A tabletop game called ‘Isabuhay’ is helping college students learn native Philippine languages in an enjoyable way. Developed by Assistant Professor Mariyel Hiyas Concha Liwanag from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), ‘Isabuhay’ uses game-based learning to teach language skills.
Liwanag’s board game, “Isabuhay,” serves as an innovative tool to engage students in learning and preserving the Philippines’ native tongues. By incorporating game-based learning strategies, it offers an interactive approach to language education.
Discover how Isabuhay is transforming Filipino language education—just like UP’s Sakunwari board game helped teach disaster resilience.
The game has been tested in classes, and both students and teachers have shared positive experiences. Professor Liwanag’s paper published in the UPLB University Knowledge Digital Repository (UKDR) presents the results of the study where it was found that ‘Isabuhay’ empowers learners and creates a space for problem-solving and understanding. Although some areas for improvement include clearer directions and better alignment with class topics, overall, ‘Isabuhay’ shows promise as a fun and effective tool for language learning.
See how Isabuhay joins the ranks of innovative board games preserving Filipino culture, like Dwaine Woolley’s Engkanto board game celebrating Filipino folklore.
The UPLB Department of Humanities professor developed the board game Isabuhay as part of her doctoral dissertation at De La Salle University. Her work, titled “Isabuhay: Isang Larong Disenyo para sa mga Diskurso ng mga Wikang Katutubo,” won the prestigious Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda 2025 award from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF). This annual award recognizes exceptional theses and dissertations written in Filipino, encouraging scholarly works that strengthen the use of the language across various academic fields.
UPLB proudly shared Professor Liwanag’s achievement:
Here is the announcement of Isabuhay’s KWF award:
The creation of Isabuhay showcases the power of educational games in preserving cultural heritage and native languages. It also highlights the value of innovative teaching strategies in boosting student engagement and enhancing learning outcomes.
Discover more about ‘Isabuhay’ and how it’s changing language education in the full study by Assistant Professor Liwanag found in this UPLB report.
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