Ancient Baybayin: Early Mother Tongue-basedEducation Model

by Bonifacio F. Comandante, Jr. / Asia Social Institute

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ABSTRACTMiguel Lopez de Legaspi first experienced the linguistic diversity of the PhilippineArchipelago on 1565. In the succeeding years, Catholic missionaries were heaping praiseson the excellencies of Baybayin Language, not hesitating to compare it even to the Hebrew,Greek and Latin, the prestigious language of the letters and religion that time.

Fletcher Gardner in 1938 quoted Luyon wife of Yagao (Tribal Mangyan) as saying, “Ourwriting never changes as it is taught to the children.” Extant Baybayin scripts such asTagalog, Ilocano, Bisaya, Bohol, Bicol, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Hinunoo, Buhid, Bangonand Tagbanwa have been found very recently to predate the birth of Christ.

While Filipinos lost the ancient art of writing in favor of the Spanish Orthography, the spokenBaybayin language fortunately enough has flourished to this very day. Long before thearrival of the Spaniards, Baybayin has been used in detailing personal and domesticinterests, postal scheme, writing poems, art works, healing modalities and conducting ritualsfor festivities and spirituality. Higher education back then was done by teachers called“Pantas.”

BAYBAYIN LANGUAGE AND SCRIPTThe Philippine Baybayin belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian languages (also referred asAustronesian) that are widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and thePacific, with a few members extending to Asia mainland. It is one of the best-establishedancient language families at par with Indo-European, Afro-Asiatic and Uralic written andspoken forms. Austronesian comes from Latin auster "south wind" and Greek nêsos or"island". Austronesian is aptly termed as the vast majority of syllabic languages are spokenon archipelagic domains and islands. According to Otto Dempwolff, a German scholar,although many Austronesian languages have very few speakers, the major Austronesianlanguages are spoken by tens of millions of people. It comprises 1268 spoken and writtenforms or one-fifth of the known languages of the world. The geographical span of thehomelands of its languages is also among the widest, ranging from Madagascar to PacificPolynesia (Bellwood 1991).

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Fig 1: Baybayin Script (Doctrina Christiana 1593)

The Philippine Baybayin is one of a dozen or so individual syllabary from Southeast Asiacomprising Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi which are believed to be derived from ancientIndia that share the Sanskrit characteristic where consonants are pronounced with asucceeding vowel marked by diacritical accents. While previous literatures points to theSanskrit and SE Asian origins of Baybayin, this paper will show that the Syllabary isendemic to the Philippines. An associative origin linking Baybayin script to Giant Clams(Kabibe or Taklobo) was studied by Comandante and a subject of his Dissertation.

GIANT CLAMSWhat are Giant Clams? Known in Palawan as Taklobo, these are the largest living bivalvesthat produce massive lime shells through calcium carbonate biomineralization. Giant clamscomes in various sizes, the smallest measures six inches and the largest over four feet inlenght. The big ones can weigh more than 200 kilograms (comparable to one drum of oil).Taklobo shells have symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae known as zooxanthellaethat provides 90% nutrition of the animal by way of phothosynthesis. The photosymbionts or

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algae live inside the soft tissues of the clam called mantle that receives sunlight and convertenergy into Taklobo food. The mantle or meat (common favorite-manlet, a smaller variety)is eaten by coastal dwellers but the adductor muscle responsible for the shell opening andclosing is a delicacy.

The picture below was taken on May 07, 2009 in Matina, Davao City. The meter long giantcalm was excavated right where the restaurant is located on top of a hill overlooking thecity. Evidences of large clams found all over the island are testimonies why in 1526, fiveyears after landing in Philippine shores, the Spaniards named Mindanao Gran Moluccas.

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Fig 2. Davao Taklobo Fossils

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTSThe 1590 Boxer Codex, the first book written about Filipinos, explicitly mentioned of Filipinoadeptness in Baybayin speaking and writing. Women were particularly singled out as wellversed in writing on leaves and bamboo (Roces 1977). Baybayin enabled Filipinos tounderstand each other, transcending regionalism and ethno-linguistic differences. BoxerCodex mentioned of how Bisayans can understand Tagalog well. This can be partlyexplained by the compilation made by Pardo de Tavera in 1884 as seen below:

As seen in the previous figure, Baybayin similarities among the various groups based ongeographical locality where very clear suggesting each others’ ability to comprehend similarsymbols and connotations.

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It took the Spaniards 72 years to begin twisting our ancient Baybayin. By the time DoctrinaChristiana was published in 1593, many Filipinos slowly started abandoning the use ofBaybayin in favor of the Latinized Tagalog based on Spanish Orthography. Signing ofnames became fashionable using the newly introduced alphabetic Abakada.

Outside Mangyan and Tagbanwa syllabary, usage of Baybayin today is confined to fancywriting and body tattoo. Going back to our ancient roots, difficult as it may sound, may leadus to understanding our identity as Filipinos.

