By Edna Pasandalan, Regional Focal Person for Iranun Language and Alih Anso, Iranun Language Resource Person
The Dep. Ed ARMM in partnership with Summer Institute for Linguistics –Philippines has responded to the need of formulating an Iranun writing system (orthography) for use in the implementation of Mother Tongue –Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE). Along with the orthography which was developed through a participatory orthography workshop held at Division of Cotabato City on October 2 to 9, 2012 is a spelling guide to help elementary grades teachers in production of instructional materials such as Big Books, small books, and primers required in teaching grade one pupil to read and write the Iranun language.
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| Iranun elders drafting stories for use in the public schools. (Photo c/o Edna Pasandalan) |
As a follow through, a write-shop on constructing a Primer for Basa Iranun was conducted on December 17-21, 2012 at D’Counter Executive Dormitory, Davao City. The said activity was participated by diligent Iranun elders and educators from the known geographical Iranun produced the first ever "Guide to Teaching the Sounds of the Iranun Language" (“Su manga Batang sa Batang sa Basa Iranun”).
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| Edna Pasandalan, Regional Focal Person for Iranun Language, explaining the mechanics of a group activity. (Photo c/o Edna Pasandalan) |
The primer has one lesson for each letter and includes word-building and sentence building exercises.
The writer of this guide were diligent educators and elders and of course with technical supervision of Xenia and Bruce Skorapinski with Cito Casquite, all from Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) Philippines.
Participant-writers include 1. Alih S. Anso- DXUP Teleradyo Program Director- Upi, Maguindanao; Hadja Amina G. Ambil-Master Teacher 1-Parang Elementary School, Parang North District, Parang, Maguindanao; Edna S. Purong- DepEd ARMM Focal person for Iranun; Hadji Edres Gumander Rasul-Elder from Barira, Maguindanao; Dr. Ginda s. Jasani, Education Program Supervisor, Maguindanao II Division, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; Rebecca L. Silo, Teacher II, Tambu Elementary School, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; Hadja Sadia R. Sali, Master Teacher I, Balut Elementary School, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao and Miss Saira M. Roberto, I, Don Pablo Hofer Elementary School, Kapatagan district, Lanao Sur II.
