Fun with Alibata

It is rather shameful for my part that I don’t know how to write the ancient alphabet of our ancestors: The Baybayin or in a more popular term – Alibata. I know it is a shame because if Egyptians can read the Ancient Hieroglyphics of their ancestors, should we Filipinos, especially historians, can read it too?

When I look into the Alibata whether it is hard to understand, it wasn’t that hard. In fact, it is like reciting our abakada. To show how easy it is, refer to the picture on the side.

As noticed, there is only 3 vowels in the old alphabet namely; A, I, U. The vowels E and O will only be introduced after the arrival of the Spaniards. This addition was necessary for the Spaniards, especially the friars, in Romanizing the Alibata easier. However, E and O’s Alibata is similar to I and U’s Alibata. Another interesting fact is D and R are of same Alibata. There were no mistake on this nor is one of the Alibata missing. This is due to the fact that both D and R are interchangeable.

Like their alphabet counterparts, vowels can stand alone but consonants cannot. In the Alibata, there is a kudlit (’) on top or bottom of a consonant Alibata. If the kudlit is on top, it is with the vowel E/I and if the kudlit is under, it is with the vowel O/U. If there is no kudlit at all, it means the vowel A is with it. To clearly see this kudlit in an Alibata, take a look on the photo beside.

Another problem posed by the Spaniards in the lack of a stand-alone consonant. At this point, the Spaniards made an innovation in the Alibata. The solution…put a cross underneath an Alibata! An example is on this image beside.

Now, let’s have fun with Alibata. I found a website that can translate a word into Alibata. I decided to translate my full name; Gene Michael Atanacio. It is a common sense that the Alibata don’t have some western alphabet so I substitute some of the letters on my name to its closest equivalent. I substituted C with K and S (depending on the sound of the letter C). Here is my name in the Alibata in both the Traditional and Modified version of the Alibata.

The Traditional one without the Spanish modification. there is no K or L on my name in this form of the Alibata

This is the Spanish Modification. There is now K and L in my name in this form of Alibata. To have more of translating Alibata, click on this link: Ating Baybayin, Our Filipino Script. Have fun with Alibata!