Using Baybayin Fonts

Read & Write Baybayin First:

Baybáyin is NOT an Alphabet.
Baybáyin is NOT Alibata.
Baybáyin is an Abugida.

To avoid embarrassing typographical errors, it is really important to learn how to actually read & write Baybayin Script and know the rules of both Abugida & Filipino orthography (spelling and pronunciation) first.

Visit these pages:

How to write using Baybayin Script: English Instructions <-click & visit

How to write using Baybayin Script: Filipino Instructions <-click & visit
These are thorough tutorials by Paul Morrow on how to write using Baybayin script in the original Filipino and modified Spanish methods. These tutorials are the most reliable and concise instructions online.

How do I write my name in baybayin? <-click & visit
This is the most frequently asked question regarding the script. This page offers strategies for writing difficult non-Filipino words and names in the baybayin script.

"A mistake people often make is to assume that the baybayin is just a neat looking alphabet; all you have to do is learn how draw the letters and then spell out the words in the language of your choice, and substitute each modern letter with a baybayin letter. However, baybayin doesn't work like that. This is the difference between an alphabet and a syllabic writing system." ~ Paul Morrow 

SOURCE: Sarisari etc. - http://www.mts.net/~pmorrow/

Typing with Baybayin Fonts:

"Easy Keyboard Access" this is one of the main benefit of Baybayin FONTS; for convenient usage and typing in word processing & graphic editing softwares.

Most Common Mistake - Vowel Characters & Kudlit marks treated as an Alphabet:

Multiple instances of vowel characters and little to no kudlit marks are the usual tell-tale giveaway.

Source: http://felipeaira.i.ph/blogs/felipeaira/2008/10/11/matanglawin/


"Easy Keyboard Access" does NOT mean "go ahead and type anything and it will be correct".

When using either Paul Morrow Fonts or Nordenx Fonts, the capital letter keys (shift+) A, E, I, O, and U will type Vowel Characters (ᜀ, ᜁ, ᜂ). Each of these characters represent a stand-alone vowel SYLLABLE not just an alphabet or letter with a vowel sound.

Each Baybayin Consonant Characters are also singular SYLLABLES that already has a default /a/ vowel sound. A kudlit mark is added to the character to change the /a/ vowel sound to the other vowel sounds /e/, /i/, /o/, or /u/. This is done by typing the lower-case vowel letter keys (e, i, o, or u) after the consonant character. The kudlit mark (dot, slash, caret, or chevron, etc.) should appear above or below the character after you typed the lower-case vowel.

A virama mark (x-kudlit or pamudpud) is added to the character to cancel the inherent or default /a/ vowel sound to create a vowel-less consonant character (dead-consonant). The x-kudlit (a modern replacement for the krus-kudlit introduced in the Doctrina Christiana) is recommended for leading or stand-alone dead-consonants, the pamudpud (a virama used by the Mangyan tribes of Mindoro) for trailing dead-consonants.

The Keys to Baybayin Fonts:

When you know the rules and know how to read & write in Baybayin script, install one or a few Baybayin fonts in your computer then familiarize yourself where and in which keyboard key is each character or glyph assigned to (you can use this tool - click here). Typing Baybayin in wordprocessing or graphic editing softwares should be straightforward by then.

The Key to Baybayin Online:

Using Baybayin characters online like typing your status on facebook or in a chat client is a different story. Online, Baybayin fonts requires using the Unicode range which is normally not easily accessed by your regular keyboard. The Unicode range can only be accessed using a specialized program like an online tool/application of by changing your keyboard's settings.

Learn: "How to type Baybayin using Unicode." <- click here & visit

ᜀ Type uppercase 'A' = syllable character "A" (traditional) 

- Type lowercase 'a' = none * 

ᜁ Type uppercase 'I' = syllable character "I" (traditional) 

'  Type lowercase 'i' = kudlit mark "i" (traditional) 

ᜂ Type uppercase 'U' = syllable character "U" (traditional) 

,  Type lowercase 'u' = kudlit mark "u" (traditional) 

+ Type '=' or '+' for a krus or x kidlit virama (reformed)

ᜅ Type uppercase 'N' = syllable character "NGA" (traditional)

ᜈ Type lowercase 'n' = syllable character "NA" (traditional) 

ᜊ Type 'b' or 'B' = syllable character "BA" or "VA" (traditional)

ᜃ Type 'c', 'k', 'K' = syllable character "KA" or "CA" (traditional)

ᜇ Type 'd' or 'D' = syllable character "DA" or "RA" (traditional)

ᜄ Type 'g' or 'G' = syllable character "GA" (traditional)

