The Linguistic Society of the Philippines, Inc. (or LSP) is a learned society for linguists and language educators based in Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1969 primarily to rally for increased domestic research work on Philippine languages. The organization currently hosts and co-hosts local and international conferences and three memorial lectures. The LSP also publishes its own international peer-reviewed scholarly journal entitled the Philippine Journal of Linguistics (PJL).
Among notable people involved with the organization were linguists R. David Zorc and Lawrence A. Reid and former Department of Education, Culture and Sports secretary Andrew Gonzalez. For years, the LSP has also been an active partner of SIL International, known publisher of the Ethnologue.
History The organization was the brainchild of Dr. Bonifacio Sibayan of the Philippine Normal College (now a university) and Dr. Ernesto Constantino of the University of the Philippines, two linguists who were working on their respective research projects in the Pacific and Asian Languages Institute of the University of Hawaiʻi in 1968. Far away from home and very conscious of the linguistic work going on in the US, they had several discussions on the need for an organization of linguists that would do research and write on Philippine languages. The Linguistic Society of the Philippines (popularly known as the LSP) was formally organized in school year 1969-1970, with Teodoro Llamzon (Ateneo de Manila) as president, Bonifacio Sibayan (PNC) as vice-president, Edilberto Dagot (PNC) as secretary, and Fe Otanes (PNC) as treasurer.
Several LSP members appeared before the Constitutional Convention of 1971 and again before the Constitutional Commission in 1986 to discuss the national language issue. The LSP was also involved in the formulation of the Bilingual Education Policy in 1974 and conducted a formal evaluation of its implementation for the period 1974 to 1985; based on the results of that evaluation, the Policy was revised in 1987.
Conference Hosting The Linguistic Society of the Philippines International Conference (LSPIC) is the international academic conference series of the LSP held annually. The first LSPIC was held from 7 to 9 March 2019 at De La Salle University as part of the society’s 50th anniversary.
Subsequent editions have been held in different locations and formats:
LSPIC 2020 - Dakak Park and Beach Resort in Dapitan City LSPIC 2022 - held jointly with the English in Southeast Asia International Conference in a wholly digital format LSPIC 2023 - Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology LSPIC 2024 - Isabela State University Cauayan Campus LSPIC 2025 - Pangasinan State University–Lingayen Campus LSPIC 2026 - West Visayas State University, Iloilo City
The conference serves as a venue for research in linguistics, language, and language education, including Philippine linguistics, sociolinguistics, multilingualism, language policy, corpus linguistics, and related areas.
Organization The LSP is handled by a group of elected scholars and academicians from various institutions in the Philippines. Officers (Present to Founding)
2026–2027 Position Name Institution Affiliation President Rachelle Ballesteros-Lintao University of Santo Tomas Vice-President Aireen Barrios-Arnuco De La Salle University Secretary Rafael Michael O. Paz Polytechnic University of the Philippines Treasurer Elineth Elizabeth L. Suarez Ateneo de Manila University Immediate Past President Aldrin P. Lee University of the Philippines Diliman Position Name Institution Affiliation Director of Membership Robin A. Delos Reyes Ateneo de Zamboanga University Director of Research and Special Projects Ryn Jean Fe. V. Gonzales SIL International Director of Public Relations and Linkages Boyet L. Batang Isabela State University Director of Publications Rodney C. Jubilado University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Director of Conferences Honeylet E. Dumoran Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology Director of Professional Meetings Philip Adrianne A. Rentillo De La Salle University Director of Training Vincent Christopher A. Santiago University of the Philippines–Diliman Board of Advisors Emma C. Castillo Philippine Normal University Jesus Federico C. Hernandez University of the Philippines–Diliman Marilu R. Madrunio University of Santo Tomas Isabel P. Martin Ateneo de Manila University Anna Maria Gloria S. Ward University of Santo Tomas
2025–2026 Position Name Institution Affiliation President Rachelle Ballesteros-Lintao University of Santo Tomas Vice-President Aireen Barrios-Arnuco De La Salle University Secretary Rafael Michael O. Paz Polytechnic University of the Philippines Treasurer Elineth Elizabeth L. Suarez Ateneo de Manila University Immediate Past President Aldrin P. Lee University of the Philippines Diliman Position Name Institution Affiliation Director of Membership Robin A. Delos Reyes Ateneo de Zamboanga University Director of Research and Special Projects Ryn Jean Fe. V. Gonzales SIL International Director of Public Relations and Linkages Boyet L. Batang Isabela State University Director of Publications Rodney C. Jubilado University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Director of Conferences Honeylet E. Dumoran Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology Director of Professional Meetings Shirley N. Dita De La Salle University Director of Training Vincent Christopher A. Santiago University of the Philippines–Diliman Board of Advisors Emma C. Castillo Philippine Normal University Jesus Federico C. Hernandez University of the Philippines–Diliman Marilu R. Madrunio University of Santo Tomas Isabel P. Martin Ateneo de Manila University Anna Maria Gloria S. Ward University of Santo Tomas
