Pinoy scholar to introduce Binisaya to Germans via self-published book

With a self-published book, a Filipino linguistic scholar aims to introduce the Binisaya language to Germans.

Dr. Rey Agana said the strong demand from German spouses, second-generation Filipinos living in Germany, as well as German volunteers and development workers undertaking projects in Central and Southern Philippines, motivated him to develop the book.

Titled “Binisaya: Die Verständigungssprache in den Visayan und Mindanaoregionen der Philippinen” (Binisaya: The Language of Communication in the Visayan and Mindanao regions of the Philippines), the 200-page book contains structured lessons on Binisaya grammar and conversational dialogue.

The book will become available this month, according to a news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday.

Chargé d’Affaires Mardonel Celo D. Melicor of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, who received an advance copy of the book personally from Adana himself, said he is hoping the book would help strengthen bonds of German-Filipino families in Germany with their families in the Philippines.

Melicor said a German once wrote a similar e-book titled “Nagtuon kog Binisaya” for those who need to learn about the language.

Filipino who identified themselves as native speakers of Bisaya or Binisaya doubled to 10 million in 2010 from 5 million in 2000, according to the DFA. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News