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Spanish in the Philippines

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Spanish came to the Philippines in the 16th century, brought by Spanish conquistadores and religious people. During more than three hundred years of belonging to the Spanish Crown, the language became deeply rooted in Philippine culture. Not only did it influence the local language, with thousands of words of Spanish origin incorporated into Filipino languages, but it also left its mark in administration, law, religion and the arts. During this period, Spanish was not only the language of politics, education and the social elite, but spread to a portion of citizens of all social classes. However, the arrival of the 20th century marked a drastic change. After the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines became a colony of the United States. Under the new administration, a process of «Americanization» began, where English was imposed as the language of government and education. This policy had a profound and lasting impact on the status of Spanish in the country. Over the following decades, the use of Spanish declined significantly, gradually being replaced by English and local languages in most contexts. Despite this decline, the 21st century has witnessed a renewed interest in Spanish in the Philippines. This resurgence can be attributed to several factors. First, increasing globalism and economic interconnectedness have made Spanish a valuable tool in international trade and relations. In addition, the cultural connection to Hispanic heritage has led many Filipinos to rediscover the language as an important part of their national identity.

Casa Azul del instututo Cervantes en Manila

In education, there has been a significant push to reintroduce Spanish as a foreign language in schools and universities. Cultural exchange programs with Spanish-speaking countries and the availability of online resources for language learning have facilitated this interest. In addition, the growing tourism industry and the increasing presence of Spanish American companies in Asia have made Spanish a valuable competency in the Philippine job market. In short, the history of Spanish in the Philippines is a narrative of boom, decline and resurgence. From its introduction in the Hispanic era to its reevaluation in the modern world, Spanish has played a pivotal role in shaping Philippine history, culture, and identity. This renewed interest speaks not only to the resilience and adaptability of the language, but also to the desire of Filipinos to reconnect with an integral part of their historical heritage.

The team

We are a team of volunteer teachers who live the Spanish language with passion. Among us there are Filipinos, Colombians, Argentinians and Spaniards who are proud of their language, their history and the culture that unites us, and we want to share all this with you.

Learn Spanish Online

The Asociación Cultural Héroes de Cavite has a pioneer program of online Spanish classes in order to recover the Spanish language and spread the Hispanic culture in the archipelago. In addition, as a complementary activity, online conversation sessions are organized for anyone interested in improving their knowledge of the language, learning about a new culture or simply enjoying a good time of conversation.

Necesitamos profesores voluntarios

¿Tienes un nivel nativo de español? ¿Te apasiona enseñar y dar a conocer tu cultura? ¿Quieres ayudar a aprender español a estudiantes filipinos? Envíanos tus datos usando el siguiente formulario y nos pondremos en contacto contigo cuando organicemos el próximo curso.

Spanish in the Philippines

The team

Learn Spanish Online

Necesitamos profesores voluntarios

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