Malakas vs. Malakas…The Clash of Two Titans

I somewhat touched on the subject once before…right here: http://malayadesigns.net/2009/12/02/so-you-think-you-know-baybayin/, HOY! WAIT A MINUTE!, don’t be so hyper and just randomly start clicking just because you were presented with a hyperlink.  Read on please.

Malakas vs. Malakas.  Technically it’s the clash of two schools of thought, Traditional Baybayin vs. Modified Baybayin (spanish).  Most of you already know of Baybayin aka (alibata) and are more or less familiar with it’s history and it’s fundamental basics.  For those of you who don’t, then I suggest you google search Hector Santos and Paul Morrow for a concise introduction to Baybayin.  Why these gentlemen?  Because they top my list of Baybayin contributors.  Mr. Santos was the first to publish Baybayin on the web making him a pioneer and gave us a peak at Mangyan.  Paul Morrow, because he’s Paul, is a badass, and has delivered in so many ways.  The fundamental basics is what everyone should begin with, and the basics of Baybayin is non-modified writing.  That means, you learn to write and appreciate Baybayin in its purest form without introducing an outside influence to the writing system.  Easy enough right?  You would think so but things are not what it seems.  Apparently, there is a wide acceptance that the modified Baybayin version is the most proper and correct method of writing rather then the traditional.  In fact, the impression I am getting is that alot of people don’t even know there is a traditional way of writing Baybayin.  So i ask you, how can you truly learn to run if you have yet to walk grasshopper?  Stop your run, turn around, look what you’ve missed in your hurriedness.  Sure, adding that cute  little plus sign makes things so easy, it makes sense! Eureka! it really does, but that’s not the point.  The point is, turning your back or simply ignoring pure Baybayin does the writing system and those who wrote it before us a disservice.  Sure you can argue that by modifying it, the writing system becomes relevent to todays standards, you get a thumbs up and a gold star!  I’m good with that.  But I’ll be the first to blow holes in your so called research, if you tell me that traditional Baybayin writing is wrong or that I’m wrong for not using the modified script or using it enough.  I’ve defended my personal stance on Baybayin far longer than most as an artist and practitioner.  I make it a point to educate people in both the traditional and the modified, and you know what? Folks appreciate it and prefer a traditional transliteration when given the option.  Education is what sets Baybayin practitioners apart from mere writers of the script.  Educate yourself and pass that information along, it’s your chance to pay it forward.  As I have said in numerous conversations before, lack of resources can no longer be an excuse for ignorance.  If you can’t stand on your own merits, at the end of the day you have contributed absolutely NOTHING.