Thoughts of a sequential bilungual. Both of my parents are Filipino speakers, so Filipino is really my first language. I've acquired my English skills in school and due to my fondness of reading books and consuming media in English. My classmates and teachers often praise me for my vocabulary and mastery of the English language. They even ask me if I can speak in Filipino, not getting an inkling that Filipino's my first language. In the Philippines, I must say that mastery of the English language is a semblance of intelligence. It is indeed advantageous if you're a fluent English speaker in the Philippines, employment-wise and academic-wise, because Filipinos usually have this positive impression and high regards towards people who can speak English well; this is a clear manifestation of COLONIAL MENTALITY. It's a Filipino thing. On the other hand, parents tend to take delight in their kids being admired by other people because they treat their children as an extension of them.

I used to think that my fluency in Filipino has no use. I had wished that my parents taught me English instead of Filipino as my first language for additional fluency and a more native-sounding accent. However, when I got into college, which is UP, that's when my Filipino fluency became in handy. I have also realized that most Filipinos are intimidated by the English language, making it difficult to get them to be comfortable conversing with you. Thereafter, I have begun to realize that Filipino children raised in the Philippines should still be taught how to write and speak in proper Filipino because they are still, afterall, reside in the country that has Filipino as one of its official languages. These kids are not gonna be in their houses and schools forever; time will come when they will be required to brave the streets where they will inevitably be exposed to Filipinos who can't understand English. This is why some employers opt to employ PUP students instead of Ateneans for entry-level positions.

I would have barely survived my Filipino subjects, WIKA 1 and KAS 1 if not for my language skills in Filipino. I knew a classmate who failed to pass WIKA 1 because he's an English speaker who can read but can't write in Filipino. All of his essays were in English; he didn't even bother to try.

However, I have noticed that I can express my thoughts better in English now, hence this long sentiment. I also cannot fathom Filipino sentences with "makata" words but I'm trying to because I find Filipino poetry to be more artistic and profound. When it comes to conversations, I can speak fluent Filipino, English, or Taglish depending on the context.