Legarda Promotes Use of Baybayin

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda renewed her call for the promotion of Baybayin by using it in government logos, public signage and even in local product labels.

Legarda made the call in her message at the 4^th Baybayin Festival Rizal, which was organized by Taklobo Baybayin Inc., Baybayin Buhayin, the Department of Education (DepEd) and Province of Rizal, last November 22, 2014 at the Ynares Center, Antipolo City.

“Marahil ngayon ay hindi na maunawaan ng karamihan ang kahalagahan ng Baybayin dahil sanay na tayo sa sistema ng pagsusulat na ating nakagisnan. Ngunit kapag binalikan natin ang ating kasaysayan, ang baybayin ang simbolo ng sibilisasyon ng mga sinaunang Pilipino, bago pa man tayo mapasailalim sa pamumuno ng mga dayuhan,” Legarda stated.

The event was attended by teachers and students from public and private elementary and high schools in the DepEd Division of Rizal and Antipolo.

Legarda also shared that she has filed measures in the Senate that aim to promote and preserve Baybayin.

Senate Bill No. 1899 mandates all government agencies, departments and offices to incorporate Baybayin in their official logos.

“All government agencies and offices must take the lead to further promote Filipino culture and traditions, strengthen Filipino identity, and instill the same in everyday life. The logos and seals of government agencies and offices should not only reflect the emblems of their functions and duties but also pride in Filipino heritage and traditions,” said Legarda.

Some of the government offices and agencies that have already incorporated Baybayin in their official logos include, the National Museum of the Philippines, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, the National Library, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Records Management and Archives Office, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Meanwhile, Senate Bill No. 2440 aims to declare Baybayin as the National Writing Script of the Philippines and mandates the NCCA to lead the promotion, protection, preservation and conservation of the Baybayin.

The measure also mandates local food manufacturers to inscribe Baybayin scripts and their translation on containers or labels; local government units (LGUs) to use Baybayin scripts in their signage for street names, public facilities, among others; and, newspaper and magazine publishers to include Baybayin translation of their official name.

Moreover, reading materials about Baybayin will be distributed to all public and private educational institutions and all government and private agencies and offices to instill awareness of the declaration of Baybayin as the national writing system.