OBJECTIVEThe primaryobjective of this paper is to show the central role giant clams provided in thedevelopment of the ancient Baybayin Script (incorrectly branded as Alibata) and show howthe script was used by early inhabitants of the archipelago. An interdisciplinary approachrelated to marine Science (biology), plant science (botany) and the study of human beings(anthropology) was employed. In particular, archaeology, evolution of language andplace-names were synthesized to relate symbols and word meanings (particularly theManunggul Jar). of the various data syntheses were analyzed as to its validity in terms ofappropriateness and cohesiveness.

SIGNIFICANCEThis seminal study on the origins of Ancient Filipino Script may open doors to things thatwere either neglected or taken lightly in the past. Initially, studies on the Malayo-Polynesianlanguage and its dispersal will have to be taken from this new perspective. Historicalpropagation studies of anthropogenic imprints and cultural practices associated with giantclams around the Philippines, Southeast Asia and beyond will likely be affected by thisstudy. This will lead to a deeper look and analysis of the migration patterns of early Asians.Betel chewing, festivities and burial practices including goods associated with it will havenew twists and meanings. Artifacts and Potteries belonging to the Neolithic and subsequentperiods must be reexamined and studied based on these new developments.

PRE-SPANISH PERIODFilipino Baybayin syllabary, the probable root source of different Philippine dialects likeTagalog, Visayan and Ilokano has a deep mysterious past. A paper presented by Jaime F.Tiongson at the 8th Conference on Philippine Studies describes circumstances surroundingthe discovery of an evidence for the old writing and initial impressions on it.

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Fig 3: Baybayin Script Collection of Tavera in 1884

“A copperplate measuring 8 x 12 inches was recovered in a sand quarry located atBarangay Wawa, Lumban, Laguna in 1989 and was sold from one antique dealer toanother until it was bought by the Philippine National Museum. The Philippine NationalMuseum named the artifact the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. The Philippine NationalMuseum was able to translate the script written on the copperplate through the efforts ofAntoon Postma of the Mangyan Heritage Center in Oriental Mindoro. The LagunaCopperplate Inscription was written using Kavi script and one of seventeen “Old Malay”inscriptions so far found in South East Asia. According to the initial findings of somescholars, the language used in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription is Old Malay with amixture Sanskrit technical terms, Old Java, Old Tagalog or even Old Balinese.

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Fig 4: The Laguna Copper Plate

But in concluding his work, Jaime Tiongson had this to say:

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription without doubt was written using Tagalog with Sanskrittechnical terms. This author proposes the use of the name LCI Tagalog to differentiate itfrom the Old Tagalog defined by Pedro de San Buenaventura.

Still, a probable older evidence of the ancient Filipino Baybayin script can be found in theCalatagan Pot. Professor Zeus Salazar has estimated Calatagan pot to be 1000 years oldbased on Histographical Methodology - terminus post quem and terminus ante quem.

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Fig 5: Lord’s Prayer in Baybayin & Latinized Tagalog

SPANISH PERIODEarly impressions on the Filipino language and script were documented in the Boxer Codexand Doctrina Christiana; the first two books written about the Philippines and its peoplewhich were dated 1590 and 1593 respectively. The importance of Boxer Codex uniquemanuscript lies in the descriptions, historical allusions and the faithful reproductions of thepeoples and their costumes. It mentioned the Ancient Filipino Script as follows (transcribed,translated and annotated from 1590 text: Spanish to English):

”They have certain characters that serve them as letters with which they write what theywant. They are very different looking from the rest that we know up to now. Womencommonly know how to write with them and when they write do so on the bark of certainpieces of bamboo, of which there are in the islands. In using these pieces which are fourfingers wide, they do not write with ink but with some stylus that breaks the surface and barkof the bamboo, to write the letters....For this purpose they have letters which total onlyseventeen. Each letter is a syllable and with certain points placed to one or the other of aletter, or above or below, they compose words and write and say with these whatever theywish.”

The first Spanish missionary who studied Philippine languages was the Augustinian Martin

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de Rada (1533-1578) known to have conversed Visayan and Chinese well. However, asystematic study of the Filipino language came only on 1580 when Franciscan Juan dePlasencia from Extremadura, Spain undertook a structured project on the languages. Ajewel of the project was the publication of the Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua españolay tagala, 1593. The book printed in Manila included confesonarios, (confessionals)doctrinas cristianas, (Christian doctrines) and other devotional material written in Tagalog.The Lord’s Prayer written in Baybayin Script and transcribed to Spanish orthographic lettersas it appeared in the book (below):

Fig 6: Pot and Inscriptions- 2008

EARLY BAYBAYIN SCRIPT RELEVANCEMiguel Lopez de Legaspi first experienced the linguistic diversity of the PhilippineArchipelago on 1565 (Chirino 1604). In the succeeding years, Catholic missionaries wereheaping praises on the excellencies of Baybayin Language, not hesitating to compare iteven to the Hebrew, Greek and Latin, the prestigious language of the letters and religionthat time (Phelan 1924).

Don Pedro Andres de Castro in his Ortografia(1930) quoted Fr. Francisco de San Joseph(who died in 1580) as saying, “…and also to comprehend its mysteries and profoundconcepts” in relation to studying and learning Baybayin Scripts by priests at that time.Baybayin and later Latin were used by early Filipinos in practicing their beliefs.

