Baybayin
| Baybayin | |
|---|---|
Tagalog script ("Sulat Tagalog"), based on traditional rules and handwritten UST Baybayin Documents, with accurate syllable-to-character mapping | |
| Script type | |
Period | 14th to 19th century[1][2] limited modern usage[3] |
| Direction | Left-to-right |
| Languages | Tagalog, Bisayan languages,[4] Sambali, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Bikol, Pangasinan, Sanskrit |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | Egyptian
|
Child systems |
|
Sister systems |
|
| ISO 15924 | |
| ISO 15924 | Tglg (370), Tagalog (Baybayin, Alibata) |
| Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Tagalog |
Unicode range | U+1700–U+171F |
| Brahmic scripts |
|---|
| The Brahmi script and its descendants |
Baybayin (,[a]Tagalog pronunciation: [bajˈbajɪn]), also sometimes erroneously referred to as alibata, is a Philippine script widely used primarily in Luzon during the 16th and 17th centuries and prior to write Tagalog and to a lesser extent Visayan languages, Kampampangan, Ilocano, and several other Philippine languages.
Baybayin is an abugida belonging to the family of the Brahmic scripts. Its use was gradually replaced by the Latin alphabet during Spanish rule, though it has seen limited modern usage in the Philippines. The script is encoded in Unicode as Tagalog block since 1998 alongside Buhid, Hanunoo, and Tagbanwa scripts.[5] The Archives of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila holds the largest collection of extant writings using Baybayin.[6][7][8]
Baybayin has seen increasing modern usage in the Philippines. Today, Baybayin is often used for cultural and aesthetic purposes, such as in art, graduation regalia, tattoos, and logos. It is also featured on the logos of government agencies, Philippine banknotes, and passports. Additionally, there are educational initiatives and workshops aimed at teaching Baybayin to a new generation. Social media has also been instrumental in the increased awareness and interest in Baybayin. Artists, educators, and enthusiasts use these platforms to share tutorials, artworks, and historical facts about the script, sparking interest among younger generations.[9][10][11] Bills to recognize the script and revive its use alongside the Latin alphabet have been repeatedly considered by the Congress.[12]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Decline of the Baybayin Script During the Early Spanish Period and the Spanish Effort for its Preservation (1593-1703)". www.medium.com. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
artedelalengatagalogwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Morrow, Paul (April 7, 2011). "Baybayin Styles & Their Sources". paulmorrow.ca. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ Brennan, Fredrick R. (July 18, 2018). "The baybayin "ra"—ᜍ its origins and a plea for its formal recognition" (PDF).
- ^ "UST Archives". University of Santo Tomas. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Lao, Levine (January 15, 2012). "UST Collection of Ancient Scripts in 'Baybayin' Syllabary Shown to Public". Lifestyle.Inq. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ Kabuay, Kristian (January 16, 2012). "UST Baybayin Collection Shown to Public". Kristian Kabuay. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ Admin, HAPI (August 17, 2022). "Baybayin: How This Ancient Pinoy Script's Legacy Lives On". Humanist Alliance Philippines International. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ chloe (August 26, 2024). "The Art of Filipino Baybayin Script: History, Revival, and Cultural Importance". Moments Log. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Camba, Allan (2021). Baybayin: The Role of a Written Language in the Cultural Identity and Socio-Psychological Well-Being of Filipinos (PhD thesis). Harvard University Division of Continuing Education. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.12961.94563.
- ^ "House of Representatives Press Releases". www.congress.gov.ph. Retrieved May 7, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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