QC establishes Filipino language and literature scholarships

QC establishes Filipino language and literature scholarships | Daily Tribune

The local government of Quezon City has established a specialized scholarship program dedicated to Filipino language and literature, offering financial support to students, educators, and writers.

The Manuel L. Quezon Filipino Language and Literature Scholarship Program was institutionalized through Ordinance No. SP-3458, S-2025.

It amends the city’s Expanded Scholarship Code to include dedicated funding for those pursuing degrees in linguistics, translation, and Philippine studies.

Under the new track, tertiary students enrolled in Filipino major programs can receive up to P160,000 per academic year at private institutions. Students at public universities are eligible for a P50,000 annual stipend.

The program also extends to postgraduate scholars, who may receive up to P105,000 per school year. Applicants must submit research proposals focused on the promotion of the Filipino language.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the initiative honors the legacy of the city’s namesake, President Manuel L. Quezon, often referred to as the “Father of the National Language.”

“By institutionalizing this scholarship program, we are investing not only in our students, but also in our identity as a people,” Belmonte said. “This initiative ensures that Filipino language and literature continue to thrive in our schools and communities.”

Beyond traditional degrees, the ordinance creates a Creative Writing and Literary Grant. The grant provides P10,000 in stipends and up to P30,000 in publication assistance for original works in Filipino, including poetry, fiction and drama.

Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and Majority Floor Leader Councilor Aly Medalla, the ordinance’s author, said the measure is part of a broader effort to make cultural education more inclusive.

Sotto cited that the program aims to empower young Filipinos to contribute to “nation-building through language.”

The scholarship is now part of the city’s permanent education portfolio, ensuring long-term funding for the promotion of national culture and academic excellence.