An attempt to show the “mysteries of Baybayin,” was done by Bonifacio Comandante Jrthrough another pioneering work. In a collaborative experiment with the University of thePhilippines at Los Baños, Baybayin Scripts were shown to possess “subtle energies.” Thetests on bean seed germination gave a window of opportunity to show energies attributableto the script. A Project dubbed Tapal Tanim® be tested on a commercial scale this yearusing sweet potato as crop (UPLB seed experimental results are seen below):

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Fig 7: Baybayin Subtle Energies Experiments

Fletcher Gardner in 1938 quoted Luyon wife of Yagao (Tribal Mangyan) as saying, “Ourwriting never changes as it is taught to the children.” A few Ethnolinguistic Groups haveopted to minimize cultural exchange with lowlanders and hence, have maintained somedegree of passing knowledge distinctly practiced prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. It isnoteworthy that some elite groups (up until now) around revered mountains like MtBanahaw have preserved the old practice of passing knowledge through word of mouth.The author has firsthand accounts of this practice (Photo Below).

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Fig 8: Banahaw Maharlika Group

ControlExtant Baybayin scripts that may have been the precursor of geographical forms such asTagalog, Ilocano, Bisaya, Bohol, Bicol, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Hinunoo, Buhid, Bangonand Tagbanwa have been found very recently to predate the birth of Christ. A seminallecture delivered by Comandante at UP Diliman Archaeological Studies Program lastJanuary 13, 2010 presented the presence of Baybayin Scripts on the Manunggul Jar foundin the same named cave that was carbon dated to 890-710 BC.

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Fig 9: Manunggul Baybayin Inscriptions

While Filipinos lost the ancient art of writing in favor of the Spanish Orthography, the spokenBaybayin language fortunately enough has flourished to this very day. Long before thearrival of the Spaniards, Baybayin has been used in detailing personal and domesticinterests, postal scheme, writing poems, art works, healing modalities and conducting ritualsfor festivities and spirituality. Higher education back then was done by teachers called“Pantas.”

The Laguna Copper Plate (900 AD) is a good example on how the Baybayin Script wasused for personal and domestic interests. Antoon Postma, a Dutch expert on Baybayin andMangyan Scripts said that the inscription was a pardon from the Chief of Tondo that erasedthe debt of a man named Namwaran. His debt was one kati and eight suwarna, or about926.4 grams of gold. In addition, Frs. Manuel Buzeta and Felipe Bravo in their bookDiccionario mentioned that ancient Filipinos wrote to take note of the carabaos they ownedincluding other details of personal interests.

Yamoan (Mangyan native) from Bulalacao, Mindoro describes an ancient postal service. “Abamboo writing is placed in a split stick which is set upright on the road. If a Mangyanshould pass that way who knows how to write and read, if he sees that the writing should goon his direction, he carries the letter until he sees another to carry it of arrives at thedestination to which it is sent.” (Gardner and Maliwanag 1938).

Healing modality is one very important function of the Baybayin Script. Women in the oldtimes were better adept to the Syllabary because of this specific need. A fresh leaf (usuallybanana) is passed over fire before Baybayin Scripts are written and applied on the skin ofpatients. Babaylan Tita of Majayjay and Lola Anisya of Luisiana (both in Laguna) stillpractice this method but uses mixed script forms and paper instead of leaves. BaybayinHealing is still very much alive today.

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Fig 10: Mother of Lola Anisya (106 yrs old)

People who have mustered the uses of Baybayin for personal/domestic , postal services,writing poems, art works, healing modalities and conducting rituals for festivities andspirituality may have been rightfully called Pantas. Fr. San Buena Ventura (1613) aptlyprovided the meaning-distinction of being called a Pantas. The word has five Spanishequivalent and twenty three additional descriptive Tagalog co-meanings as seen below:

Tagalog Word 1613 Spanish meaning 1613 Tagalog co-meanings (including extinct words)

Pantas Abil Talastas, Tatas, Bait, Talos, Talogigi, Sicap

Pantas Sabio Donong, Sayot

Pantas Suficiente Ayac, Sucat

Pantas Consumado Lubus, Uacas, Atop, Otop, Paham

Pantas Entender Malay, Camit, Laman, Silir, Mouang, Macmac, Tanto, Talastas,Tatas, Taman

Babaylans or Catalonas were the dominant figures in terms of educating the youth in theolden times. These women (also men) “Pantas” were responsible for selecting and moldingthe next generation of teachers in the ancient times. Oral traditions were taught under themoonlight as experienced by old folks who are still living to this date. These were storytelling series resembling the popular episode of Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang. TeachingBaybayin script and proper writing were the turf of mothers. This practice without doubt wasthe first home-based education. But overall, we can claim that Baybayin was indeed thevery first Mother Tongue Based Education. After all, it may be the only surviving ancientscript today. It makes us proud to be a Pilipino!

Literature Cited:Bellwood, Peter (July 1991). "The Austronesian Dispersal and the Origin of Languages".

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