Pre-Colonial Filipino Literacy and Writing Systems

This is the fourth article on my blog series about the Philippines in connection with the celebration of Filipino American History Month

Did you know that early Spanish chroniclers were amazed by the literacy and linguistic proficiency of pre-colonial Filipinos?

Many local chieftains and kings were fluent in languages like Sanskrit, Old Javanese, and Old Malay.

By the early 1600s, a Jesuit priest even remarked that it was rare to find anyone, man or woman, who couldn’t read or write in their native script.

In 1609, a Spanish magistrate similarly praised the Filipinos’ impressive writing skills, noting that both men and women wrote exceptionally well in their own script.

Long before colonization, Filipinos were already highly literate, showcasing a rich tradition of written language. The Philippines was under Spanish rule from 1565 to 1898. The Americans took over from 1989 t0 1946.

The Baybayin: Ancient and Traditional Scripts of the Philippines gallery is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the traditional Filipino writing system, baybayin. This script, used by early Filipinos, is showcased through archaeological artifacts, colonial records, and ethnographic collections that highlight its historical and cultural significance.

Key artifacts like the Laguna Copperplate and the Calatagan Pot are on display, alongside items from indigenous groups in Mindoro and Palawan—such as the Hanunoo-Mangyan, Buhid-Mangyan, Tagbanua, and Pala’wan peoples—who have preserved their syllabic writing traditions to this day.

Once widely used by coastal communities in the 16th century, baybayin was inscribed on leaves and bamboo. Though gradually replaced by the Roman alphabet, it has survived in certain regions, continuing as a living tradition.

In recent years, baybayin has experienced a resurgence, embraced by Filipino youth both locally and abroad. Through websites, tattoos, blogs, and apparel, the ancient script has become a symbol of Filipino identity, blending tradition with modern, global expressions.

Aside from the famous Baybayin script, another distinct script was used in precolonial Philippines: Jawi. This Arabic-based script was primarily used by Muslims in Mindanao and is believed to have been adopted through close contact with the Malays and Bruneians.

Jawi was instrumental in spreading Islamic teachings and recording important documents.

A notable variation of this script is Kirim, a localized version used in specific communities.

The presence of Jawi highlights the rich diversity of writing systems in the archipelago and the Philippines' long-standing connection to the greater Southeast Asian and Islamic world.

Meanwhile enjoy this Aurora Borealis ( Northern Lights ) on October 10, 2024

with the San Francisco Golden Gate in the background.

Finally, my Quote of the Day: "The most terrible loneliness is not the kind that comes from being alone, but the kind that comes from being misunderstood. It is the loneliness of standing in a crowded room, surrounded by people who do not see you, who do not hear you, who do not know the true essence of who you are. And in that loneliness, you feel as though you are fading, disappearing into the background, until you are nothing more than a ghost, a shadow of your former self."

— George Orwell, 1984