After the Cyrillic Alphabet, Tagalog: Why Filipino Brought My Passion for Languages to the Next Level

The Importance of Local Language—Even as a Tourist

One unforgettable memory from that trip to Russia: I became a sort of mascot for the group tour. I was the youngest—no surprise—but also the only one who could read Cyrillic signs.

It was a big deal at the time. When I returned to Russia in 2017, most people still didn’t speak English. Imagine what it was like 13 years earlier! I still remember how proud I was to recognize words like выход (vykhod = "exit") when we had free time without a guide.

A New Chapter: Starting Secondary School in Italy

Let’s jump back to Italy. After finishing primary school—at a Catholic private school—I was eager for a change. Most of my classmates were planning to stay in touch, but I felt the opposite. I was done with daily religious routines and craved a public school environment.

My First Encounter With Migrant Classmates

The biggest difference between my new and old schools? Diversity. In my private school, there were zero immigrant classmates. Before school started, I remember seeing the class list and being thrilled by the presence of foreign names. I had never had any meaningful contact with foreign kids before, aside from short vacation encounters (and even those were limited by my poor English).

Unfortunately, when school began, social segregation was clear. Italians stuck with Italians. Migrants stuck with migrants. It was like an unspoken apartheid. And honestly? I found my Italian classmates incredibly boring. I grew more withdrawn and less sociable with each passing week.

From the Philippines with L...anguages?

Then something happened that changed everything.

In the final months of our first year of secondary school, Cecilia, a girl from the Philippines, joined our class. She didn’t speak Italian yet, but her English was excellent—which set her apart from the rest of us, whose English was... not.

For some reason, my English was a bit better than average, so we began to connect. It wasn’t easy—we struggled to understand each other—but a real friendship began. We’re still in touch today, almost 20 years later.

My First Glimpse of Tagalog

One day, during a school break, she mentioned her native language. I had no idea what she was talking about. To show interest, I asked her to teach me something.

Her response? She taught me to say “What’s your name?” in Tagalog: Anong pangalan mo?

That moment unlocked something deep in me.

It’s hard to explain, but if Russian and Cyrillic had given me a glimpse of the language world, Tagalog truly opened the door. It wasn’t just another European language. It was exotic, rhythmic, and outside the scope of what most people around me were learning.

A Journey Through Language Families

That small phrase sparked a linguistic odyssey. I became fascinated by the idea of language families—a concept I hadn’t even known existed. I began reading about the Malayo-Polynesian languages and, from there, explored many others, especially those spoken across Asia, which had become my main area of interest.

In Milan, I bought Tagalog books and started writing short texts. Thanks to Cecilia’s endless patience, we even managed to exchange simple messages. While I never got fluent, I still remember many of the words and phrases I learned.

I’ve kept those books ever since. I won't part with them until I finally learn to speak Tagalog properly. It's one of my lifelong goals.

A Special Shoutout: SEAsite

During that time, one website was an absolute gem: SEAsite – Tagalog. Created by Northern Illinois University, it had an old-school design even back in 2005–2006—but it was packed with valuable content. A true treasure trove for beginners.

Why Tagalog Mattered So Much

Tagalog wasn't just a language. It became the symbol of a shift—from passive curiosity to active passion for language learning. It was the first language I chose out of love, not obligation. It helped me form my first deep connection with a foreign friend. It helped me understand how languages bring people together.