Commission on the Filipino Language

The Commission on the Filipino Language is a government agency located in San Miguel that oversees language standardization and documentation across the country. The office maintains a National Dictionary database and develops resources for schools and government institutions needing guidance on proper language use.

The agency was established in 1991 to replace an earlier institute and became the main authority for managing the nation's language system. This shift gave the government a more formal role in overseeing language development and standardization.

The institution works with communities across the islands to record languages that might otherwise disappear from daily use. Visitors can see how the organization's mission connects to the lives of people who speak these languages every day.

The facility primarily serves researchers and government institutions rather than casual visitors, so access may be restricted during regular hours. It's helpful to contact ahead to understand what resources or tours might be available.

The office has identified several languages with only a few hundred speakers that risk disappearing within the next generations as younger people speak other tongues. This work preserves the knowledge and stories that would otherwise be lost when elders pass away.