Baybayin: A writing script used in pre-Hispanic Philippines
Baybayin is one of the writing systems that was used among early Filipinos before Spanish colonization.
The script was used to record business transactions, folk tales, poetry, songs and other compositions, according to the book An Illustrated History of the Philippines.
Baybayin consists of three vowels (A, E/I, O/U) and 14 consonants (B, K, D, G, H, L, M, N, NG, P, S, T, W and Y). In Baybayin, syllabic characters consist of a consonant followed by the vowel A, an article from Rappler states. A mark called a kudlit can be added to a syllabic character to change the vowel sound of A to E/I while placing the kudlit below a syllabic character changes the vowel sound to O/U.
The Rappler says writing systems from the Indian-influenced cultures of Indonesia and Malaysia came to archipelago sometime in the 13th century, leading to the script Baybayin.
The Spanish studied Baybayin when they first arrived on the archipelago in order to communicate with early Filipinos and teach Catholicism, according to CNN. After the locals were taught the Roman alphabet, the use of Baybayin began to disappear.
An Illustrated History of the Philippines says the use of Baybayin continued moderately among natives until the end of the 19th century.
Professor and anthropologist Bonifacio Comandante theorizes that the shape of giant clams might have played a role in the development of Baybayin symbols, a GMA article states.
Significant evidence of the relation of giant clams to Baybayin is found in the book A Lexicographic Study of Tayabas Tagalog of Quezon Province by Arsenio Manuel **from 1971, according to an article Comandante wrote for Esquire Philippines. In the book, the “word haha (p. 133) is listed to mean “hiwang malaki” (cut wide) and hahain means “bukahin ang manglit” (open the manglit) while manglit means ‘higanteng kabibe” (giant clams).”
Over the years, Baybayin has seen a resurgence as Filipinos try to connect with their culture. Many people who took an interest in Baybayin were Filipino Americans, Leo Emmanuel Castro of Sanghabi, an NGO which conducts research and workshops on Filipino culture, told CNN. “Kasi ito ‘yung mga tao who grew up in an American society and their parents did not teach them the culture of their parents. So nagkaroon ng tension between their identities,” Castro said. “They began looking for their roots.”
Castro also noted that Filipino calligraphers took to Baybayin as writing system they could identify with instead of Japanese or Korea.
Another CNN article notes that Baybayin is featured in a number of government offices in the Philippines. It’s featured on the National Library’s logo with the word spelling out “Ka-Du-Nu-Nga-N(a)”, or knowledge. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines’ logo includes “Ka” and “Pi,” which stand for Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. The logo for the Cultural Center of the Philippines is based on the symbol for “Ka,” which represents Katotohanan (truth), Kagandahan (beauty), at Kabutihan (goodness). The word “Pilipino” is also written in Baybayin on the lower right corner of the peso bills.
In 2018, the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture in the Philippines approved a bill looking to declare Baybayin as the country’s national writing system, according to an ABS-CBN article.
“House Bill 1022 or the proposed ‘National Writing System Act’ aims to declare Baybayin as the Philippines’ national writing system, thus promoting greater awareness on the plight of Baybayin, as well as fostering wider appreciation for it,” the ABS-CBN article says.
Once the bill is passed into law, food labels will need to have Baybayin scripts and their translation on labels, local governments will need to include the script on the signs of street names and public buildings, newspapers and magazines will also need to include a translation of their name in Baybayin.
The bill’s approval created some backlash among Filipinos on Facebook and Twitter, according to a Rappler article. Many believe the government should introduce Baybayin in schools before requiring its widespread use in the country. One commenter pointed out that the move was a waste of money. “BTW, kahit mag lagay sila ng baybayin sa street signs, dyaryo, products etc (subtitles), sa tingin ba nila may magbabasa nun? Halos wala. Unless turuan nila lahat ng pinoy ng baybayin na malabong mangyari. So, gagastos lang sila para palitan lahat ng signage. Anong silbi nun? — psynoid (@psynoid) April 25, 2018.”
Other Filipinos worry that declaring Baybayin as the country’s national writing system will erase other scripts that still exist in the country, according to CNN. Although the National Writing System Act aims to preserve a part of the pre-colonial culture, many are worried that it’ll only preserve one part of the Filipino’s diverse culture.
“While it is good that more Filipinos have a renewed interest in the ancient script of Baybayin, it is also good for us to recognize that it isn’t the only Filipino writing system,” the CNN article states.
References
- “Ancient Filipino writing systems that aren’t Baybayin” by Chang Casal for CNN Philippines.
- “‘Educate first’: Filipinos react to Baybayin as national writing system” by Nile Villa for the Rappler.
- “Evolution of the Filipino alphabet” by Nigel Tan for the Rappler.
- “Four things you may not know about our Baybayin” by Ime Morales for GMA News.
- “House committee approves Baybayin as national writing system” from ABD-CBN News.
- “The Baybayin scripts in our government seals” by Fiel Estrella for CNN Philippines.
- “The Life, Death, and Resurgence of Baybayin” by Bonifacio Comandante for Esquire Philippines.
