Baybayin: Ancient Script of the Filipinos, Guide to Reading and Writing

Baybayin is becoming popular now due to the influence of social media. Many people use it on their Social Media account. Every consonant and vowel of it is also used in tattooing, in clothing printing, in banners, even graffiti that you see on abandoned buildings or on walls. However, there are some users who misuse it. You will notice this especially if you are proficient in reading Baybayin correctly. There are misspellings and incorrect phrases. This is why we made this article so that people will have a guide on proper reading and writing of Baybayin.

Brief History

The Baybayin is also known as Alibata. One of the many ancient Filipino writing systems even before the Spanish conquered the Philippines. Tagalog Baybayin script is used by most Filipinos until now. However, there are also existing scripts in other regions of the country such as Badlit by the Visayans, Kulitan by the Kapampangans, and others. There are also similar scripts from indigenous tribes such as Tagbanwa, Hanuno’o and Buhid that are still used today.

Baybayin is very diverse in different places not only because of the diversity of language but also because of the handwriting of each person who uses it. Still, it doesn’t matter how it’s written. There is no need to follow how each symbol is drawn because the ancient Filipinos have always written it according to the way they learned it. What is important is that the reader recognizes each symbol in the writing.

Ways of Writing

There are two ways to write Baybayin. First, the Traditional or Pre-Hispanic method. Second, the Modern Type which had few changes made by the Spanish friars. To easily understand the correct reading and writing of Baybayin, study the Traditional Version first and then the Modern Version.

Traditional Version

Baybayin is counted as an Abugida which means only syllables consisting of consonants and vowels.

Look at the example below:

Added "kudlit" (stroke) at the top of the letter for the E/I sound, and at the bottom for the O/U sound.

This is the traditional word writing system of the ancient Filipinos. They do not write the consonant alone.

For example, the word ADLAW (sun/day) would be written like this: A-LA. As well as BULAN (moon/month) will became BU-LA. Also like DAGAT (sea) will be DA-GA.

In addition, the traditional version has only three vowels unlike today which has five vowels.

There is no space between words. Each word is continuous and there is no space as in Japanese writing.

Each sentence is separated by two vertical lines (||) instead of dots like what we use today.

The symbol is the same for D and R. NG, on the other hand, has its own or a single symbol unlike what is used today which uses two combined letters - the N and G.

The script stands as a mnemonic reading device and is not enough to capture the different sounds of words in the Philippines.

Baybayin Characters:

Important things to remember for the Pre-Hispanic version:

1. A syllable equals a symbol.
2. The consonant at the end of the syllable is not written.
3. There is no space for between words.
4. Use two vertical lines as dots at the end of the sentence.
5. Da and Ra are the same symbol.
6. NG has its own symbol.

Here's the link for Babayin Part 2: Modified Version

https://fbspotlight.blogspot.com/2021/05/babayin-part-2-modified-version.html