ABUCAY, Bataan — Nineteen Ayta Magbukun students from Barangay Bangkal graduated from the Bahay Wika Program in this town during the 6th Graduation Rite held at the said facility here last Tuesday, 6 May.

According to the Provincial Government, the 19 children are part of the program that aims to revitalize the indigenous language and preserve the Ayta culture for future generations. The program is in collaboration with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

The Provincial Government cited that the program aims to boost the language education to the newer generation of the Ayta community, ensuring the continuity of the ancestral tongue of the Ayta Magbukun.

During the graduation rite, five tribe members from the older generation of the Ayta Magbukun were also given recognition for completing the Master-Apprentice Language Learning Program (MALLP). The program is designed to enhance language proficiency among older community members.

A total of 141 Bahay Wika and MALLP students graduated during the 6th Graduation Rite of the program since it started in 2015.

Provincial tourism officer Danica Lolita Tigas-Rodriguez, tribal elder Rebecca Reyes, chieftain Rosita Sison, barangay captain Amante Inocencio and Abucay indigenous person mandatory representative Jhay-R Reyes took part in the graduation rite.

The Provincial Government cited that this is part of their thrust of ensuring that the Magbukun language is alive and thriving among the young Aytas living in Barangay Bangcal in Abucay.