From the Spanish alphabet evolved the present Filipino alphabet with twenty letters. The Philippines is very rich in folk literature, both oral and written not only in Tagalog but also in the other major languages. They are in the form of maxims, sayings, riddles, street songs, boat songs, songs of revelry, war songs, love songs, dirges, lullabies, bridal songs, songs of mourning, household songs, and couplets recited by the blind. There are recitations and songs for almost every occasion. Lives of heroes, mythical and real, in the centuries of the fight for independence from colonists, were written in verses, recited and sung.
Lovers do their wooing, up to the present time, in rural areas, in verses and in songs.
When Filipinos wish to express their deepest emotions, they always express them in their own languages. There is the danger, however, that second and future generations of Filipino-Canadians may not be able to speak their heritage language. Parents and grandparents interviewed for this paper observe that their children speak in English most of the time at home. Even when spoken to in Pilipino they often reply in English. Since most Filipino-Canadian parents understand and can speak fluently in English, the need to use the heritage language is not felt.