Ms. Anna Razel L Ramirez and Asst. Prof. Jonevee Amparo presented a paper at the 18th NAKEM Conference at the Double Tree by Hilton in Fremont California on November 15 to 17, 2023 with this year’s theme: Herstories' And 'Histories' of Diversity: Narrating (Im)Migrant and Multiple Lives and Engaging the Community in The Margins.
They presented their paper "Language Revitalization: Language Endangerment and Empowerment in Panay Bukidnon Community (Philippines)" which was attended by an audience composed of scholars and educators from various universities in the United States and the Philippines.
The paper discussed how language policies and its implementation can endanger and revitalize languages especially those of the minority ethnolinguistic groups. Amparo asserts that there should be stronger support from schools, communities, and government agencies for promoting multilingualism and preserving indigenous languages and cultures through various programs especially educational programs.
Ramirez also discussed her experience in epic research which documented the archaic language of the Panay Bukidnon in Central Panay Island, Philippines. She moderated a cluster session on migration and stories of people in the peripheries.
The National Alliance for Knowledge, Empowerment, and Meaning (NAKEM) is a conference organized by the University of Hawai’I Manoa Ilokano Program, NAKEM Califonia, NAKEM Philippines, NAKEM Without Borders, NAKEM Canada and NAKEM Hawaii.
Ramirez is a staff from the Information and Publications Office and is researcher of Panay culture and traditions and is current Overall Project Leader of the Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras. Prof. Amparo is teaching at the UP High School in Iloilo and is current coordinator of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino.
