History of Tagalog - The Tagalog Script

The Tagalog Script

In 1571, the Spaniards found the people in Manila and other places writing on bamboo and specially prepared palm leaves using knives and styli. They were using the ancient Tagalog script which had 17 basic symbols, three of which were the vowels a, i, and u. Each basic consonantal symbol had the inherent a sound: ka, ga, nga, ta, da, na, pa, ba, ma, ya, la, wa, sa, and ha.

A diacritical mark called kudlit modified the sound of the symbol. The kudlit could be a dot, a short line, or even an arrowhead. When placed above the symbol, it changed the inherent sound of the symbol from a to i; placed below, the sound became u. Thus a ba with a kudlit placed above became a bi; if the kudlit was placed below, the symbol became a bu.

It was a simple and elegant system that was called baybayin. In 1914, the newer term alibata was introduced by Dean Paul Versoza of the University of Manila. He claims the term comes from alif, ba, and ta, the first three letters of the Maguindanao arrangement of the Arabic letters. He did not explain why he chose a totally unrelated writing system to name the script.

The Tagalog script was a syllabary, which means that each symbol represents a complete syllable. This is in contrast to our Latin alphabet where each symbol represents a phoneme, the smallest unit of the sound of speech. It is this distinction that makes it difficult for many people steeped in alphabetic systems to understand the correct way of using the Tagalog script.

The Tagalog script only represented two kinds of syllables, V and CV (C=consonant, V=vowel), whereas the language had V, CV, VC, and CVC types. Therefore only syllables like a, bi, or ku could be written down accurately. Syllables like ak, kam, pit, or ting (ng is one consonant) couldn't be represented in the system. Tagalog did not have consonant clusters like the CCVC, tram.

Missing final consonant

To write down syllables of the CVC type, the ancient Filipinos simply dropped the final consonant. Thus, ak would be written as a, kam as ka, pit as pi, ting as ti, and so on. The missing final consonant was somehow miraculously added back in when the text was read using a technique which we do not understand and which may forever remain a secret.

Those of us whose initial training in literacy was with alphabets may think only of context as what can give us clues about the unwritten final consonant. But there may have been other elements that we don't know about which helped the early people determine what the missing consonant was.

The Arabs who also use a syllabary (Gelb's classification) and only have three vowels, do not write down the vowels. They typically write down only the consonants. Their basic root word structure has three consonants and is written down as CCC. Each permutation can only represent one idea; ktb, for instance, has something to do with writing. Thus, kataba (he wrote), kutiba (it was written), and kutub (books) are all simply written as ktb. The specific permutation of the three consonants gives the meaning to the word making it easy for the reader to fill in the missing vowels from the context.

The above example illustrates how spoken and written components of a language interact in ways that may not be too obvious to non-users. That something similar could be the case with spoken and written Tagalog is very possible. Unfortunately, the script fell into disuse more than three centuries ago while the spoken component continued to evolve. This would make it very hard to do any analysis of this subject.


"Improvements" to the script
This deficiency of the Tagalog script as perceived by alphabet-using observers led to many proposals for "improvements" or extensions to the script. Although contemporaneous accounts indicate that users did not have too many problems in supplying the missing final consonants, the call for reforms started early and continues to this day.

In 1620, Fr. Francisco Lopez made the first logical proposal to improve the script. He proposed the use of a cross kudlit, so-called because it was a diacritic placed under the basic symbol and was shaped like a cross or "+". Its function was to cancel the inherent a sound associated with the basic script symbol. The cross kudlit turns the basic symbols into the phonemes k, g, ng, t, d, n, p, b, m, y, l, w, and s (but not h) suitable for use as final consonants and making it possible to write CVC syllables like kam, pit, and ting.

Fr. Lopez presented this innovation to the Tagalog writers of his time. Pedro Andrés de Castro, in his 1776 manuscript Ortografía y reglas de la Lengua tagalog, explains what happened:

The experts of the time were consulted, we read in the Tagalog orthography, about this new invention with the request that they adopt and use it in writing for the convenience of everybody. But after highly praising it and expressing their thanks, they decided that it cannot be introduced into their writing system because it was against the intrinsic nature and character given the Tagalog language by God and it would be equivalent to destroying in one stroke the whole syntax, prosody and orthography of their language. They expressed, however, that it was not their intention to slight the Spanish gentleman and that they would do what they were told especially when writing Spanish words in their Tagalog characters.

