This descriptive-quantitative-correlational investigation involving a total of 1080 pre-service teachers primarily aimed to determine the cognition of the would-be teachers towards the mother tongue. In addition, it intended to also identify the willingness of the respondents to teach using the mother tongue and to teach the mother tongue as a subject. This cross-sectional investigation gathered data through a developed and validated survey-questionnaire. The research tool yielded reliability characterized as 'excellent' (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.94). Analysis of the data revealed that the respondents are 'positive' in terms of their held cognition or belief towards the MT. Moreover, the respondents are found to be willing to teach using the MT as a medium of instruction and to teach MT as a subject. Furthermore, a high positive significant correlation was established between the variables cognition and willingness to teach in the MT and cognition and willingness to the MT.