ᜑ Type 'h' or 'H' = syllable character "HA" (traditional)

ᜎ Type 'l' or 'L' = syllable character "LA" or "RA" (traditional)

ᜋ Type 'm' or 'M' = syllable character "MA" (traditional)

ᜉ Type 'f' or 'F' = syllable character "PA" or "FA" (traditional)

ᜐ Type 's' or 'S' = syllable character "SA" (traditional)

ᜆ Type 't' or 'T' = syllable character "TA" (traditional)

ᜏ Type 'w' or 'W' = syllable character "WA" (traditional)

ᜌ Type 'y' or 'Y' = syllable character "YA" (traditional)

ᜍ Type 'r' or 'R' = syllable character "RA" (modern alternative)

ᜉ Type 'p' or 'P' = syllable character "PA" or "YA" (archaic)

ᜊ Type 'v' or 'V' = syllable character "VA" (alternative)

ᜐ Type 'z' or 'Z' = syllable character "ZA" (alternative)

ᜁ Type uppercase 'E' = syllable character "E" (alternative)

'  Type lowercase 'e' = kudlit mark "e" (modern alternative)

ᜂ Type uppercase 'O' = syllable character "O" (alternative)

, Type lowercase 'o' = kudlit mark "o" (modern alternative)

ᜐ Type 'C' = character combo "TSA" for 'cha' (reformed)*

ᜃ Type 'q' = character combo "KUWA" for 'qua' (traditional)

ᜃ Type 'Q' = character combo "KWA" for 'qua' (reformed)

ᜇ Type 'j' = character combo "DIYA" for 'ja' (traditional)

ᜇ Type 'J' = character combo "DYA" for 'ja' (reformed)

ᜃ Type 'x' or 'X' = character combo "KSA" for 'xa' (reformed)

ᜈ Type '~' = character combo "NYA" for 'ña' (reformed)

 * may differ or not be available (yet) in some fonts.

Mind What You Type:

Common Mistake - mixing methods: 
There are several modes of writing Baybayin, don't mix them together in one composition. Don't confuse your readers.

Common Mistake - not translating to a Filipino language or forcing foreign pronunciation & spelling:
Ideally, Babayin should be used primarily for Philippine languages. However, Baybayin has been known to be used by natives to write some Spanish and English (in "Pilipinized" spelling) words.  

Rules of thumb:

• Use borrowed words sparingly and only if there are no available equivalent words for them in any Philippine language or even Spanish. If you have to use the word as it is, you should follow the official rules on how to Pilipinize the spelling & pronunciation of foreign or borrowed words and how to break-it-down into syllables as laid out by the  Philippine National Language Commission in the Balarila (Rules of Orthography).
• If the word is an important scientific or technical term and you do not have a direct and official translation to any Philippine language or Spanish - don't Pilipinize the spelling and don't write it in Baybayin Script, use the Latin Alphabet instead.
• If the word is a name of person (or organization) - don't Pilipinize the spelling and don't write it in Baybayin Script, use the Latin Alphabet instead - unless that person (or group) made known to you or the public how they write his/her name in Baybayin (or they personally requested you to do so); how one prefers their name spelled & pronounced is a personal issue.

Common Mistake - tackling acronyms & initials:

-> CLICK HERE <- for more info about using Baybayin Script in Acronyms & Initialism.

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Unicode Converter Update

UPDATE:  

Outdated tech, Adobe Flash no longer functions.  

 
Now it is even easier to type in Baybayin Unicode and copy/paste it to Facebook!
Non-baybayin-reading folks can now translate what others wrote in Baybayin Unicode!

Use the Baybayin Unicode Converter today! :)

ᜇᜓᜋᜍᜋᜒ ᜈ ᜀᜅ᜴ ᜄᜓᜋᜄᜋᜒᜆ᜴ ᜅ᜔ ᜊᜌ᜴ᜊᜌᜒᜈ᜴ ᜐ ᜉᜒᜌ᜔ᜐ᜴ᜊᜓᜃ᜴᜶ ᜇᜑᜒᜎ᜴ ᜇᜒᜆᜓ᜵ ᜇᜓᜋᜍᜋᜒ ᜈ ᜍᜒᜈ᜴ ᜀᜅ᜴ ᜎᜓᜋᜎᜉᜒᜆ᜴ ᜐ ᜀᜃᜒᜈ᜴ ᜈ ᜀᜅ᜴ ᜑᜒᜎᜒᜅ᜴ ᜀᜌ᜴ ᜀᜌᜓᜐᜒᜈ᜴ ᜃᜓ ᜇᜏ᜴ ᜁᜆᜓᜅ᜴ ᜀᜉ᜴ᜎᜒᜃᜐ᜴ᜌᜓᜈ᜴ ᜈ ᜁᜆᜓ ᜉᜍ ᜁᜆᜓᜌ᜔ ᜋᜀᜀᜍᜒᜅ᜴ ᜋᜃᜊᜐ ᜇᜒᜈ᜴ ᜅ᜔ ᜂᜈᜒᜃᜓᜇ᜴᜶

