Baybayin in public places and shops
I’m not sure how widespread baybayin was used before Spanish colonialism, but it seems that today baybayin can be found more and more outside the internet and in physical spaces. From murals to even street and pedestrian signage, baybayin has seen a resurgence the past few years. Philippine passports and money also have baybayin written on them, and if you’re familiar with baybayin characters, you’ll see them once and a while being used by in public places and shops on the street.
Public signs in Baybayin
This would be the first time I’d see a public pedestrian or street sign using baybayin. Inside the Lagusnilad Underpass in Manila, there are signs pointing pedestrians to nearby landmarks. It is primarily in English, but has a Filipino translation written in Baybayin.
Also inside is a large mural by artist collective Ang Gerilya entitled “Masigasig na Maynila”. It shows some of Manila’s tumultuous history displayed visually with illustrations in Ang Gerilya’s distinctive bold and colorful style. The mural also features some baybayin as well.
Baybayin at the Bohol airport
Outside Manila baybayin is also being used. Inside the departure area of the Panglao International Airport in Bohol a large mural with different Bolanon insignia can be found. Words describing some of the visuals are in baybayin. I initially expected badlit to be written, which is the local Bisaya script, but since baybayin is more widely-known it is also not surprising it wasn’t used. Though the cancel kudlits here are also seen in badlit.
A baybayin kisame, or ceiling art
Kisame is another term for ceiling, and artworks on ceilings such as those found in churches are also called kisame art. Who knew I’d ever see baybayin written on the ceiling though. Not only that, they would be fashioned as light fixtures embedded in the kisame.
1740 Coffee Genesis is a coffee shop that specializes in local homegrown Philippine coffee beans. Their branch at the Annex at SM North features lighting like I’ve never seen before: baybayin letter ceiling lights!
Their logo also has the baybayin letters for “ka” and “pe” for the word kape. And the design and font is nicely done, with a lighting component built into it as well. While you’re there be sure to have their house blend Penge, which is a single origin coffee (comes from one location) from Bukidnon in Mindanao.
Baybayin at an elementary school
As expected, baybayin is also taught in schools under the subject of Filipino. So some schools, like this one in Pangasinan, uses baybayin letters as part of their teaching materials and signs.
More coffee and baybayin
Coffee shops in the Philippines is expanding with third wave coffee shops and simple kapihans popping up in the cities and towns. Since many of them are being started by a younger generation, it seems many of them also want to infuse a more Filipino or local feel to their marketing. As I was biking near Banawe in Quezon City, I found this sign from a local kapihan.
Baybayin on the street
Not only can you find baybayin on a public underpass in Manila as mentioned earlier, but you can also find it literally on the street. At the University of the Philippines Diliman, baybayin is written on bike and pedestrian lanes around the campus.
Kauayan coffee in Coron
If you haven’t noticed, I’m into coffee shops and Philippine coffee beans these days, so I was happy to find Kauayan coffee when we visited Coron. The shop sells products like tumblrs and coasters with baybayin on them.
Baybayin clocks
Back in Manila, the Department of Trade and Industry or DTI launched Manila Canvas, a new store highlighting local goods from MSMEs or micro, small, and medium enterprises. There you’ll find a wide range of products, many of them also using baybayin.
Baybayin mural art in Baclayon
Some towns and provinces will also have baybayin on murals and signs. Like this one on a wall in Baclayon, Bohol. This was possibly done by local youth, and is part of a grander mural featuring marine life that can be seen in the waters surrounding Baclayon.
Shop windows with baybayin
Cubao X in Quezon City is known for its unique shops and restaurants. From antiques to video games, and restaurants and bars with creative and delicious menus, you can find them at Cubao X. So I wasn’t surprised to see baybayin on one of the windows of the shops.
Baybayin at the tiangge or dry goods market
I was surprised however to see baybayin at one of the stalls in St. Francis Square Mall, which houses various stalls selling everything from shoes to electronics, including all kinds of food. It is similar to Greenhills shopping center and Divisoria in that it is composed of multiple levels of different vendors selling wares. One of the vendors had baybayin used on their sign.
See baybayin in your neighborhood?
For me, finding baybayin written somewhere while running errands or traveling is always a nice surprise. Although I am seeing more and more of it as the years pass, I still don’t see it as often as I’d like. If you ever catch a glimpse of baybayin where you are, do take a photo and share them with me!
Download my baybayin font
If you want to explore baybayin further, I recommending exploring it as a font and making words and even paragraphs with it in your own work. You can learn more about it in this post, which also goes through some of the basics of reading and writing in the script. A free download of a baybayin font I designed can be found there too.