Filipino educators are known for their resourcefulness and creativity, integrating various teaching methods to enrich student learning. Inspired by this spirit, Dr. Mariyel Hiyas Liwanag, a Communication Arts Assistant Professor and Learning Resource Center Director at UPLB, created “Isabuhay”, a free educational board game designed to promote language preservation in the Philippines.
The project, developed as her Ph.D. dissertation, earned the Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaceda from the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF). Liwanag emphasizes that the game is inclusive, requiring no gadgets or internet access.
“May apat na roles: ang guro, ang manananaliksik, tagapagtaguyod ng wika, mga ahensya na tumutugon na kailangan protektahan, pangalagaan at paunlarin ‘yung mga wika sa Pilipinas,” she explained.
One of her key objectives is to educate students on the potential extinction of many Philippine languages, while also advocating for linguistic human rights and language vitality.
“The game is about language vitality, buhay ng mga wika, [kung] paano nakakaapekto ‘yung ilang mga socio-political policies and events sa Pilipinas sa pagkabuhay, pagkamatay at pagkaunlad ng isang wika,” Liwanag said.
Originally a passion project, “Isabuhay” emerged when she struggled to find suitable commercial tabletop games for her class.
“Hindi fit yung mga commercialized tabletop games na ginagamit ko. As much as I want to endeavor in digital format, the problem is hindi naman lahat ng mga estudyante ko [ay] may gadget. Hindi rin gan’un kaganda ang internet. So, I want it to be inclusive na hindi nila mararamdaman na ‘ay kasi wala akong gadget, so I can’t play the game,’ I don’t want that feeling so, kaya naisip ko talaga na tabletop format siya,” she shared.
Now under UPLB’s copyright, Liwanag seeks to broaden its reach, ensuring teachers nationwide can access and use the materials.
“I really have a great support system na mga kababaihan din [which is] very strong, very independent, and very critical na mga kababaihan. Nagkaroon kami ng initiatives noon, it’s a very good thing na it’s driven by passion and driven by asserting ‘yung mga karapatan… kaya ganu’n din ‘yung take ko sa game [na] it’s more of asserting ‘yung pag-gigiit sa mga karapatang pantao sa wika,” she added, aligning her advocacy with Women’s Month celebrations.