Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 134)
The purpose of Commonwealth Act No. 184 is to carry out the constitutional mandate contained in section three, Article XIII of the Constitution, enjoining the adoption of a national language based upon one of the existing native tongues.
The President of the Philippines appointed the members of the Institute of National Language on January 12, 1937.
The members appointed were Jaime C. de Veyra (Chairman), Santiago A. Fonacier, Filemon Sotto, Casimero F. Perfecto, Felix S. Salas Rodriguez, Hadji Butu, and Cecilio Lopez (Secretary).
The Institute concluded that among the Philippine languages, the Tagalog language most nearly fulfills the requirements of Commonwealth Act No. 184 and should be used as the basis of the national language.
The conclusion was based on studies of Philippine tongues, the usage and acceptance of Tagalog by the greatest number of Filipinos, support from Filipino scholars and patriots, as well as positive views from local newspapers, publications, and writers.
Section 1, subsection 8 of the Ordinance appended to the Constitution provides that the government shall establish and maintain a system of public schools primarily conducted in the English language.
President Manuel L. Quezon approved it by virtue of the powers vested in him by law, specifically pursuant to section seven of Commonwealth Act No. 184.
The Order took effect two years from the date of its promulgation, which was December 30, 1937.
Executive Order No. 134 proclaims the national language of the Philippines based on the Tagalog language.
No, the adoption of the national language based on Tagalog does not affect the requirement that instruction in public schools shall be primarily conducted in the English language.