RIZCEL GAGAWANAN
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BAYBAYIN

What is Baybayin?


There are over 180 different languages spoken in the Philippines with the official language being Filipino and English. Filipino is essentially Tagalog, a language with Austronesian roots and native to the Tagalog region in the central and southern parts of the island of Luzon. Tagalog comes from the phrase “taga-ilog” meaning “from the river” as early Tagalog communities lived along the banks of the Pasig River. 
  
Baybayin is one of the pre-colonial scripts of the Philippines. Before Spain invaded and colonised the Philippines, each region had its own reading and writing system. Baybayin was the script for the Tagalog region. For the other regions there is Kurdita for Ilocano, Kulitan for Kapampangan, Basahan for Bicolano, Badlit for Visayan and much more.   

Baybayin Workshops
My ancestry comes from the Tagalog region. It’s truly a blessing that my family raised us to speak Tagalog despite the pressures to assimilate when we migrated to Australia. Learning Baybayin was a way to return to my roots and strengthen my connection to culture. I shared my knowledge on TikTok where I found a community of Filipinos from the motherland and in the diaspora who had the same desire to foster connection and understand our heritage.

Another way I share my work is through running Baybayin workshops at Filipino Cultural events. Teaching other Filipino-Australians how to read and write in Baybayin is rewarding and I find it nourishing being in community. It’s an important skill that I hope my kababayan can pass on to future generations.

Please contact me for Baybayin workshops or Baybayin translation services. All proceeds from my Baybayin work is donated to the Lumad (Indigenous - Mindanao) People of the Philippines in their fight to defend their human rights and ancestral lands. For more information see @liyang_network and @sabokahan

Maraming Salamat!    


In photos: My Baybayin Workshop at the 2023 Sydney Ube Festival
Photo credit: Rizcel Gagawanan, 2023




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