Reviving Tagalog for the Next Generation: An Interview with Jeepney School’s Ate Cherry AITKEN
Written By Niko Del Rey
I think I’ve written about the importance of learning Tagalog in at least 5 different blogs now. If I haven’t made my point clear, I think Filipino Americans losing the ability to speak in their native tongue is like chopping down a tree from its roots and this deforestation of our culture needs to be corrected asap. I’ve written about online courses, I’ve written about children's books, and now I’m writing about the best Tagalog educational channel on Youtube, now showing on a screen near you, Jeepney School.
Jeepney School is a show that I put on everyday with my 5 month old son to teach him the basics of Tagalog and I love it. Picture Ms. Rachel but instead she’s your Ate Cherry you’ve grown up with and instead of “wheels on the bus”, you and all your friends are crammed in the back of a cartoon Jeepney, learning your favorite tagalog words. Trust me when I say it makes learning Tagalog a lot of fun. But not only does she make learning fun for kids, her channel has stories of adults learning tagalog IN the Philippines! Ate Cherry does a great job about breaking down everyday Tagalog words and phrases and making it easily digestible and retainable through call & response, singing, and repetition.
I could go on and keep telling you how fun it is to learn with Ate Cherry but I had the privilege to talk with our leading lady about everything that has gone into this educational learning adventure, so let’s meet the creative mastermind behind Jeepney School- Cherry Aitken.
1. Me and my son love your show, it’s so entertaining and well written! Can you tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to start Jeepney School?
Several moments in my life led to the creation of Jeepney School. It all began when my mom moved from the Philippines to live with us in the US. There was a big language barrier between her and my son, which led me to the decision that moving forward, we would teach Tagalog to my children. However, I couldn't find age-appropriate free resources on the internet, so I started my channel to create videos that my kids could watch. Seeing my children speak Tagalog brings immense joy to my mom; it's their way of showing love to her.
2. We always see Ate Cherry, but is there a team behind Jeepney School or are you the sole creative behind this passion project? Will we see other characters in the future?
I handle every aspect of my projects—from planning and setup to shooting and editing. Recently, I've started outsourcing editing to save time. Looking ahead, I plan to introduce fictional characters to assist Ate Cherry in entertaining young children.
3. What has been the biggest obstacle for Jeepney School and what did you do to overcome it?
Several challenges were holding me back from starting this channel. First, I'm not musically inclined, which I felt was crucial for engaging a young audience. Second, I lacked the space and resources needed for video production. Third, being a mom consumed all of my time, making it difficult to pursue other projects like a YouTube channel.
But despite all these obstacles, I had one thing: an IDEA. An idea to create a YouTube channel to promote the learning of Tagalog. Because of that idea, we rearranged our priorities, made sacrifices, and found ways to make it work. It's the one thing I held onto, and so far, it has been incredibly rewarding.
4. Knowing what you know now what would you do differently?
Knowing that I'm not alone in raising bilingual children and understanding the significant benefits of multilingualism gives me added confidence to stay committed to teaching my kids Tagalog and promoting the language to the younger generation.
5. What is the ultimate goal for Jeepney School and how can we as fellow Filipinos help you reach that goal?
For now, our goal is straightforward: to establish a presence within the Filipino community and connect with those seeking it. However, I envision Jeepney School becoming a prominent TV station in the US—a go-to destination for learning Tagalog and reconnecting with Filipino culture. It's a big dream, but whether it's Jeepney School or others pursuing this vision, I would be delighted to see Filipino representation on television.
6. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know or any upcoming projects you’d like to share?
As a parent, I once feared that teaching my children Tagalog while living in the US might cause speech delays. However, after discussing this concern with my pediatrician, I was reassured that bilingualism does not lead to such delays.In fact, there are numerous benefits, particularly for learning Tagalog. So worry less! Just do it and I’m sure that children will be grateful for it!
Trade talk just got real. The U.S. is setting the stage for a new kind of economic clapback and the Philippines might get caught in the middle with a 17% import tariff coming this July. It sounds like something buried deep in a government PDF, but here’s the thing: this could mess with jobs, prices, military deals, and even how we as Filipino Americans move through the world.
So let’s decode what’s going on, why it matters, and what the ripple effects could look like for all of us navigating life between cultures.