Endangered Alphabets

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Here’s an interesting project called “Endangered Alphabets” that features Baybayin. It’s great to see where our script is within context to other endangered writing systems. The carver and person (Tim Brookes) speaking in the video makes some interesting comments regarding the current state of Baybayin.

He states that it’s purely a graphic element and devoid of meaning. He fails to mention that there are actually still a few tribes that use the script. Modern Filipinos are beginning to use it in communication via Facebook and Twitter. Baybayin has a lot of meaning to Filipinos in the literal and spiritual sense from the Babaylans, faith healers and to even those who get the script tattooed on them. I believe that Baybayin as part of an abstract expression as I do in my artwork is not really prevalent. People (Filipinos) usually buy shirts because of the meaning, not design.

What do you think?

EVENT: Asian Art Museum 10/3

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200 Larkin Street (between Fulton and McAllister Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94102
In the Civic Center district, across from City Hall.

This is a FREE event

I return to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco on 10/3 to teach the Baybayin, talk and show some of my work. Also, I’ll be creating FREE custom Baybayin pins! Show up and there might be additional surprise freebies.

I’ll only be there for 2 hours at the North Court 12PM–2pm

New Baybayin educational iPhone app coming soon

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Look out for a Baybayin educational iPhone app. What’s interesting is that Dr.Comandante is consulting. He’s the gentleman who proposed that Baybayin might have come from giant clams and the Baybayin dance. I also interviewed him for my Baybayin documentary. Looks promising.

Programming: Paul Laborte
Company: Taklobo, Inc.
Consultant: Dr. Bonifacio Comandante, Jr.
Design Firm: liquid and liquid CREATIONS (TM)

EVENT: FPAC, LA 9/11-9/12

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I return to LA for the annual FPAC event held at PT Fermin Park in San Pedro. This year, I’ll be bringing no less that 20 brand new pieces at AFFORDABLE prices. Never bought art? Here’s your chance. As always, I’ll be doing FREE name translations or learn how to do it yourself at my Baybayin workshop at 1pm Sat. & 3pm Sun.

To launch my new custom mini-canvas products, I’ll be having a contest on my Facebook page where you can get one for FREE (must be present at the event).

EVENT: Balikbayod – San Francisco 8/27 Surfing fundraiser

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I’m doing a fundraiser on Friday 8/27 at the Bayanihan Center downtown, San Francisco.

I’ll be selling some new artwork made just for this event. 50% of sales goes to Balikbayod.

Balikbayod Returning Wave presents:
Return of the Surfboards
Friday August 27, 5-9pm
Bayanihan Community Center, 1010 Mission St. at 6th, San Francisco

…A fundraising party to ship donated surfboards to our youth education program in the Philippines

Join us for an ART SALE with live music, food, dance & a cash bar. Sounds by DJ LapuLapu aka “Bruddah K” from KPFA spinning Reggae, Soul, World.

*Arrive early because our evening opens with live jazz music by Little Brown Brother. Their sound incorporates indigenous Filipino music and instruments as well as Spanish-influenced traditional songs.

The Balikbayod organization:

Help us raise the remainder amount of funds to ship the community-donated surfboards overseas to the Philippines!

Balikbayod—Returning Wave is a program dedicated to promoting education through the love of surfing. We bring donated surfboards to the Philippines for kids to borrow, provided they stay enrolled in school or return to school through Alternative Learning Systems (ALS). It is a Life Altering experience to surf, and giving this incredible opportunity to a young kid is priceless. Make that difference in someone’s life.

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