The Baybayin Unicode Converter (Typepad) has been updated:

• If you see boxes above instead of Baybayin characters - Download the updated Baybayin Modern Font (BMF) Unicode Mono - Updated: Sept. 10, 2011
  If you have downloaded this font before this update, please re-download & update your .ttf file.
• The font's glyphs have been updated for better legibility, strokes adjusted and the x virama made larger.
• It can now convert Baybayin Unicode into text. To convert Baybayin Unicode to text, select the "READ Baybayin Unicode" tool option on the drop-down menu, copy then paste the characters you wish to convert onto the text area, then click the "conv" (convert) button.
• There are two new typing modes; the x Mode automatically types a virama below each character making them stand alone consonants, while the a Mode types syllable characters with the default 'a' vowel sound. Depending on which mode you use, typing vowels or kudlit marks after each character alters the default 'a' or cancels an auto-typed virama.
• There is a ·· check-box that allows double kudlit marks which repeats a same-vowel syllable. It is automatically unchecked after each double kudlit is typed.
•  A new "copy" (to clipboard) button is added to the "TYPE Baybayin Unicode" tool option to make it quick & easy to do so, it automatically highlights and copies everything you typed.
• The Surat Mangyan pamudpod mark Unicode range is made accessible so you can use it if you chose to follow the following proposed modern virama rules:

1. x = virama [Spanish cross kudlit (+)]: rendered by the = equal and + plus keys, it cancels vowels, preferably for leading or stand-alone consonant sounds;
   ex. ᜊ᜔ᜍᜓ bro | ᜅ᜔ ng
   
2. / = pamudpod (Mangyan's virama): rendered by the / forward-slash key, it cancels vowels, preferably for trailing or dead-consonat sounds;
   ex. ᜊᜍ᜴ bar | ᜈᜅ᜴ nang

Enjoy! :)

Kulitan Angulo Typepad

One of the main difference of Súlat Kapampángan from Baybayin is its vertical direction which the current Kulitan Script practitioners consider as the standard. The other unique feature is stacking characters and syllable grouping (instead of sequential characters in a word grouping). While beautiful in handwritten executions, it poses a few problems for modern typographers and font designers; just like the hurdles other developers face when designing Asiatic fonts. It requires a bit of advanced technical know-how and some special programs/apps to pull off. A level of difficulty that I have yet to master. And so, I experiment...

UPDATE:  

Outdated tech, Adobe Flash no longer functions. 

I am currently developing/designing the Kulitan Angulo Font used for the typepad above. The font is a horizontaly typed font with glyphs/characters tilted on its side, 90° counterclockwise. The typepad above is specially programed to automatically tilt or "change the angle" (hence the font name "Angulo") of the typing area so you can view (and be able to continue to type) in the traditional vertical manner intended for the script.
 
For Word-processing:

One can use the font in a word-processing program like Microsoft Word without any special setup; just type horizontally then after you print the document, all you have to do is turn the printed material 90° clockwise and the composition is vertically oriented as is normal with Kulitan.

However, you can also use the font to type vertically in Microsoft Word by using a table with a simple & easy setup:

• Insert a single-cell borderless table and re-size it as close to the margins of the page as possible.
• (in Word 2003 or earlier) Select the table, click Format on the top menu. Click "Text Direction" and choose the direction you want (Vertical).
• (in Word 2007 or later), click the Table Tools, Layout tab, and click the Text Direction button in the Alignment group.

Keystrokes:

Check the Keystroke & Character Chart (.pdf) for more info on how to type stacked characters.

Caveats:  

1. Problems arise when the syllable stacks/ligatures require more than two major characters. The only work-around right now is to use another line above the stack to add a third major character.
2. Constant shift-key usage because of alternating upper & lowercase keyboard characters to stack glyphs takes a lot of getting used to.  
3. The Nga character needed to be re-assigned to the unused H and h keys because the Na character needs both N and n keys for the upper & lower stacks. I was told that there's a joke about Kapampangan typewriters and the H keys, but I assure you that I was completely oblivious about that when I assigned the glyph to the key.
4. Double spacing is required to optimally separate columns and rows of syllable groups as required by  Súlat Kapampángan.

