The image of a thriving, universally literate society in the pre-colonial Philippines, wielding the elegant curves of the Baybayin script, captures the imagination. It speaks to a sophisticated indigenous culture, often contrasted sharply with the narratives imposed by colonization. But how accurate is this picture? Did the majority of people across the diverse islands that…
Tag: Baybayin script
Lost to Time: Why Ancient Filipinos Didn’t Use Paper
Long before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, ancient Filipinos had a unique way of recording their thoughts and stories. Instead of paper, they relied on a system of characters and scripts etched onto materials like bamboo, leaves, and even bark. This method of writing was not just functional but also deeply artistic, reflecting the culture…