Who would have thought that one day Lutong Cavite would be collaborating with the very researcher whose work is cited in almost every new Chabacano thesis in the country - Dr. Eeva Sippola alongside her brilliant team: Dr. Danae Perez, an anthropological linguist, and Prof. Jillian Melchor, who is currently pursuing her doctorate focusing on Chabacano.
Sitting with them in person, listening to their stories, insights, and methodologies, and being part of deep-diving conversations on how linguists actually work with languages was nothing short of unforgettable. To witness firsthand how they document, analyze, and most importantly care for Chabacano as a living language was an experience that reshaped how I see language preservation.
Being taught how they approach safeguarding Chabacano, and then working closely with them to produce meaningful outputs for the language, felt almost surreal. These weren’t just academic discussions - they were moments of shared purpose, mutual respect, and genuine passion for the language and the community behind it.
This collaboration, these interviews, these long conversations, and the work we created together are memories I will treasure for the rest of my life. They reminded me that heritage work is not just about the past but it is about people, relationships, and the future we choose to build together.
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