MANILA-More show business stars are gaining recognition from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) for helping promote Philippine culture and Filipino, the country's national language. During the Araw ng Parangal program on Nov. 9 this year, KWF, in a statement on Saturday, said it will confer its Kampeon ng Wika award on superstar Nora Aunor. KWF will also confer its Dangal ng Panitikan award on singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar. They are among the awardees KWF will honor during the program. Kampeon ng Wika is the annual award that KWF confers on individuals, institutions and organizations actively promoting and preserving, in different fields or disciplines, Filipino and other Philippine dialects. Actress and Batangas province's 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos as well as show business host Cristy Fermin received the award in 2013, noted KWF. On the other hand, Dangal ng Panitikan recognizes people whose work significantly contributed to the development of Philippine literature and culture. In 2019, KWF conferred such award on singer-songwriter Rey Valera and playwright Rody Vera. KWF said aside from Aunor, the organization called Alyansa ng mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino who will receive the Kampeon ng Wika award this year. Writers Eugene Y. Evasco and Domingo G. Landicho are also KWF's 2021 Dangal ng Panitikan awardees besides Aguilar. Before joining show business, Aunor peddled water in a train station in Bicol Region to help her impoverished family. She won singing contests in the late 1960s and eventually joined show business as a singer and bit movie player but eventually gained superstar status as a top teen idol and product endorser in the 1970s. Over the years, she evolved into an internationally acclaimed award-winning actress. Aguilar, meanwhile, started his show business career in the 1970s as a folk singer in Manila. He wrote and sang "Anak" which broke Philippine record charts in the late 1970s and gained considerable popularity abroad. Some observers describe Aguilar's work as being heavily influenced by his Philippine heritage and nationalist feelings. (PNA) }