KWF commissioner: We agreed to self-award, told it was ‘not illegal’

Six were initially named Kampeon ng Wika recipients; four withdrew amid backlash.

A Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) commissioner said they agreed to receive the agency’s Kampeon ng Wika recognition after being assured that the arrangement was not illegal.

The commissioner, who spoke to radar on the condition of anonymity, said the August award was approved in April through a board resolution.

Amid initial doubts, the commissioner said they eventually agreed after being shown precedents of KWF commissioners receiving the award. “We tend to trust the wisdom ng nakatatanda,” they said.

“[Kaya] ito ay maaari naman, hindi binabawal, walang nakasaad sa aming mandato,” they said.

But the commissioner said the outcome differed from what they had expected: “Di ito ang naipangako [sa akin]… na magiging kinalabasan ng pagpapasya.”

In 2018, Lucena Samson, a part-time KWF commissioner for Kapampangan from 2013 to 2020, was named Kampeon ng Wika—the only commissioner to receive the award at the time.

In 2016, Jimmy Fong (Mga Wika sa Kahilagaang Pamayanang Kultural) and Orlando Magno (Sebwano)—part-time KWF commissioners from 2014 to 2021—were among 10 recipients, including future National Artist Resil Mojares.

This year, six of the KWF’s 10 sitting commissioners were initially named the Kampeon ng Wika recipients—three times as many as in 2016 and six times as many as in 2018. The list was later reduced to two: Benjamin Mendillo Jr. (Ilocano) and Carmelita Abdurahman (Samar-Leyte).

Looking back, when asked whether the arrangement was ethical despite being told it was not illegal, the commissioner said: “Pero siyempre, kahit hindi ilegal, it’s not ethical.”

KWF composition

Under Republic Act No. 7104, the KWF must “undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the development, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages.”

It’s composed of 11 commissioners: a chairperson and two full-time commissioners serving seven-year terms, and eight part-time commissioners serving staggered three- and five-year terms. Commissioners may be reappointed for a maximum of one additional term.

The KWF’s publicly listed roster names Marites Barrios-Taran as chairperson and full-time commissioner for Tagalog, alongside full-time commissioners Mendillo (Ilocano) and Abdurahman (Samar-Leyte).

Part-time commissioners include Melchor Orpilla (Pangasinan), Reggie Cruz (Kapampangan), Evelyn Oliquino (Bikol), Hope Yu (Sebwano), Ruth Tindaan (Pamayanang Kultural ng Hilagang Pilipinas), Christian Aguado (Pamayanang Kultural ng Katimugang Pilipinas), and Alain Russ Dimzon (Hiligaynon). The seat for Languages of Muslim Mindanao is listed as vacant.

However, Yu and Dimzon don’t appear by name or photo on the KWF website, despite being listed in the roster. The discrepancy remains unclear.

As part of its Buwan ng Wika activities, the KWF gives out several recognitions, including Kampeon ng Wika. The award is meant for “mga indibidwal, institusyon, o samahang may ambag sa pagtataguyod, pagpapaunlad, at preserbasyon ng wikang Filipino at mga katutubong wika ng Filipinas sa iba’t ibang larangan o disiplina.”

Previous recipients include National Artists Resil Mojares and Nora Aunor, writers and scholars such as Merlie Alunan and Leoncio Deriada, and the Muntinlupa government.

Asked why KWF commissioners might want the award, the commissioner offered one possibility: “Sa ganang akin… puwede sa aspektong tataas ang ranggo. May intensiyon siguro na maging tagapangulo [ng KWF] ang recipient.”

Past KWF announcements say nominations are open to individuals, organizations, institutions, and government or private-sector agencies, with nominees recommended by an individual or group. They do not specify which body makes the final selection.

A KWF employee previously told radar that the selection process wasn’t fully disclosed to staff because it was a board matter, but said the move had been planned in advance.

From six to two

The six commissioners initially announced as Kampeon ng Wika recipients on Aug. 18 were Abdurahman, Mendillo, Dimzon, Aguado, Cruz, and Oliquino. By Aug. 24, only Mendillo and Abdurahman’s names remained.

As the announcement drew criticism, the commissioner said they and three others quietly put their refusals in writing. The letters were sent internally to the KWF and weren’t made public.

“Pinautos namin na tanggalin na ang aming mga larawan sa Facebook post,” they added. “May kani-kaniya kaming personal na rason sa mga liham namin.”

The KWF hasn’t publicly explained why the list was changed—or confirmed that the commissioners had declined the award. radar reached out to the agency for an explanation and requested a copy of the April board resolution, but has yet to receive a response.

‘Bahagi pa ako ng board’

The commissioner wasn’t the only KWF member with reservations about receiving an award bestowed by the agency they serve. A KWF employee previously told radar that three commissioners declined from the outset, out of “delicadeza.”

After later withdrawing—and having their photos and names removed from the Facebook post—the commissioners didn’t publicly announce their refusals. Asked why, the commissioner said they couldn’t issue a statement on their own.

“Ang buong Komisyon ang dapat na magbigay ng pahayag para sa amin,” the commissioner said. “Bahagi pa ako ng board. Di ako puwedeng maghiwalay, na parang mag-aaklas sa sarili ko.”

They said they would first have to inform the commission before issuing a personal statement: “Hindi maaari na maglabas ako ng sariling statement… dapat sabihin ko muna, na magpapaalam ako na magbibigay ng statement.”

They also didn’t want their refusal to publicly isolate the two commissioners who remained recipients: “Kung sasabihin [ng KWF] na, ‘Hindi tatanggapin nina (mga pangalan) ang award… at ang matitira na lamang ay sina (mga pangalan)’… parang iniwan namin sila sa ere.”

The commissioner questioned whether the award still needed to proceed: “Needed ba talagang ituloy [ang award]. Mas pinabababa lang nila ang kanilang kredibilidad.”

“Pero kung iyon ang desisyon ng dalawa, nirerespeto namin iyon,” they added. “Di naman kami dapat manghimasok o magbigay ng suhestiyon. Nasabi na namin ang bagay na dapat sabihin [sa liham].”

‘Puwede naman itong baguhin’

The commissioner said the resolution could still be changed.

“Pero ako, di ko na tatanggapin [ang award],” they said. “Pero ang resolution, na-release na. Pero puwede naman itong baguhin.”

The recognition, they said, wasn’t worth fighting over.

“Di ako magpapakamatay para lang sa award na ito,” they said. “May trabaho akong full-time. Ano ang mapapala ko rito? Mas gusto naming magtrabaho sa aming mga pamayanan at maglingkod.”

The KWF is scheduled to hold its Gabi ng Parangal 2026 on Aug. 27.

READ: