I’ll be in Japan from 2/27 to 3/1 to do a lecture and show Baybayin art at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies for the International Workshop on Endangered Scripts of Island Southeast Asia.

This workshop will discuss the writing systems and traditions of island Southeast Asia, focusing on (but not limited to) the endangered Indic scripts of the Philippines, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Papers are invited covering topics such as historical and structural relationships, literature, documentation, revival, modern functions, adaptations and social/cultural meaning. In addition to the academic component of the workshop, the organizers encourage participation by culture-bearers, activists and artists.

I’m looking forward to meeting other advocates of Baybayin, Kulitan and Surat Mangyan at the event.

– Kanakan Balintagos (Solito Arts Productions)
– Norman de los Santos (BHM Publishing House, Inc.)
– Emerennciana Lorenzo Catapang (Mangyan Heritage Center)
– Christopher Miller (Independent Researcher, Montreal, Canada)
– Michael Raymon M. Pangilinan (ILCAA, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)
– Anya Postma (Mangyan Heritage Center)
– Bruno Tiotuico (Alexandre Dayrit Tiotuico） (Ágúman Súlat Kapampángan)

I’m currently working on my paper around the topic of using Baybayin in the diaspora as a cultural identifier through art.

Please visit the Linguistics Dynamics Science Project for more information