Baybayin: A Living Legacy of the Philippines
Explore the beautiful pre-colonial writing system of the Philippines and connect with your heritage.
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila
Translate your name into Baybayin
What is Baybayin?
Baybayin is an ancient Filipino script that predates Spanish colonization. It's an alpha-syllabary, meaning each character represents a consonant-vowel combination.
This beautiful and unique script was used to write various Philippine languages, leaving behind a legacy of cultural expression and historical insight.
Read moreDid you know?
Baybayin was used to write the Doctrina Christiana en lengua española y tagala, the first book ever printed in the Philippines.
Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division
The Monreal Stones are currently displayed in the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila
A glimpse into Baybayin's history
While much of the Philippines' pre-colonial history was lost or altered during colonization, glimpses of Baybayin remain, offering valuable insights into its usage and significance.
One of the most important artifacts is the Monreal Stone, bearing inscriptions that are believed to be in Baybayin. This stone serves as a tangible link to our ancestors and provides crucial evidence of the script's existence and form.
Connect with Your Family's Past
By understanding more about this ancient script, you can unlock hidden connections to your ancestral homeland and open a door to your own family's story.
How can start discovering my family story?
With a free account from FamilySearch, we can help you,
Build your family tree
Discover and connect to your ancestors
Includes Boxer Codex illustrations depicting the 1590's Tagalog Maginoo (noble class)