In spite of the rejection of this innovation by users over 350 years ago, proposals continued to come up like stubborn weeds, even to this day. Besides the cross kudlit (or similar devices), extensions to accommodate five vowels (addition of e and o) and new consonants (f and r) have been proposed. Typical of these are recent works by Bayani Mendoza de Leon (Baybayin, the Ancient Script of the Philippines: A Concise Manual), Marius V. Diaz (Abakadang Rizaleo), and Kilusan ng Kalinangang Pilipino (various titles).

Besides misguided proposals of reform, there are many examples of outright misunderstanding of the Tagalog script typified by an article in the Philippine News Magazine (June 28-July 4, 1989) by Benito de Lumen.

Although orthographies published in the 16th and 17th centuries make it clear that the final consonant in a CVC syllable was dropped, de Lumen was unaware of it. Since the rules for the use of the Tagalog script are well-documented, inadequate research has to be the reason for its misunderstanding.

Better knowledge of the ancient script leads to a finer appreciation of its simplicity and elegance and an understanding of why the ancient users rejected reforms.


Source: Santos, Hector. "The Tagalog Script," US, October 26, 1996.

Filipino-American Trivia

You know, there's actually a Filipino-American Heritage Month. It's October. Well, so I'm a little late, but in spirit of this past occasion, here's a set of Filipino-American facts anyways...

Back in the 1920's and '30's, the ratio of men to women was 20 to 1 (because of World War I). In some places it was 40 to 1. Because they were Filipino, they were not allowed to marry white women. In the state of California during 1926, the local authorities imposed anti-miscegenation laws on Filipinos. Filipinos had to drive out of state in order to marry white women.
Source: Information adopted from the National Filipino-American Empowerment Conference 1997 brochure.

Did you know that the Governor of the State of Hawai`i is a Filipino-American named Benjamin Cayetano? He is the highest ranking Filipino-Americna in politics to date.
Source: Information adopted from the National Filipino-American Empowerment Conference 1997 brochure.

Major General Edward Soriano of the U.S. Army, a Filipino-American, became the second highest ranking Asian Pacific American (and I think General Shinseki is the highest ranking) in active-duty miltary service this past July 1997. Major General Soriano was born in Pangasinan, Philippines, and moved to the United States during the 1960s. He joined the army after graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in management. He also holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.
Source: Information adopted from Asian Week, August 22-28, 1997.

In 1763, Filipinos made their first permanent settlement in the bayous and marshes of Louisiana. As sailors and navigators on board Spanish galleons, Filipinos -- also known as "Manilamen" or Spanish-speaking Filipinos -- jumped ship to escape the brutality of their Spanish masters. They built houses on stilts along the gulf ports of New Orleans and were the first in the United States to introduce the sun-drying process of shrimp.
Source: Marina E. Espina. "Filipinos in Louisiana". A.F. Laborde & Sons: New Orleans, 1988.

With all this talk about the astronauts in space, did you know that a Filipino-American named Eduardo San Juan designed the Lunar Rover or "moon buggy" which was used by the Apollo astronauts to explore the moon?
Source: "Filipino Americans - Just like Me!" Compiled by Mencie Y. Hairston

The elite class of rich Filipinos, also known as "pensionados," were allowed to come to America to learn in American universities. In November 1903, 103 pensionados became the first Filipino students in American universities and campuses.
Source: Adelaida Castillo-Tsuchida's "Filipino Migrants in San Diego: 1900-1946". University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 1979.

Immediately after the Katipuneros (freedom fighters) won their independence from Spain, the United States began to impose its own brand of neo-colonialism on the Filipinos. It is known in U.S. history books as the "Philippine Insurrection," but is hardly ever taught in schools. The Filipino American War lasted from 1898 to 1902, and in those 3 years: 70,000 Americans died & 2 million Filipinos were killed.
Source: Stanley Karnow. "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines". New York: Ballintine Books, 1989.

