I can use English in my Country

The Philippines is a beautiful archipelago made up of 7,641 islands. It’s rich in culture and language, with 183 live languages spoken across its many regions. Although Filipino is our national language, every island and community has its own distinct dialect. For example, in Luzon—home to the capital city, Manila—Tagalog is widely used. But even there, native speakers can easily tell who’s local and who isn’t just by tone, grammar, and word choice.

I grew up in the south of the Philippines, on the second-largest island. We speak a different language from Tagalog. While I can understand and speak Tagalog, it’s not my native tongue. When I visit Manila, people sometimes struggle to understand me. But that has never stopped me from traveling and exploring.

One time, while visiting an island in Luzon, I lost my passport. I had to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to report and process the loss. When I arrived at the office, one of the staff asked, “Can you speak Tagalog?” I answered, “Yes, but I’m not fluent—I’m from the south.” Thankfully, we both understood English, and we continued the conversation in a language we were both comfortable with.

That day, I was able to complete everything I needed to do because of English.

It made me realize that English is not only for school or work—it’s a tool for real-life situations. Knowing English gave me confidence and helped me solve a problem when I felt stuck. I was far from home, speaking a language that wasn’t mine, but I was still able to communicate clearly and be understood.

So if you're learning English, don’t stop. You never know when it might be the bridge between you and the help you need.