Nonito Donaire's missed opportunity

Just finished watching Donaire’s fight and got a good photo of his headband. During his walkout, I got excited and thought it was Baybayin and hoping it was right. To my disappointment, it wasn’t. Couple people on Facebook and Twitter pointed out that it’s Japanese.

I assume it’s either from his training camp or a sponsor but I doubt it. I just hope it’s nothing like “Warrior” or something could’ve been done in Baybayin. Missed opportunity that could’ve given the script exposure to millions. We are still looking for a Francis M…..

Anyone know what it says?

It's more fun in the Philippines

Just came from the 2nd annual Kulinarya event put together by the Philippine Department of Tourism and Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. To promote the Philippines, the new slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” was all over the place. It inspired me to quickly make a Baybayin version saying “Mas masaya sa Pilipinas”.

Feel free to pass it around. With this already so recognizable to Filipinos, this image will help people learn Baybayin. You can download a high-res version on my Baybayin Facebook page

Here’s the original

Baybayin Bible

The Baybayin Buhayin team is at it again and recently announced that they are coming out with a Baybayin Bible.

I have mixed feelings about this because while the current studies show that the Spanish didn’t seem to outlaw or limit use of Baybayin, it was naturally phased out with their agressive colonization and quest for gold and glory.

However, from a writing system perspective, it’s great and a welcome addition. If the design team from Liquid and Liquid is involved, it will look awesome. It will be interesting how handle chapter and verse numbers.

Here’s a teaser video of the project

UST Baybayin collection shown to public

The University Of Santo Tomas (UST) has the biggest collection of extant ancient baybayin scripts in the world, according to Christopher Miller, a Canadian linguistics scholar who has been studying the ancient Philippine syllabary at the UST Archives and UST Heritage Library.

Active Baybayin community member, Christopher Miller is promenantly featured in the Inquirer article quoting:

Miller said he had also discovered that baybayin had formal usage among the locals, and between them and the colonizers. He saw in the archives land deeds, petitions, testimonies and legal proceedings written in the old script.

I hope to see the archive documents in person when I visit Manila this year.
Check it out

Baybayin with no Baybayin

image

I’m releasing a new hat to follow my collaboration with WIPCaps from Manila. This time it will be a sample black on black with white outlining that simply says BAYBAYIN. Plain and simple but with no Baybayin on it. My reason for this is to promote Baybayin without showing it. I could’ve easily had the text in the script but the goal of this piece is to get an inquiry from someone as to what Baybayin is. If I had the script, it would be obviously foreign to most people and intimidating as well. Using a writing system and language familiar breaks down that wall and can lead to conversation. I’ve had the hat only for 1/2 a day and had 2 inquiries already from strangers. A cashier and someone on the train. This is a similar strategy I’m using when I launch Baybayin School.

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr as to when this will be released.

EVENT: Smithsonian Institution "Singgalot" traveling exhibition – 12/10

I’ll be at the Sonoma Country Museum this Saturday 12/10 in Santa Rosa , Northern California to take part of Singgalot Traveling Exhibition by the Smithsonian Institution.

From 11-2PM, check out some of my artwork as well as FREE Baybayin name translations.

Sonoma County Museum
425 Seventh St., Santa Rosa, CA

Visit the museum website for more info

Black Friday to Cyber Monday Sale by Guro Sam

This is Guro Sam and I’ve hijacked this site to let you know that I have forced two of your favorite Baybayin artists, Ray Haguisan and Christian Cabuay to give you deals on their goods up to 50% off!

Custom necklaces, hoodies, shirts, translations, books, apps, pre-sales and a couple surprises!

It all starts tomorrow night 11/24 before midnight US Pacific time

Visit GuroSam.com and sign-up to get alerted when the sale is on!

Asatiga anaga Pinoya = Astig ang Pinoy?

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Came across the launch of Wika Clothing by Philippine rapper, D-coy. One of the shirts has Baybayin with the following characters:
A-Sa-Ti-Ga
A-Na-Ga
Pi-No-Ya

Looks like it’s supposed to say “Astig ang Pinoy” (Pinoys are cool/hard/awesome). If so, it’s incorrect because there are no cancellation kudlits after the Sa, Ga, Ya and the Na-Ga should be the Ng.

Here’s how it should look like using my iPhone Baybayin Translator app in modified:

Here it is in traditional but notice that Astig can be mistaken for Ate without context

 

 

EVENT: Learn the business framework behind Baybayin.com

I’ve given many talks about Baybayin but I’ve never specifically talked about the business framework behind it. Come learn about it on:

Monday, December 5, 2011 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Milipitas Library Auditorium
160 North Main Street
Milpitas, CA 95035

$7 for professionals and FREE for students

More info on Eventbrite

Power ng Pinoy in Partnership with the Filipino Entrepreneurs Network (FEN) presents a Networking Mixer and Start-Up Business Seminar