Did you know that at George Washington University, something is named after a great Filipino-American? That's right, last year the Gelman Library named the circulation desk (1st floor) after our very own advisor, Jonathan Melegrito, for his 25 years of service to GW and the Gelman Library. It is officially known as "The Jonathan Melegrito Circulation Desk."

Venancio C. Igarta, an artist, is the first and only Filipino to be exhibited at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. He took the New York City art world by storm in the 1940s. He is featured in the October 1997 issue of FILIPINAS MAGAZINE.
Source: Sison-Paez, Marites. "Igarta Unbound." Filipinas Magazine, October 1997, pg. 46.

In the early 1900's, Filipinos came to the U.S. and settled down in many areas. In Hawai`i, Filipinos worked on sugar cane plantations. They also came to the West Coast of the U.S., where they worked many long hours on farms and in the agricultural fields picking grapes, asparagus, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables in places like Hayward, Salinas, Stockton, El Centro, and even in Escondido. In Alaska they worked in the fish canneries.
Source: Adelaida Castillo-Tsuchida's "Filipino Migrants in San Diego: 1900-1946". University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 1979.

Since it's Columbus Day....Filipinos first crossed the Pacific Ocean as early as 1587, fifty years before the first English settlement of Jamestown was established.
Source: Eugene Lyon. "Track of the Manila Galleons". National Geographic. Vol. 178, No.3, Sept. 1990, pgs. 4-37.

As the baseball season winds down....Do you know who the first Filipino American in the major leagues was? His name was Bobby Balcena, and his era was during 1948 to 1962. Bobby debuted on September 16, 1956, with the Cincinnati Reds. He managed to score two runs. Balcena passed away on January 5, 1993, at the age of 64. Another Filipino-American first!
Source: Emil Guillermo. "Pinoy in the Outfield." FILIPINAS. October 1997.

Unknown to many Filipinos, through the Treaty of Paris (April 11, 1899), Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million, thus ending over 300 years of Spanish colonization. That was quite a bargain for the United States!
Source: Stanley Karnow. "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines." New York: Ballentine Books, 1989.

When Filipinos came to the United States in the early 1900's, they had to compete against other ethnic groups to earn a living. Tensions grew between white Americans and Filipinos. White Americans blamed Filipinos for taking their women and their jobs. For this reason, many hotels, restaurants, and even swimming pools had signs that read "POSITIVELY NO FILIPINOS ALLOWED!" Sometimes they read, "NO DOGS ALLOWED!" This eventually lead to the passing of the Tydings-Mcduffie Act of 1934, which limited Filipino immigration to the U.S. to 50 per year.
Source: Cordova, Fred. "Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans". Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publushing Co., 1983.

Did you know that ROB SCHNEIDER is Filipino-American? You all know him from Saturday Night Live, the movies "Judge Dredd," "Demolition Man," and "Down Periscope." He's the guy who says stuff like "fumble...laya." He is also the star of Men Behaving Badly on NBC.
Source: "Filipino-Americans -- Just Like Me!" Compiled by Mencie Y. Hairston

Yet another Filipina leader is a GW GRADUATE - Dr. Helena Z. Benitez. She earned her master's degree at the Graduate School of Education & Human Development in 1939 and was awarded GW's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 1961. Dr. Benitez is described as "the leading female figure in the Philippines today." She serves as the chairperson of The Philippine Women's University. She has also served as a Philippine senator, assemblywoman, and ambassador. Even more impressive are her years at the United Nations, where she became the highest ranking woman in the U.N. Secretariat. You can learn more about her at: http://www.pwu.edu
Source: GW Graduate School of Education & Human Development Alumni Directory 1997, pg. XIV.

Where did the term Pinoy originate?
It is believed that the term Pinoy originated from the early Filipinos who came to the United States. The Manongs (uncles) as the "oldtimers" were also known to call themselves Pinoys to distinguish themselves from Filipinos living in the Philippines. (Contributed partly by Dawn Bohulano Mabalon whose family has been using the term Pinoy/Pinay since the 1920's.)
Source: Philippine History 101 website http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~flip/history.html

It was on October of 1890 that San Miguel Beer was born. San Miguel Corporation is the largest employer in the Philippines other than the government. San Miguel Corporation has over 39,000 full-time employees. It was the first brewery in Southeast Asia. San Miguel Pale Pilsen is the best selling foreign beer brand in: the South of China, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Nepal. FOUR out of EVERY FIVE beers being drunk in the Philippines is a San Miguel.
Source: San Miguel Beer Home Page http://www.sanmiguelbeer.com

In 1781, Antonio Miranda Rodriguez Poblador, a Filipino, along with 44 other individuals were sent by the Spanish government from Mexico to establish what is now known as the city of Los Angeles.
Source: Cordova, Fred. "Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans". Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publushing Co., 1983.

