Explanation:
History is a relevant component of where we are today. Thus, fragments of it such as historical places and art pieces are preserved well to last for the following generations to see. Baybayin is one of the national cultural treasures that the Philippines protect and take pride in, considering that the writing system proves our progress as a civilization.
What is there to know about Baybayin?
Baybayin is a word rooted from the Tagalog word ‘baybay’, which means ‘to spell, write and syllabize’. It is often mistaken as Alibata, which is a different script of Arabic origin. This writing system follows ‘alpha-syllabary’ or ‘abugida’ system wherein the characters written in their basic form are consonants ending with the vowel ‘A’. Baybayin is known to have 14 characters, four of them are vowels, while the other characters are consonant letters merged with the vowel ‘A’.
There are a few common rules and steps when it comes to writing Baybayin. Since the characters are alpha-syllabic with the vowel ‘A’, a mark (kudlit) is placed above the consonant to produce an ‘E’ or ‘I’ sound, or at the bottom of the consonants to produce an ‘O’ or ‘U’ sound. While stand-alone consonants are not included in the alphabet, a cross (+) is added below a letter which removes a vowel and expresses the singularity of the consonant sound.
So, why would it be great to learn Baybayin?
It’s like traveling back in time, while learning a new skill
Learning how to write Baybayin is a great way to learn a new skill, as well as experience the past. Far from the form of the English alphabet which we have learned and adapted from the Spaniards, writing Baybayin can be challenging, but it provides a glimpse of how the ancestors communicated with the use of the unique characters.
Hope it helps
