Baybayin is an ancient precolonial 3.

introduction of the Latin

writing script native to the Philippines. alphabet, which replaced
It is a syllabic script (an abugida) used Baybayin in education, religion,
primarily by Tagalog-speaking and governance.
communities before the Spanish
4. Misconception: The term
colonization. Baybayin, meaning "to
"Alibata" is a 20th-century
spell" in Tagalog, reflects the linguistic
misnomer and is not historically
and cultural identity of early Filipinos.
accurate for referring to
Key Features of Baybayin: Baybayin.
1. Structure: Baybayin consists of Current Status
17 characters—14 consonants
While Baybayin is not widely used for
and 3 vowels. Each character
communication today, it remains a
represents a syllable rather than
cultural symbol, celebrated during
a single sound.
events like Buwan ng Wika (Language
2. Origins and Use: Month) and integrated into art and
design. Legislative efforts focus on
o Baybayin is part of the
promoting awareness rather than
Brahmic script family, mandating its adoption as a functional
suggesting influence from script.
Southeast Asian and
Indian writing systems. It is considered as Traditional writing
script.
-developed through
cultural exchange and Ever since the Spanish set foot on our
adaptation. It is part of land and reconstructed our history,
the Brahmic script followed by the “westernization” by
family, which originated the US, we have been lacking a
in South Asia and spread historical cultural identity. Perhaps
across Southeast Asia Tolentino and Paterno’s motive was in
through trade, migration, line with Jose E. Marco who was
and religious interactions. notorious for forging historical
documents and mixing in false
- used to document laws, information in his claims – most
communicate, and write famously when he rewrote the history
poetry. Early records, like of his own province, Negros
the Laguna Copperplate Occidental.
Inscription, provide
evidence of precolonial Baybayin was used by Tagalog,
literacy in the region. Ilocano, and other Philippine ethnic
groups before the arrival of Spanish
o "Philippine Indigenous colonizers. It served as a tool for
and Traditional Writing writing personal letters, poetry, and
Systems Act" aim to legal documents.
preserve it.
 No Single Inventor: Like other
indigenous writing systems, Baybayin
evolved over time through collective  Spanish influence dominated
use and regional adaptation, rather the educational system,
than being the creation of a single religion, and governance.
person or group.
 Baybayin was only preserved
in a few isolated communities,
mostly for ornamental or
ceremonial purposes, not as a
practical writing system.

Arguments: In the modern digital age, the Latin

alphabet is the dominant writing
1. Baybayin Was Not Universally system globally, with all technology,
Used Across the Philippines such as keyboards, coding, and digital
While Baybayin was widely used interfaces, designed for its use.
among Tagalog-speaking and other Baybayin does not have the same
lowland communities in the level of integration into modern
Philippines prior to Spanish technology, making it difficult for it to
colonization, it was not used serve as the national writing script.
universally across the archipelago.  There are no standard digital
Other regions had different indigenous fonts for Baybayin, and typing
scripts or no writing system at all. For in the script requires special
instance: software or keyboard layouts.
 Visayan languages had their  The Latin alphabet is already
own scripts like Sulod or standardized for all types of
Manguindanao script. communication, both digital and
 The Igorot and Ifugao peoples, analog.
residing in mountainous areas,
relied more on oral traditions
than written scripts.
2. The Decline of Baybayin After
Spanish Colonization
Baybayin declined significantly after
the arrival of the Spanish colonizers,
who imposed the Latin alphabet.
During the Spanish period, the Latin
script was adopted for official and
religious use, and Baybayin was no
longer widely taught or used. While
there was a small effort to preserve it,
the vast majority of Filipinos switched
to the Latin alphabet.