Loida Nicolas Lewis, a Filipina-American, is chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc., a multinational food company with sales in 1995 of $2.1 billion. Working Woman magazine hailed her as the top businesswoman in the country for 1994. Mrs. Lewis was the first Asian woman to pass the New York State bar exam without having studied law in the U.S. She speaks several languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian and Filipino. She was a sponsor of the National Filipino-American Empowerment Conference held this past August. She is particularly committed to the passage of the Veterans' Equity bill in Congress.
Source: Ann On-Line http://www.annonline.com

The 4th wave of Filipino Immigration to the United States began after the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 and continues to the present day. This allowed the entry of as many as 20,000 immigrants annually. This wave of Filipinos was also called the "brain drain", and consisted mainly of professionals: doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, as well as the military, Filipinos who continued to join the navy off Sangeley Point in Cavite City, Philippines.
Source: Cordova, Fred. "Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans". Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publushing Co., 1983.

on August 14, 2005, Cristeta Comerford, a Filipino-American and 10-year veteran of the White House kitchen became the first female White House executive chef.

On October 25, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines. After destroying the Japanese fleet in the Gulf of Leyte, General MacArthur, then in the company of the greatest armada ever to sail the Pacific, landed in Palo, Leyte. The Japanese were forced to leave the Philippines soon thereafter.
Source: Stanley Karnow. "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines". New York: Ballintine Books, 1989.

Did you know that TAMLYN TOMITA, from the "Karate Kid II" and the "Joy Luck Club" is part Filipina? Why do you think she's so beautiful?
Source: "Filipino-Americans Just Like Me!" Compiled by Mencie Hairston.

The 3rd wave of Filipino immigration was from 1945-1965. Filipinos from the Philippines joined the U.S. Navy to fight against the Japanese. Filipinos were allowed to join the navy because they were so-called "Nationals". They were not U.S. citizens, nor were they illegal aliens. But despite their status, Filipinos fought side by side with American soldiers for freedom gainst the Japanese. These veterans are were denied benefits and are still to this day fighting for their rights. If you are interested in working on the passage of the Equity Bill through Congress, contact the National Federation of Fil-Am Associations at (202) 986-9300.

The Philippines was named after the Crown Prince Philip II of Spain. He was reputed to be an extreme introvert, humorless, and unpopular. Dubbed the "Spider of the Escorial" because he seldom left his palace, Philip II reigned over the vast Spanish empire handed down by his father, Charles V, and was a leading patron of Catholicism.
Source: From Bong Barrameda's Pinoy Trivia Vol. 2, Anvil Publishing, 1993.

Did you know that in the state of California, there are more Filipinos than there are of Chinese. And in San Diego County, Filipino Americans are the largest Asian Pacific Islander group. It is estimated that by the year 2000, Filipinos will surpass the Chinese in being the largest Asian-Pacific Islander group in America.
Source: National Filipino-American Empowerment Conference, August, 1997.

Did you know that Dr. Abelardo Aguilar, a Filipino-American, discovered the now widely used antibiotic known by its generic term as erthyromycin. Chances are, you've already used this antibiotic.
Source: http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu

Both Ruben Aquino and Cynthia Ignacio, two Filipino-Americans, were instrumental in the creation of the Disney animation film "THE LION KING." Aquino has been with Walt Disney Studios for over a decade and was the supervising animator of the character Simba. Ignacio, born and raised in Maryland, started as an intern at Walt Disney, but eventually was promoted to a full-time artist and layout specialist.
Source: Ayuyang, Rachelle. "A Great Lion of Work." Filipinas Magazine, September 1994, pg. cover, 7.