In honor of Buwan ng Wika, we’re paying tribute to Baybayin, a script from our earliest ancestors. “Baybayin” comes from the Tagalog word “baybay” which means “to spell.” All in all, the alphabet has 3 vowels, and 14 consonant-vowel characters. In 1999, baybayin was preserved in the official Memory of the World Register of UNESCO.

A brief history

There are many theories about the origin of Baybayin. Scholars have noted its similarities to the Kawi script of Java Indonesia, Cham script of the Champa Kingdom (now modern-day Vietnam), both of which are rooted in ancient India. Geographically, baybayin was used in regions in Luzon and Visayas, such as Zambales, Bicol, and Palawan. It has actually been found in varieties, with slight differences in every region that uses it. 

The earliest examples of Baybayin were found engraved on ancient burial pots and stones. It is also said to have been written on bamboo and leaves by early Filipinos as a way to give notes and pass on traditions. Today, you can find some of these original baybayin scripts preserved in museums such as the National Museum or the library of the University of Sto. Tomas. 

The decline of Baybayin came during the Spanish colonial rule, with the onset of the Latin alphabet. 

What Baybayin meant to our ancestors

Baybayin played a central role in the lives of our ancestors. The script had both personal and public purposes. For personal use, Baybayin was used to write letters and love notes. There was also a practice of hanging Baybayin-carved bamboo in front of homes as it was believed to ward off evil spirits. For public use, Baybayin was used for religious and legal documents. 

Baybayin also presents the significance of nature in early Philippine society. Our ancestors were known to be environment-centric, showing immense reverence to the natural world. A prime example of this is how Baybayin’s physical shape is said to be derived from the taklobo, a giant clam. Baybayin’s curves and crevices bear a lot of similarities to that of the taklobo’s. 

Baybayin’s relevance today

Baybayin paints a different picture of pre-colonial Filipinos, as it is often seen through a western-centric lens. The idea of our ancestors as “uncultured” or “uncivilized” fractures little by little with knowing that they were literate. This gives us, modern-day Filipinos, a sense of even higher pride for our ancestors, who were able to create a fully functioning writing system. 

Baybayin also serves as an inspiration for Filipinos to return to a more nature-centric way of living. The state of our environment today all but points to the reality that we must treat the earth with kindness – and what better model do we have than our early ancestors? Their reverence to nature as sacred and divine is something we should emulate today. Once again, we see how our past can guide the way for a better future.