What is alibata?

Alibata, also known as Baybayin, is a pre-colonial script used by the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. It is an alphasyllabary script composed of 17 basic characters representing different consonant-vowel combinations. Alibata was widely used throughout the archipelago before the Spanish colonization in the 16th century.

The script was used for various purposes including writing legal documents, letters, and literature. It was also used in inscriptions in objects and artifacts. Spanish colonizers eventually replaced Alibata with the Latin alphabet, leading to a decline in its usage and preservation.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Alibata among Filipino scholars and cultural advocates. Efforts have been made to preserve and revitalize the script, with some schools offering Alibata classes and workshops. It is now considered as an important part of the Filipino cultural heritage and identity.