Ancient Alphabets of the Islanders.

The system of writing used by the islanders of Ranao and Mindayen’s story, were based to that of the ancient writing system of the early Filipinos.

Before the introduction of the Roman Alphabet, the ancient Filipinos had their own system of writing called “Baybayin” and later was known as the “Alibata” (said to be coined by some U.P. professor.)

The Baybayin is a form of syllabary with three vowels sounds (a, e-I, o-u) and approximately fourteen consonants.

Samples of this syllabary were recorded by Spanish missionaries and utilized in the country’s first printed book Doctrina Christiana.

It is said that everybody, both men and women knew how to read and write using this script.

The ancient Tagalogs wrote on a piece of bark or bamboo, and the symbols were etched using a sharp stick or stylus.

A dash or dot sited above the consonant signifies the “e” or “i” sound; the same marking below signify the “o” or “u” sound.

There is no record of how expansively the Baybayin was used.

The only archeological substantiation of its existence is from an inscribed pot found in Calatagan, Batangas.

Up to now, the Mangyangs and Tagbanua tribes have preserved a inscription system similar to that of the Baybayin.

They still use it for writing short poems, songs, recording debts and assorted personal messages.