Ancient and Traditional Scripts of the Philippines

The Baybayin: Ancient and Traditional Scripts of the Philippines Gallery is a permanent exhibition highlighting baybayin – a Filipino traditional syllabic writing system. It features and promotes awareness of the writing systems used by the early Filipinos, through a showcase of archaeological artifacts, archival records from the Spanish colonial era, and ethnographic collection. Baybayin, as widely used by coastal groups since 16th century, were often inscribed on leaves using pigments, or on bamboos using sharp objects for engraving. This was eventually replaced by the Roman alphabet but retained in the islands of Mindoro (Buhid-Mangyan and Hanunuo-Mangyan) and Palawan (Pala’wan and Tagbanua) until today.

The Baybayin Gallery is located in the National Museum of Anthropology in the Philippines. It is dedicated to showcasing the Baybayin script, an ancient Philippine script that was used prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The gallery houses artifacts and materials related to Baybayin, including inscriptions, manuscripts, and documents written in the script. It also features interactive displays and multimedia installations to educate visitors about the history and cultural significance of Baybayin in Philippine culture. Overall, the Baybayin Gallery is an important part of the National Museum of Anthropology, as it celebrates the unique cultural heritage of the Philippines and promotes awareness and appreciation of its rich history.