ARTS AND CULTURE
Section 14. The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution
of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of
free artistic and intellectual expression.
Section 15. Arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. The State shall
conserve, promote, and popularize the nation's historical and cultural heritage and
resources, as well as artistic creations.
Section 16. All the country's artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure
of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State which may regulate its
disposition.
Section 17. The State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous
cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions.
It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national plans and policies.
Section 18. (1) The State shall ensure equal access to cultural opportunities through the
educational system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants and other
incentives, and community cultural centers, and other public venues.
(2) The State shall encourage and support researches and studies on the arts and
culture.
LANGUAGE
Section 6. The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be
further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.
Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the
Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of
official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.
Section 7. For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the
Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.
The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve
as auxiliary media of instruction therein.
Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.
Section 8. This Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be
translated into major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish.