Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language

The Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language (Spanish: Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española; Filipino: Akademyang Pilipino ng Lenguaheng Español) is the main Spanish-language regulating body in the Philippines. A member of the Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, the Academy is located in Makati City.

Established in Manila on 25 July 1924, the academy is still considered a state institution despite the removal of Spanish as an official language of the Philippines in 1987. Presidential Decree No. 155, signed on 15 March 1973, re-designated Spanish as official, while Section 7, Article XIV of the present 1987 Philippine Constitution specifies Spanish (along with Arabic) as a language to "be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis."

Former President Arroyo, Foreign Affairs Minister Alberto Romulo, and Emeritus Archbishop of Cebu Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, are among its current directors.

In the Philippines, even if the official languages are Filipino and English, it is clear that Spanish is considered a de facto official language.

Spanish was the language of government, education and trade throughout the three centuries (333 years) of the Philippines being part of the Spanish Empire and continued to serve as a lingua franca until the first half of the 20th century.

In December 2007, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a directive in Spain that require the teaching and learning of the Spanish language in the Philippine school system starting in 2008.

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