08 July 2013 – The Philippine Embassy in Madrid reported that it organized a lecture on Baybayin, the pre-Spanish writing system in the Philippines, at the Museo Nacional de Antropología (MNA) in Madrid on June 26 as part of its Mes Filipino activities.

The lecture on Baybayin, which literally means to “spell,” was given by Mr. Christian Cabuay, a self-taught artist who was born in the Philippines and raised in San Francisco, USA. 

As an authority in the propagation and instruction of Baybayin, Mr. Cabuay has developed a modern style of writing derived from the ancient script called “Tulang Kalis” (Poetry of the Sword). 

Mr. Cabuay began his lecture with a brief demonstration on how to write his modern style of Baybayin which he derived from ancient script called “Tulang Kalis” (Poetry of the Sword).  During his lecture he touched on the origins of the script, its decline and revival, how to pronounce the letters and how to change its sound, and his own experience in trying to revive interest and pass on knowledge of Baybayin to future generations of Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad.

After the presentation, interested members of the audience approached Mr. Cabuay and requested him to teach them how to write their names in Baybayin. 

The Baybayin Lecture was organized by the Embassy in coordination with the Museo Nacional de Antropologia and Casa Asia. 

In addition to the activity in the MNA, Mr. Cabuay also gave a lecture on the same topic to the Officers and Staff of the Embassy in Sentro Rizal on June 28.  END