The lyrics to the Kapampangan folk-song "Atin Cu Pung Singsing" below shows how it is typed using the Kulitan Angulo Font:

 

 

CORRECTIONS: 
1) I forgot to write the 4th line "king indung ibatan" in the "Atin ku pung singsing" lyrics.
2) The 2nd to last line "mewala ya iti" has a typo; 3rd syllable should be typed as 'luA" instead of "tuA".

You have to judge whether or not typing horizontally in this manner is better than setting up tables to be able to type vertically using the previous (and first Kapampangan Script) font I released earlier this month: Baybayin Kapampangan

Please review my previous blog entry about Súlat Kapampángan: Galit sa kulit - it explains some of the details about the Kapampangan method of writing.

Don't forget to visit Michael Pangilinan's siuala.com

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UPDATE: Kulitan Typepad version 2.5

• Kulitan Angulo Font updated to incorporate an experimental "quarter stacking" or "square stack" syllables to render leading & trailing compound consonants of non-Kapampangan words.
• Introducing a modern character RA for borrowed words. Basically an embellished DA, adding the bottom stroke of LA - similar to the modern Baybayin RA (ᜍ). 
• Check the Keystroke & Character Chart (.pdf) for info on how to type stacked characters.

UPDATE: Kulitan Typepad version 2.0

• Added a button to take an image capture of your composition and save it to your computer - so you can upload it and share it on Facebook if you want others to check your work.
• Added a positional slider when in vertical mode to slide the column to the center when taking a, image capture.

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Mangyan Postma Font

Mr. Antoon Vreeze Postma is a Dutch anthropologist and linguist who has married into and has been living for more than fifty years among the Hanunuo Mangyan tribe in Mindoro, Philippines. He is best known for being the first to decipher the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, and for documenting the Hanunóo script, paving the way for its preservation. He is the founder of the Mangyan Research Center in Panaytayan, Mansalay, Mr. Postma is in charge of the (MHC) Mangyan Heritage Center's research operations. His collection forms the bulk of the materials in the MHC library.

I visited the MHC in my home town of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, last year (August 2010). I purchased several of Postma's books and watched how they still use handwriting to record and catalog Ambahan poetry and other learning materials. I showed Mrs. Emily Lorenzo Catapang (Executive Director of MHC) how to instal and use Mangyan fonts on their computers so that they can have a modern alternative way of publishing materials. I promised to continue developing and perfecting fonts for Surat Mangyan for the very purpose of propagating and preserving the written cultural heritage of the Mangyan.

This new font was inspired by Postma's works. Baybayin Mangyan Postma Type has bold and uniform strokes best suited for posters and other print. This font is based on one of Postma's book cover art.

New Mangyan Font:

Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Postma-Font-252407086
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Mangyan Fonts from 2010:

Download this new font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Brush-Font-169880405


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Font-149145096

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Baybayin Kapampangan

Súlat Kapampángan (a.k.a. pámagkulit or kulitan) is used for writing the Kapampangan language spoken by folks from the Pampanga province in the Philippines. Kapampangan is one of the major languages of the Philippines.



Kulitan differs slightly from Baybayin as it has been recently adapted solely for Kapampangan orthography. A different method of writing a combination of garlit (kudlit) diacritic marks with character ligatures & stacking is developed. Much of the character shapes originally were the same as Baybayin but through limited but continued use, Kulitan handwriting slowly evolved and in the recent decades they have changed to suit a vertical direction of writing popularized by current Kapampangan practitioners, scholars, artists, and academics.

Please review my previous blog entry about Súlat Kapampángan: Galit sa kulit - it explains some of the details about the Kapampangan method of writing.

NOW AVAILABLE! A NEW KAPAMPANGAN FONT! ~


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Pamagkulit-Font-246309064

Watch this video tutorial on "How to type Kapampangan script (Kulitan) vertically in Microsoft Word using the Pamagkulit Font inside a table." Please watch it in Full Screen Mode to see the details:

NOTE: Tagalog, Mangyan Hanunóo, Magyan Buhid, and Tagbanua have assigned Unicode blocks or ranges; Kapampangan does not have any assigned to it.

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For more info about Súlat Kapampángan, visit: Siuálâ Ding Meángûbié

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Unique Code

A request was asked of me to separate the Unicode compliant set of my fonts from the keyboard accessible parts; creating two files in one package so that people can pick/choose which Unicode typeface/font style they want to use for browsing. This is a great idea because when you have several of my fonts or Paul Morrow's fonts in your PC, the unicode sets tend to overlap each other in web browsers. And browsers are weird, I don't know how it picks & chooses the 'winner' because I've tried many different setting combinations in different browsers and resulted in different fonts being picked. I've been experimenting with settings within the font files themselves as well with no luck.

