Justice and the People’s Language
Justice is not just a principle; it is a promise. But a promise spoken in a language the people cannot understand is a promise broken. As we celebrate Buwan ng Wika, we are reminded that language is more than just culture—it is a tool of power. If justice is to be real in the lives of ordinary citizens, it must be accessible. And for justice to be accessible, it must speak the language understood bythe people.
Most laws, pleadings, and contracts in the Philippines remain in English, couched in technical terms. Citizens without advanced education or legal training struggle to grasp their basic rights. This linguistic exclusion creates a systemic divide: justice becomes a privilege, accessible only to those who can decode its language.
Education as the Missing Link
The linguistic divide in the Philippines remains a significant barrier to justice and civic participation. Because of educational inequality, many Filipinos struggle to fully understand laws that are written strictly in English. This creates a gap between the legal system and the people it is supposed to serve, especially for citizens who may not have had access to strong English-language education. When laws, legal rights, and public duties are expressed in a language that many people cannot easily comprehend, justice becomes less accessible and less inclusive.
This is why the language of instruction matters. When law is taught, explained, and discussed in Filipino, it becomes more understandable to a wider population. Using Filipino does not weaken the seriousness of legal (and even English language) education; instead, it strengthens public understanding by allowing citizens to engage with legal concepts in a language closer to their everyday experience. A more inclusive approach to legal instruction can help bridge the distance between formal institutions and ordinary Filipinos.
True reform, therefore, requires systemic alignment between education and justice. The education system should prepare citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities, while the justice system should communicate in ways that empower rather than exclude. By aligning language, instruction, and legal accessibility, society can move toward a system where more Filipinos are able to participate meaningfully in civic life and claim the protections that the law provides.
Legal Foundations for Filipino in Law
The 1987 Philippine Constitution itself provides a clear, undeniable mandate to change this landscape. These constitutional provisions are not mere symbolic gestures—they are binding directives that compel us to transform Filipino into a true language of governance and justice:
Article XIV, Section 6 declares Filipino as the national language that must be developed and enriched while Article XIV, Section 7 requires the government to “initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction.”
In the case of Velarde v. Court of Tax Appeals (G.R. No. 210480, 2026), the Supreme Court advanced judicial inclusivity by issuing its decision entirely in Filipino. Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh wrote: “Language is not a mere matter of form. It is an essential tool of access to justice.” This landmark ruling affirms that judicial decisions affect not only lawyers but also ordinary citizens, and using Filipino bridges the gap between doctrine and public understanding.
Earlier initiatives also encouraged translation of rulings and dissemination of simplified case digests in Filipino, recognizing that accessibility builds public trust.
Why Filipino in Law Matters
Integrating Filipino (and regional languages) into our legal processes is not just symbolic, it is a transformative shift that fundamentally reshapes the balance of power.It democratizes justice by removing linguistic barriers that keep ordinary people in the dark. It complements education, ensuring that what is taught in schools translates into real-world empowerment. It strengthens civic participation, as citizens who understand the law are more likely to engage in governance and resist abuse.
Global Lessons
Countries like Japan and France prove that national languages can coexist with legal precision. The Philippines must recognize that the justice system operating exclusively in English alone is a system designed for the few.
This Buwan ng Wika, it may be meaningful to look beyond cultural celebration and reflect on how language can become a stronger bridge to justice. One positive step would be to make laws more accessible by encouraging their translation into Filipino and key regional languages, so that more citizens can understand the rights and responsibilities that shape their daily lives. It is also worth considering how legal education can become more inclusive when legal ideas are taught and explained in the people’s own language, allowing learners and communities to connect with the law more confidently. In the same spirit, a justice system that values plain and clear language can help create a more welcoming and empowering environment for all Filipinos, where understanding the law is not limited to a few but shared by many.
Justice that cannot be understood is, fundamentally, justice denied. Education and language are the twin pillars of true legal empowerment. When we fight for a justice system that speaks in Filipino, we fight for a nation where every Filipino citizen—regardless of class, status, or schooling—can boldly claim their rights. Only then can the promise of Philippine justice truly speak the language of its people.