
This makes it more difficult for government to explain its plans and initiatives, Castillo said.
She also said that people who barely understand English comprehend less of what government is saying about its initiatives if authorities explain these in such language.
Government’s plans and initiatives can better draw public support if people understand what these are and the benefits such can bring, she said.
President Aquino addressed people in Tagalog during the ‘Report kay Boss’ meeting.
He also spoke the dialect during his inaugural address on June 30 this year.
Much of his maiden State of the Nation Address in July was likewise in Tagalog.
Castillo is impressed President Aquino is open about using the dialect.
Such manifests the President’s desire to be one with his people, she said.
“It shows he’s not that hard to reach,” she said.