On February 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes in Manila will hold the inaugural talk of the lecture series Charlas de la Academia, presented by the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española.
The talk entitled “Vínculos lingüísticos: El español en el filipino” (Linguistic Links: Spanish in Filipino), and delivered by the Academia Director Daisy López, brings renewed attention to the deep linguistic connections between Spanish and Filipino, illustrating how centuries of shared history have shaped everyday language in the Philippines.
The Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española, founded in 1924, remains committed to promoting the use of Spanish in the Philippines. To this end, it uses various initiatives, such as this series of lectures on the presence and influence of Spanish in the Philippines. In this inaugural lecture Professor Daisy Lopez, Director of la Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española, will discuss Hispanicisms in the Tagalog language.
This talk explores how the Spanish presence in the Archipielago has left an enduring mark on Filipino vocabulary, expressions, and cultural identity. From common words such as mesa, silya, sapatos, and bintana to numbers, time expressions, and surnames, Spanish has left a clear imprint on Filipino vernacular languages. These borrowed terms are not relics of the past; they remain actively used in daily conversation, media, education, and governance.
The lecture will also highlight how Spanish influence goes beyond vocabulary. Linguistic patterns, naming conventions, and even aspects of Filipino discourse reflect centuries of interaction, adaptation, and localization. Rather than replacing native languages, Spanish blended with them, creating a uniquely Filipino linguistic identity.
This topic helps us understand that language is a living record of history, recognizing Spanish influences in Filipino allows us to better appreciate our multicultural heritage and how it continues to evolve.
Attendees are encouraged to register in advance through this link: https://forms.office.com/e/BT2y3V3VFg
This event is presented by the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española and Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID Philippines, and Intramuros Administration.
The Instituto Cervantes de Manila (Intramuros branch) is located at 385 Calle Real, Plaza San Luis Complex, Intramuros. For more information about this event, visit Instituto Cervantes’ website at www.manila.cervantes.es or follow it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
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