A Kabaleyan’s Thoughts
Why am I being called a Pangasinense?
By Virginia J. Pasalo
DURING my dad’s time people asked each other, “Pangasinan ka?” to refer to your ethnic group. They also ask, “Taga-Pangasinan ka?” to refer to the place of your origin. Or “Antam so man-Pangasinan?” to ask if you speak the language.
From the way “Pangasinan” is used conversationally, it refers to the people, the land and the language. In this case, it is the only word that refers to all three, no dichotomies, the people, the land and the language are one. It is the only one of its kind.
That is why I find it strange that in DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2012, we are now referred to as “Pangasinense”, a naming by others, reminiscent of “Negrense” to refer to people from Negros. This naming is not true to our language as it was used. I used to take pride in saying that Pangasinan is the only province that symbolizes the union of the person, the land and its language.
“Do not to leave your language alone” is the battlecry. Then why do I feel like I was robbed of my identity?
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