2024–2025 Position Name Institution Affiliation President Rachelle Ballesteros-Lintao University of Santo Tomas Vice-President Aireen Barrios-Arnuco De La Salle University Secretary Rafael Michael O. Paz Polytechnic University of the Philippines Treasurer Elineth Elizabeth L. Suarez Ateneo de Manila University Immediate Past President Aldrin P. Lee University of the Philippines Diliman Position Name Institution Affiliation Director of Membership Honeylet E. Dumoran Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology Director of Research and Special Projects Ryn Jean Fe. V. Gonzales SIL International Director of Public Relations and Linkages Robin A. Delos Reyes Ateneo de Zamboanga University Director of Publications Rodney C. Jubilado University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Director of Conferences Boyet L. Batang Isabela State University Director of Professional Meetings Shirley N. Dita De La Salle University Director of Training Vincent Christopher A. Santiago University of the Philippines–Diliman Board of Advisors Emma C. Castillo Philippine Normal University Jesus Federico C. Hernandez University of the Philippines–Diliman Marilu R. Madrunio University of Santo Tomas Isabel P. Martin Ateneo de Manila University Anna Maria Gloria S. Ward University of Santo Tomas 2021-2024 Position Name Institution Affiliation Position Name Institution Affiliation President Aldrin P. Lee University of the Philippines-Diliman Vice-President Rachelle Ballesteros-Lintao University of Santo Tomas Secretary Aireen Barrios-Arnuco De La Salle University Treasurers Dennis H. Pulido Far Eastern University Elineth Elizabeth L. Suarez Ateneo De Manila University Immediate Past President Alejandro S. Bernardo University of Santo Tomas Position Name Institution Affiliation Directors of Membership Elineth Elizabeth L. Suarez Ateneo De Manila University Chenee M. Dino-Aparicio Far Eastern University Director of Research and Special Projects Ryn Jean Fe. V. Gonzales SIL International Directorsof Public Relations and Linkages Cecilia F. Genuino Philippine Normal University Robin A. Delos Reyes Ateneo de Zamboanga University Directors of Publications Leah Gustilo De La Salle University Rodney C. Jubilado University of Hawai'I at Hilo Directors of Conferences Chenee M. Dino-Aparicio Far Eastern University Rodney C. Jubilado University of Hawai'I at Hilo Boyet L. Batang Isabela State University Director of Professional Meetings Shirley N. Dita De La Salle University Directors of Training Rodney C. Jubilado University of Hawai'I at Hilo Chenee M. Dino-Aparicio Far Eastern University Honeylet E. Dumoran Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Board of Advisors Emma C. Castillo Philippine Normal University Jesus Federico C. Hernandez University of the Philippines-Diliman Marilu R. Madrunio University of Santo Tomas Isabel P. Martin Ateneo de Manila University Anna Maria Gloria S. Ward University of Santo Tomas
2018-2021 Position Name Institution Affiliation Position Name Institution Affiliation President Alejandro S. Bernardo University of Santo Tomas Vice-President Leah E. Gustilo De La Salle University Secretary Priscilla Angela T. Cruz Ateneo de Manila University Treasurer Rachelle Ballesteros-Lintao University of Santo Tomas Immediate Past President Shirley N. Dita De La Salle University BOARD OF DIRECTORS Position Name Institution Affiliation Director for Membership Dennis H. Pulido Far Eastern University Director of Research and Special Projects Tammy L. Ruch SIL International Director of Public Relations and Linkages Arceli M. Amarles Philippine Normal University Director for Publications Michael C.L. Tanangkingsing National Taipei University of Technology Director for Conferences Aldrin P. Lee University of the Philippines Diliman Director for Professional Meetings Eden R. Flores De La Salle University Director for Training Jesus Federico C. Hernandez University of the Philippines Diliman Board of Advisors Emma C. Castillo Philippine Normal University Resty M. Cena University of Alberta Marilu R. Madrunio University of Sto. Tomas Isabel P. Martin Ateneo de Manila University Anna Maria Gloria S. Ward University of Sto. Tomas
2017-2018 Position Name Institution Affiliation Position Name Institution Affiliation President Shirley N. Dita De La Salle University Vice-President Alejandro S. Bernardo University of Santo Tomas Secretary Arceli M. Amarles Philippine Normal University Treasurer Camilla J. Vizconde University of Santo Tomas Immediate Past President Rochelle Irene G. Lucas De La Salle University BOARD OF DIRECTORS Position Name Institution Affiliation Director of Membership Priscilla T. Cruz Ateneo de Manila University Director of Research and Special Projects Marlina L. Lino Mariano Marcos State University Director of Public Relations and Linkages Jesus Federico C. Hernandez University of the Philippines - Diliman Director of Publications Leah E. Gustilo De La Salle University Director of Conferences Dennis H. Pulido Far Eastern University Director of Professional Meetings Eden R. Flores De La Salle University Director of Training Tammy B. Ruch SIL International Board of Advisors Ma. Lourdes S. Bautista De La Salle University Emma S. Castillo Philippine Normal University Marilu Rañosa Madrunio University of Santo Tomas Isabel P. Martin Ateneo de Manila University J. Stephen Quakenbush SIL International