Baybayin

Baybayin (ᜊᜌ᜔ᜊᜌᜒᜈ᜔, Tagalog pronunciation: [baɪˈbajɪn]), also sometimes erroneously referred to as alibata, is a Philippine script that was widely used in Luzon during and prior to the 16th and 17th centuries. It was utilized primarily to write Tagalog, and to a lesser extent, Visayan languages, Kapampangan, 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 2002 alongside Buhid, Hanunoo, and Tagbanwa scripts. The Archives of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila holds the largest collection of extant writings using Baybayin. Baybayin has seen a rise in modern usage, primarily for cultural and artistic purposes, including in visual arts, literature, 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. Bills to recognize the script and revive its use alongside the Latin alphabet have been repeatedly considered by the Congress.