Writing is an essential part of human communication and has been used for centuries to share

ideas, thoughts, and emotions. In the Philippines, writing has a rich history that dates back to the pre-
colonial period. The indigenous writing systems of the Philippines, such as Baybayin and Jawi, have
evolved over time and have been influenced by various foreign cultures. The evolution of Philippine
writing serves as a profound testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino people. Preserving
these scripts is imperative for both safeguarding this heritage and understanding the progression of
Philippine writing. The PowerPoint is all about Baybayin which was influenced by Sanskrit, and Jawi
(influenced by Arabic) which was used in writing indigenous languages like Malay, Achinese,
Minangkabau, Buginese, and Tausug. One archaeological finding is the Laguna Copperplate Inscription,
which is the earliest known written document found in the Philippines. It is a legal document with the
inscribed date of Saka era 822, corresponding to 21 April 900 AD. It was written in the Jawi script in a
variety of Old Malay containing numerous loanwords from Sanskrit and a few non-Malay vocabulary
elements whose origin is ambiguous between Jawi and Old Tagalog. The presence of the Jawi script in
the Philippines is evidence of the country's early connections with other cultures in Southeast Asia.
Other archaeological findings like the Butuan Ivory Seal and Silver Strip, and the Calatagan Clay Pot
strengthen this idea. Baybayin and Jawi showed signs of influences from its neighbors, which were also
proof that they were communicating with each other. For me, Jawi is a script totally foreign to the
inhabitants and was adopted by the Muslim communities. The presence of writing systems in various
languages of the Philippines was proof of the literacy and high level of culture of the Filipinos. In the
ancient times, the ancestors of today’s Filipinos used rocks, leaves, and bamboo in writing anything like
announcements and songs. During the Spanish period, it was used in Catholic publications like the
Doctrina Christiana, which was published by the Dominicans in 1593. Baybayin was printed along with
Chinese and Spanish. It was also used in a contract for the acquisition of land in Manila and in contracts
and letters, even into the 19th century. However, there was a decline as many Filipinos began shifting to
the Roman script. The National hero Jose Rizal, in his novels, scolded his countrymen for imitating
Western ways, including the writing system, at the expense of national identity. He used Pilosopo Tasyo
to convey the situation wherein the natives would look at those who preserve their own culture as lower
than them. After that, baybayin became a symbol of nationalism. Katipuneros used it in their codes as
well as their flag. It came to symbolize the freedom that was taken away by the colonizers and the native
culture that was painted as “inferior” by Westerners. Now, both Baybayin and Jawi, however, are in
danger of vanishing as scholarship in these systems is limited. Both writing systems need to be preserved
to decipher documents still in the archives and to keep alive the cultural heritage of the Filipinos. It also
promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Philippines which in turn can foster a sense of
unity and respect for ethnic differences. In today’s globalized societies, the preservation of these writing
systems connects us to our pre-colonial heritage. By studying it, Filipinos can reclaim a sense of identity
that is distinct from other countries. Moreover, artists and writers can use these as inspiration for their
contemporary art and literature. This fusion of traditional and modern influences not only enriches the
cultural landscape of the Philippines but also helps to preserve and promote indigenous knowledge and
practices in a rapidly changing world. The PowerPoint Presentation has given me a deeper understanding
of our pre-colonial writing systems. However, it is worth noting that Baybayin has experienced a revival
in modern Philippines, appearing in government insignia, books, and even considered for mandatory
instruction in schools. There has been a resurgence of the use of baybayin in recent years, with
government organizations, cultural groups, and artists actively bringing the ancient writing system back
to life. It's being taught in schools, workshops, and lectures. Also, words in Baybayin script are printed on
clothing, posters, accessories, and even on the current batch of the Philippine Peso bills. Many have also
started getting tattoos in Baybayin. A local brand named Legazy Street uses baybayin in their products
such as bags. There are also efforts to revive Kulitan, an ancient writing system, which served as an
indigenous writing system for Kapampangan in Central Luzon. There is a proposal to encode the script in
Unicode by Anshuman Pandey, from the Department of Linguistics at UC Berkeley. There are also
proposals to revive the script by teaching it in Kapampangan-majority public and private schools.
Moreover, the Ágúman Súlat Kapampángan, spearheaded by Michael Raymon M. Pangilinan, is an
organization that aims to promote and preserve the Kulitan script, while the Learn Kulitan is a mobile
application that teaches how to write in Kulitan. These efforts to preserve and promote indigenous
writing systems not only connect us to our pre-colonial heritage but also enrich the cultural landscape of
the Philippines. To summarize, the evolution of Philippine writing is a testament to the rich cultural
heritage of the Filipinos. The indigenous writing systems of the Philippines, such as Baybayin and Jawi,
have evolved over time and have been influenced by various foreign cultures. Preserving these writing
systems is essential to keep alive the cultural heritage of the Filipinos and to understand the evolution of
Philippine writing.