The Filipinos are widely known to speak English as well as Tagalog or
another native language. Up until 1982 Spanish was also used in intellectual
circles. The Filipinos’ ability to speak English and their facility in learning
another language, whether a local Filipino language or a foreign language,
has contributed to their being able to work in other countries. In recent
years, the abundant supply of English speakers and competitive labor costs
have enabled the Philippines to become a choice destination for foreign
companies wishing to establish outsourcing operations.
This paper will present the history of bilingualism in the Philippines. It
will cover both Spanish and English. A short overview of the Philippines
is given in order to better understand the role played by a foreign language.
Secondly, it will be shown how the languages of the conquerors, namely
Spanish and English, entered the Philippine culture. In the third section,
it will be shown how English supplanted Spanish as a major language in
the Philippines. Finally, the move to establish a national language will be
discussed. A short conclusion will then be made.