Vice President Sara Duterte says the Filipino language must adapt to advances in artificial intelligence (AI), as she called for its continued use as a tool for research, education and digital innovation.

In a message marking Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, Duterte said Filipino should remain relevant as technology changes how Filipinos learn, conduct research and access information.

“With the entry of modern technology, let us ensure that our national language is not left behind—but remains a tool for knowledge and digital innovation,” Duterte said in a video message.

Duterte described language as the “soul” of Filipino culture, a bridge of national unity and a reflection of the country's history.

She said the continued development of Filipino and its use in new technologies formed part of a broader goal of building a country where children are safe and educated and families are not left behind in poverty.

“I know that nothing compares to the comfort of hearing our own language in a foreign land. Our language is your home, wherever you may go,” she said.

This year’s celebration carries the theme “Wikang Filipino at AI: Kasangkapan sa Pananaliksik at Tulay sa Yaman ng Impormasyon” (Filipino Language and AI: A Tool for Research and a Bridge to Information Resources), highlighting the intersection of language and emerging technologies.###