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My Multiply.com correspondence with Wawi Navarroza, a multifaceted young visual artist, is the reason why we have these cyberpages of my research on
Filipino Phonetic-Syllabic Handwriting
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I had to go back to the some stories behind for the readers to understand the significance of such exquisite handwritings, which topic got initiated upon Wawi’s invite to a lecture on the Mangyan tribe.
This page I am writing about, right now, started just because of (David) my 11 year old son’s urgent desire to communicate solely with his intimate friends in school and avoid being understood by his other classmates who do not really belong to their “culture”. At first, it was my German book that he tried to learn and share with his friends but, proving to be too difficult and taking too long to learn, David thought of other ways to communicate which would not require so much study and research. He was starting to make his own drawings, alphabets and icons that may only be associated with his group, but finally stopped in desperation in achieving his goal and shifted his interest to “rock climbing’. Here’re his leftovers and a few notes I did in Palawan and at the National Museum.
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So far, I have not heard of any effort done by the government, nor any of our scholars of the vernacular or national dialect which is Tagalog, to digitally transform these original Tagalog Phonetic/Syllabic to digital icons that may have their applications to the present confused Filipino society. My experience tells me that truly, these original Pre-Hispanic alphabets can have their present applications for I had used this Tagalog handwriting to communicate with my ex-German wife, writing each other in Tagalog, English and German, for writing the sounds of any language with these Tagalog Phonetic/Syllabic Alphabets is what makes it work and be understood. Anybody interested? . . pls contact me.
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David’s Undecoded Alphabets
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Unlike my father, David’s grandfather (now at the hospital in l.a.,CA, struggling with his life) , who writes much like the Mangyans with his diagonal and straight line handwriting, David and I opted to depart from the syllabic, phonetic writings of the Tagbanua tribe admiring the seemingly romantic, soft and rounded strokes of their handwriting. David’s ability to adapt the chosen syllabic symbols to his needs and eventually to my needs too, led to a new form of syllabic / phonetic writing which at the present moment, only David and I can understand. We’ve decided to call it an international form of writing because our revision from the Tagbanua’s handwriting may be used to write any international language or local dialect provided that they make sounds. David’s reluctance to share this with others, other than his close friends, has created a new conflict between us. Time will tell whether I can share this new handwriting with others for, at the moment, I am inclined not to disappoint David. The inscriptions featured here were the first syllabic writings David attempted to share with his group. He has done many more but likes this version the most. ”I kinda like it too.” If you are interested in learning it, please write to David for I know he’s bound to change his mind.
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Tagalog Syllabic-Phonetic Writing
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The single outstanding object recovered during the Calatagan excavations was an earthenware vessel with Tagalog syllabic writings on the shoulder. Although it is known that at least sixteen (16) different groups were literate in syllabic form of writing at Spanish contact, (the writing is of Indic origin probably brought in to the Philippines by the Bugis, (great traders from Celebes) this is the only object from a pre-Spanish archeological site with syllabic writing.
Tagalog Phonetic Handwriting
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It had been hoped to include a translation of this script in the exhibit (an excellent translation has been provided by Prof. Guillermo Tolentino); however it was thought best to withhold publication of the translation until Prof. Tolentino and others have had more opportunity to study the text at length.
The translation, according to the National Museum will be included in a special publication. The vessel on which the writing is found is of the type of the earthenware found at Calatagan which has been name KAY TOMAS PLAIN, and was found with porcelains of the 14th and 15th centuries. Thus, the object may be dated from this period.
