Preserving the Voice: The Role of Community Radio in Revitalizing Endangered Indigenous Languages in the Philippines

Abstract

The Philippines is home to over 170 distinct languages, many of which are endangered due to the dominance of English and Filipino in education and mass media. This paper investigates the potential of community radio as a tool for the revitalization of indigenous languages. Using a qualitative case study of two community radio stations in the Cordillera region, one broadcasting in Kankanaey and the other in Ibaloi, the research explores the stations' programming, audience engagement, and impact on language use within the community. Through interviews with station staff, local leaders, and listeners, the study finds that community radio provides a vital, accessible platform for daily language use, cultural expression, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. It empowers communities to produce their own media, countering the homogenizing effects of mainstream broadcasting. The paper concludes that community radio, when supported by local stakeholders and enabling government policies, can serve as a powerful, grassroots-level instrument for cultural preservation and linguistic diversity in the digital age.