Baybayin is one of the precolonial writing systems used by early Filipinos. The term “baybayin” comes from the Tagalog root word baybay, which means “to spell.”
For many years the script was incorrectly referred to as “alibata,” based on the arrangement of another alphabet system – Arabic, in which the first letters are called alif, ba, and ta.
When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippine archipelago, they observed that most of the natives, not just the elite, could read and write. The script was used not only to record but also to write poetry, incantations, and letters.
The Monreal stone, discovered by students in the town of Monreal on Ticao Island in the province of Masbate, features inscriptions in Baybayin.
Technically, the Baybayin is what is called an alphasyllabary. Each character is based on a consonant letter, with a vowel notation indicating the corresponding vowel sound. It has 14 syllabic consonant characters (15 if the “da” and “ra” consonants are separated, as shown in the images below) and three vowel characters (a, e-i, o-u).
Each consonant character combines the consonant sound and the vowel sound “a.” To change this to the “e-i” sound, a kudlit or mark is placed on top of the character; for the “o-u” sound, the mark is placed at the bottom.
The Spanish friars studied Baybayin and used it to teach the Catholic religion to Filipinos. In fact, part of the Doctrina Christiana, one of the first books printed in the country, contains Baybayin script, along with Latinized Tagalog.
Pages fromthe Doctrina Christiana published in 1593 showing Baybayin characters before the Spanish and Tagalog translations of the “Hail Mary” prayer.
The Spanish also added a cross mark at the bottom of Baybayin characters to indicate consonants that stand alone. The word for God, Bathala, when written in the original Baybayin, reads Bahala. With the cross mark, the Spanish writers used another character, ta, and put a cross at the bottom to cancel out the “a” sound.
As the colonizers introduced their own system of writing, Baybayin began to be replaced with the Latin alphabet, and use of the script began to dwindle and eventually die out. Later versions of the catechism book Doctrina Christiana did not contain the script anymore.
However, there has been a resurgence of the use of Baybayin in recent years. Government organizations, cultural groups, and artists are actively bringing the ancient writing system back to life. It’s being taught in schools, workshops, and lectures. Words in Baybayin script are printed on clothing, posters, accessories, and even on the current batch of the Philippine Peso bills. Many have also started getting tattoos in Baybayin.
The Baybayin script on a 50-peso bill. The four characters read “Pilipino.”
The use of Baybayin is also being actively advocated and practiced by Filipinos in the United States, such as by artist Kristian Kabuay.
From Kristian Kabuay's book, Sulat ng Kaluluwa
Kabuay, based in San Francisco, considers the ancient writing system as more than a masterpiece. For him, reviving Baybayin through his artwork is a way to strengthen his Filipino identity and relive the Filipino experience. To learn more about his work, check out his website baybayin.com.
Sources and Further Reading:
https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/25/18/5-things-to-know-about-phs-pre-hispanic-writing-system
https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-culture/210657-reconnecting-filipino-roots-baybayin
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/the-life-death-and-resurgence-of-baybayin-a1962-20170811-lfrm
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/66819-evolution-filipino-alphabet
http://creativeroots.org/2012/06/philippine-peso-bills/
FAQs
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.
What is Baybayin the ancient Filipino script? ›
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.
Why did Filipinos stop using Baybayin? ›
The confusion over vowels (i/e and o/u) and final consonants, missing letters for Spanish sounds and the prestige of Spanish culture and writing may have contributed to the demise of baybayin over time, as eventually baybayin fell out of use in much of the Philippines.
Why is Baybayin important to Filipino? ›
It was found that with the lingering problem of inferiority complex due to colonial mentality, the Baybayin provides; 1) a cultural/national visual identity or symbol to the Filipino people, 2) a unifying factor that offers a sense of communal pride, belongingness, and social connection among various communities of ...
Is Baybayin a dead language? ›
Characterized by its wave-like script, Baybayin surprised curious Spaniards in its wide use as the prevalent reading and writing communication mode at that time. Fast-forward to today, Baybayin remains a functionally dead script, unused in any of the country's dialects.
Is Baybayin the first Filipino language? ›
It is believed that there were at least 16 different types of writing systems present around the Philippines prior to our colonization. Baybayin is just one of them, which was said to be of widespread use among coastal groups such as the Tagalog, Bisaya, Iloko, Pangasinan, Bikol, and Pampanga around the 16th century.
Is Baybayin Filipino language? ›
Baybayin is one of the precolonial writing systems used by early Filipinos. The term “baybayin” comes from the Tagalog root word baybay, which means “to spell.”
What is the problem with Baybayin? ›
For example, Baybayin does not distinguish between the vowels o / u, and a / e, and you can see how this becomes problematic. Here is one example of how a simple sentence is distorted in Baybayin because of its lack of a symbol for the letter R (people use D as a substitute for R).
When did Baybayin died? ›
Baybayin is a writing system native to the Philippines, attested from before Spanish colonization through to at least the eighteenth century. The word baybay means “to spell” in Tagalog, which was the language most frequently written with the baybayin script.
Why should we bring back Baybayin? ›
Advocates say reviving Baybayin will provide an antidote for a nation grappling with its colonial past and is a way of celebrating indigenous history. Many are proficient in English because of the American occupation – Spain ceded control to the US in 1898 – and the Philippines only became independent in 1946.
Learning how to write Baybayin can be a way to experience the Filipino culture. History is a relevant component of where we are today. Thus, fragments of it such as historical places and art pieces are preserved well to last for the following generations to see.
What is the Baybayin word for I love you? ›
Mahal Kita (ᜋᜑᜎ᜔ ᜃᜒᜆ) - 'I love you' written in Baybayin.
Is the Filipino language dying? ›
Endangered languages in the Philippines
There are eleven languages threatened with extinction, with several already extinct. Even major Philippine languages, such as Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Bikol, and Ilokano, are in decline, with some languages disappearing faster than others.
Can you use Baybayin in English? ›
P.S. Baybayin is best used to write languages from the Philippines, writing it for English would be cumbersome.
When did Filipinos stop using Baybayin? ›
It was widely used in the country prior to Spanish conquest up until 1668 when the script forms were removed from official Doctrina Christiana publications. The Boxer Codex of 1590, the first book about Filipinos, mentioned the adeptness of men and women in Baybayin writing.
Will Baybayin be revived? ›
There are independent initiatives by concerned Filipinos to revive the Baybayin writing system.
What replaced the ancient Philippine script Baybayin? ›
Baybayin script continued to be used during the early part of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines until largely being replaced by usage of the Latin alphabet.
What is the reason why Baybayin written system in the Philippines changed to abecedario or Spanish written system? ›
Spanish period: Abecedario
With colonization under Spain came the Latin alphabet and the decline and eventual disuse of baybayin. Spanish missionaries, who served as the first teachers in the islands, taught converted Filipinos Catholicism, the Latin alphabet, and the Spanish language.
The Baybayin script on a 50-peso bill. The four characters read “Pilipino.”
