Learning Filipino

As I have mentioned before, it is my greatest worry that Griffin would not learn to speak Filipino before he enters Prep. My worries are slowly disappearing as he is learning the language slowly. He can now understand more words and can even say simple sentences in Filipino. He also gets practice while playing with Ran Ran and Em Em. He told me he said, " akyat na" when he was done playing with Ran Ran and he was ready to go upstairs. He also said, "opo, sira" when he was agreeing with Ran Ran that something was broken. It also helped that the song they sang for their Christmas program was also in Filipino. He has also learned new words because of the song.

Yesterday, he was at the playground in Timezone playing with a little girl who spoke to him in Filipino. Whereas before, he would speak English to his playmate, this time, he spoke in Filipino despite his limited vocabulary. Here is a sample of how he spoke to the girl:

Girl: Dito na tayo!
Griffin: Opo.
Girl: Color tayo!
Griffin: Exercise tayo!
After going on the treadmill...
Griffin: Play na tayo! ( proceeding to go up the play structure)

Some of the other things he can say...
Ligo na tayo!
Nanay, laro na tayo!
Ano pangalan mo? ( although he would say it as "ano palangan mo?" sometimes.

Willie asked him some questions which he was able to answer.
Willie: Sino tatay mo?
Griffin: Ikaw
Willie: Sino nanay mo?
Griffin: Siya (pointing at me)
Willie: Sino kapatid mo?
Griffin: Ano kapatid?
Willie: Brother or sister
Griffin: Si Hailey

He has learned so fast that's why I'm no longer worried that he would not learn Filipino.