Despite living half of her life in Australia, Cena continues to speak her native Rinconada Bikol language

Sydney university student Cena Morillo

Sydney student Cena Morillo (left photo) with fellow Filipino students (right photo) attending an event at their university. Credit: SBS Filipino

Sydney student Cena Morillo was only nine when she moved to Australia with her family. She shares that her persistence in speaking her native Rinconada Bikol language has benefitted her.


Key Points
  • Sydney student Cena Morillo speaks English, Tagalog and Rinconada Bikol.
  • Rinconada Bikol or simply Rinconada, is a minority language in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines.
  • Morillo, the Creative Director of the Filipino Student Society of the University of Sydney, says being multilingual allows her to connect with others.
"I'm lucky as we speak it at home. But I think my mind has an automatic switch depending on who I'm surrounded [with]," 19-year-old student and Creative Director of the Filipino Student Society of the University of Sydney Cena Morillo shares.

Rinconada Bikol is a minority language in Camarines Sur, where over 470,000 speak it.
Cena Morillo with family.jpg
Cena Morilloo (left) with her family who moved to Australia over 10 years ago. Credit: Cena Morillo (Facebook)

Moving to Sydney from Nabua, Camarines Sur when she was nine, Morillo says that persisting in Tagalog and Rinconada Bikol helps her connect with people with a similar background.

"It's a great way to connect with peers who have the same mindset as [me]."
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Despite living half of her life in Australia, Cena continues to speak her native Rinconada Bikol language | SBS Filipino