By Ahikam Pasion/PNA
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Junior Chamber International (JCI) – Lingayen Bagoong Chapter has inspired the youths in Pangasinan to study and learn ‘Baybayin’ through the two-phase writeshop held here last February 9-10.
Reginald Agsalon, JCI-Lingayen Bagoong Chapter immediate past president, said the writeshop introduced to the youth the history and use of Baybayin.
“We wanted to bring back to life this ancient written language of Philippines as to what other groups like the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is advocating too,” Agsalon said in an interview Monday.
He said the group wanted to use the activity as an avenue for the youths to be involved again with Filipino, and to literature and history of the Philippines.
Baybayin refers to the ancient script used by pre-colonial Filipinos, but was eventually supplanted by the use of the Latin alphabet during the Spanish colonization period.
The writeshop focused on identifying the basics of Baybayin, such as its strokes and “kudlit” marks.
It also featured an introduction to other writing systems in the Philippines.
“The event was great. It was fun and I never expected that I would gain deeper knowledge on Baybayin. Writing Baybayin is not difficult once you master the basic strokes,” said Izel Cacal, a student-participant.
As a student scribe, Cacal urged fellow youths to learn and use the writing system.
“Syempre bilang kabataan, mahalaga na nae-expose tayo sa mga ganoong bagay dahil bukod sa mas bukas yung isip natin, tayo yung pwedeng magpatuloy ng ganoong adbokasiya. Mahalaga rin ito dahil parte na ito ng kultura natin bago pa man dumating ang mga Kastila (As a youth, it is important that we are exposed to things like this because aside from opening up our minds, we can continue spreading the interest on Baybayin. This is important because it is part of our culture even before we were colonized by the Spaniards),” he said.
Agsalon further said the second phase of the writeshop program is being planned.
Earlier, Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil filed a bill designating the Baybayin script as the country’s national writing system.
