Why Philippine millennials are reviving Baybayin, an ancient written script

Advocates for Baybayin, a 17-character indigenous script used before the Spanish colonisation, say it is a crucial part of Philippine identity

But in a country with 131 government-recognised languages, critics say investing in the promotion of one ancient text over others is controversial and impractical

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Researcher Leo Batoon pointing to a Baybayin character etched on a glass window at the National Museum in Manila. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Published: 6:00am, 1 Aug 2019Updated: 12:14pm, 19 Nov 2020

Once confined to history classes, an indigenous script used before Spanish colonisation is making a comeback among the Philippines’ millennials, young professionals and diaspora.

Online clips of calligraphy and digital fonts for Baybayin – a 17-character indigenous script last used hundreds of years ago – have gripped the digital generation and now it is appearing on everything from tattoos and T-shirts to mobile apps.

Proponents hail the curvilinear text as a crucial part of Philippine identity, but in a country with 131 government-recognised languages, critics say investing in the promotion of one ancient text over others is controversial and impractical.

“It’s bittersweet. It made me proud knowing our ancestors were literate,” said Filipino artist Taipan Lucero, 31, who studied calligraphy in Japan but returned home to apply his skills to reviving Baybayin.

Artist Taipan Lucero doing calligraphy using Baybayin. Photo: Agence France-Presse

“What’s sad about this is what’s being propagated in our education system. It’s like our history started with being colonised by Spain,” said Lucero.