Pinoy’s ancient alphabet is “Baybayin”, not “Alibata”

CEBU, Philippines - Filipinos have since been taught that their ancient alphabet was “Alibata.” This may no longer be the case.

Literary historian Virgilio “Rio Alma” Almario said that unlike what has been etched in history books, the country’s ancient alphabet is actually the “Baybayin,” which should not be misconstrued as the Alibata.

“Kailangan kong ulitin na kolorum ang “alibata” dahil walang gayong alpabeto sa Pilipinas, (I have to emphasize that Alibata is considered colorum because there is no such alphabet in the Philippines),” Almario says in article posted on the website of the Commission on the Filipino Language or the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.

This clarification was also announced and recommended for reading by no less than the national government on Facebook through the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.

The commission was created through Republic Act 7104, which is mandated to ensure and promote the evolution, development and “further enrichment of Filipino as the national language of the Philippines, on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.”

Almario said that Jesuit Missionary Fray Pedro Chirino, who was among the religious friars to record the Filipino culture and the ancient Filipino Alphabet called the ancient method of writing as Baybayin.

“Nangangahulugan ito ng lupaing dinidilaan ng tubigan. Nangangahulugan din ito ng ispeling o pagbása sa nakasulat na mga titik ng isang salita. Ang ikalawang kahulugan ay maituturing na piguratibong kahulugan batay sa una. Ang ibig sabihin, ang ispeling ay mula sa nagaganap na paghubog ng tubig sa lupa dahil sa ulit-ulit na pagsalpok o pagdila ng alon sa bato’t buhangin,” he stated.

Almario explained that Alibata was invented by a teacher who thought that Baybayin was only derived from the method of writing in Arabic.

“Kaya naisip niyang likhain ang “alibata” mula sa tawag na alif at bata para sa dalawang unang titik ng alpabetong Arabe,” he said.

Almario suggested that the Department of Education should phase textbooks out that show the idea of Alibata, better yet issue a memorandum to this effect.  (FREEMAN)