Far Eastern University (FEU) Language and Literature Department Chair Dr. Emmanuel Gonzales was elected as an executive council member for the National Committee on Language and Translation (NCLT) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) last July.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, the newly-elected member emphasized the importance of his new position to the FEU community.

“Napakaimportante nito kasi this is the first time na nakapasok ‘yung FEU sa ganitong organisasyon… Maipapakilala ko sa ganitong punto ng adbokasiya na ang FEU ay may mga expertise din sa wika (This is very important because this is the first time for FEU to be part of this organization… I will be able to introduce to this kind of advocacy that FEU also has expertise in language),” Gonzales stated. 

As a new executive council member, he also plans to focus on solving national problems on language within the education sector. 

“Mabibigay ko sa kanila [NCCA] ‘yung mga kailangan ng mga estudyante sa pagpapayaman ng wika at sa translation, ano ba ‘yung mga kailangan ng mga estudyante na mai-translate na magagandang mga literatura sa mas madaling maiintindihan (I can inform NCCA about the needs of the students in enriching the language and translation, the translated literature the students need to make it easier for them to understand),” he added.

The department chair also expressed how his presence in the committee can help enrich the national language through projects and research in his term.

Moreover, Gonzales started his application to secure a post as an executive council member last year.

“‘Yung (The) call for membership in the executive committee of the NCCA ay (is) last year. ‘Pag nag-qualify ka doon sa call nila (If you qualify from their call), your paper will be evaluated, so, automatically, you are a candidate for the position sa (on) member of the executive council, then ‘yung election nagkaroon noong (was held last) February… Nag-confirm sa akin noong (It was confirmed to me) last three weeks,” the new council member explained. 

He also added that only five of the candidates are chosen to be part of the executive council but he placed sixth. However, a member resigned and Gonzales won a tiebreaker to make him part of the council.

The NCLT executive council consists of members from University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, Ateneo De Manila University, University of the Philippines, and various schools from Bicol and Cebu, with Gonzales being the lone member from FEU.

NCLT is a committee under NCCA that focuses on preserving and promoting the Filipino identity through different languages from the Philippines, improving translations in the country and making various dialects accessible. - Cassandra Luis De Leon
(Photo Courtesy of Dr. Emmanuel Gonzales)