KWF skips Kampeon ng Wika public awarding for own commissioners

Ceremony skips award, yet official announcement still names them recipients.

The two Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino commissioners who were controversially self-awarded the agency’s Kampeon ng Wika weren’t publicly awarded the agency’s Kampeon ng Wika during the ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 27.

That’s despite a livestream on the KWF Facebook page showing other awardees receiving their honors at the Escolta Ballroom of Lucky Chinatown in Binondo.

The program, whose livestream started at 6:38 p.m., opened with a brand new Natatanging Pagkilala to Alex Eala, Clesencio Rambaud, Linda Andaya, Oscar Balajadia Jr., and Phillip Kimpo Jr.

John Enrico Torralba, KWF’s head of translation divisions, read their respective citations. According to an Aug. 26 Facebook post, the new award is given to individuals “na nagpakita ng natatanging ambag at kahusayan sa kani-kanilang larangan sa pagtataguyod ng wikang Filipino at iba pang wika sa Pilipinas.”

The description is virtually identical to that of Kampeon ng Wika, which 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.”

If that’s the case, it raises questions about why the five Natatanging Pagkilala recipients were not recognized as Kampeon ng Wika awardees instead.

The new recognition also came amid the backlash over the Kampeon ng Wika awards, raising questions about whether it was conceived before or after the controversy.

But the Kampeon ng Wika wasn’t formally scrapped either. Six commissioners were originally named recipients, but only Carmelita Abdurahman (Samar-Leyte) and Benjamin Mendillo (Ilokano) remained after four others withdrew amid the backlash. The KWF’s Aug. 18 Facebook post naming Abdurahman and Mendillo as recipients remains online, even after it was edited.

That means the absence of a Kampeon ng Wika awarding at Thursday’s ceremony cannot—on its own—be taken to mean the recognition no longer exists or that Abdurahman and Mendillo withdrew their self-awards.

Business as usual

After the Natatanging Pagkilala segment, the KWF proceeded with the other awards previously announced on Facebook.

For Sanaysay ng Taon 2026, the Mananaysay ng Taon went to Rexon Hora Gaston, while Emersan Baldemor and Mark Anthony Angeles placed second and third, respectively. Participants reflected on this year’s Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa theme, “Wikang Filipino at AI: Kasangkapan sa Pananaliksik at Tulay sa Yaman ng Impormasyon.”

Gawad Carlos Padilla 2026 went to ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio in the congressional category and Brgy. Osmeña, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya SK Chairperson Nathacia Zierra Erese in the local government unit category. The award is meant for “mga mambabatas na may natatanging ambag o nagawa túngo sa pagsusulong, pagpapalaganap, pagpapayabong, at preserbasyon ng wikang Filipino.”

But there was a surprise third recipient: Sen. Loren Legarda, who was not part of the original Aug. 19 announcement. The KWF page posted the announcement earlier on Aug. 27, but the post could no longer be found as of publication.

Legarda’s acceptance speech was read by KWF Chairperson Marites Barrios-Taran. The lawmaker has been on medical leave since Aug. 3 and has extended it multiple times. Her current notice runs until Sept. 2.

Gawad Dangal ng Wika 2026 went to Justice Japar Dimaampao in the individual category and the Supreme Court in the organization/institution category. The award is meant for “mga indibidwal, samahán, tanggápan, institusyon, o ahensiyang pampamahalaán o pribadong sektor na may natatanging ambag o nagawa túngo sa pagsusulong, pagpapalaganap, pagpapayabong, at preserbasyon ng wikang Filipino at/o iba pang wika sa Pilipinas.”

Abduhraman shows up, but for closing remarks

Abdurahman later took the podium—but only for the program’s closing remarks.

She gave a shout-out to some awardees, briefly reiterating their contributions to the Filipino language.

She then talked about AI, noting how this year’s theme is timely amid the rise of technology.

“Ipinapaalala sa atin ng temang ito na ang wika ay hindi lamang isang lumang relikyo na nakatago sa museo. Isa itong dinamikong sandata at tulay,” she said. “Sinisiguro natin na ang teknolohiya ang magsisilbi sa tao, at hindi ang tao sa makina.”

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