That is why I tend to keep only one font file in my "C:\WINDOWS\Fonts" folder to solve the clashing issue; I keep the other font files in my shared Adobe fonts folder - since I only use Baybayin fonts for Adobe apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, etc. Whenever I need to use a font for word processing, that's when I install the font in my windows/font folder; removing it after I already printed my document or embedded the font in .pdf file. ...quite a cumbersome system, I know, it can't work for everybody.

The problem is that it will take a lot of time & work and I am lazy bastard. But I really do love the idea and I promise that I will implement it. ...sometime in the future. :P

Horrified with Modified

As I release western style baybayin fonts, I begin to wonder about how the community will receive them.



Over the years, I received numerous emails and private messages regarding my fonts and my efforts in standardizing the script for typography, uniformity of stokes, ease of legibility, ease of access, and synchronization with modern Filipino orthography. A lot of these correspondences are positive and very encouraging. However there a a few that are not. It seems that I have not made my intentions clear. People sometimes see the adjective "modern" in the name of my fonts and they immediately think "modified" which  some view with the same disdain they feel when they think that something is a product of "colonial mentality".

Modern ≠ Modified

Ra Rah! To tell you the truth, the only glyph I consider "modified" in my fonts is my ᜍ Ra character. But even ᜍ Ra as an alternative character is basically still an embellished "traditional" ᜇ Da. Maybe that's why folks accept it; I'm just pleasantly pleased that it has been well received by many. In that light, my other "alternative" characters are designed in the same fashion; an embellished ᜐ Sa for Za, an embellished ᜁ I for E, and an embellished ᜂ U for O.

Ba Va Boom! Some folks are confused by my other characters which are actually NOT embellished versions of the another (Filipino) phoneme equivalent but are actually true (earlier recorded) representation of the same character; O Ba is the same ᜊ Ba but I assigned the round O Ba to the 'V' key because it more resembles the phoneme matching characters in related family of Indic & South East Asian scripts.

Oye Pa Fa! The traditional F-shaped ᜉ Pa is still the same as the old Kapampangan closed-loop P-shaped Pa so I assigned the F-shaped one to the 'F' key and the P-shaped one to the 'P' key [shape-wise it makes sense to me] - however, the old closed-loop Ya is very much similar to the old closed-loop Pa, so I chose to include & assign a current but still traditional loop-less ᜌ Ya to the 'Y'  key.

e, ang kulit o! People fail to see that even if I propose and include these alternatives, they are available to them only if they wish to use them. If you like the style of a font and want to write in the old traditional way - you can do so. It's there for you, it's free, it's easy! Just because I included the hollow ○ kudlit mark for mid vowels e and o doesn't mean you have to use them or even disregard the whole font just because you think that the solid ● kudlit mark is the proper mark (I'll get to you 'mix & dash' supporters later). Same goes to the virama and pamudpod (vowel cancellation marks), I included them because they are culturally & historically relevant. Just because they are introduced by foreigners doesn't mean that they are linguistically wrong. Virama and pamudpod marks are valid methods of vowel cancellation used by baybayin's parent Indic & relative Malay/Austronesian scripts. The virama method is very old but still very effective. Heck, it was introduced to baybayin by the Spanish scholars for the very same reason I saw it fit for use - to adapt with changing times.

Adobo at pandesal... More than 300 years of Hispanic and western influence has infused and change our culture and language. Good or bad, these influences have become uniquely and traditionally ours. The krus kudlit (cross-shaped virama) was introduced in the 16th century to adapt baybayin script to Spanish orthography, and despite the native population's adamant reluctance to use it for everyday writing, they conceded to use it when writing Spanish words. After several centuries, like adobo & pandesal, our language & culture adapted and changed, but baybayin never did. Could the early practitioner's staunch tradition and resistance to change have contributed to baybayin's disuse? The krus kudlit is as old as the introduction of the word adobo and the bread pandesal to Filipinos and while the food stuff became "traditional" Filipino fare, the cross-shaped mark became a hated symbol of Spanish oppression - a funny thing coming from a country of devout Catholics.



pud! galoryus pud! What's fresh and what's cooking? Being from Mindoro Island, the home of the Mangyan tribes, I have been interested with the pamudpod; their version of a virama. The pamudpod mark and a Ra character were introduced  several decades ago by Dutch anthropologist Antoon Postma, who has married into and lives among the Hanunóo, a Mangyan sub-tribe in Mindoro, Philippines. What interests me is how readily the Mangyan accepted and implimented this marks & method of canceling inherent vowels. As you can see from the photo-collage above from my visit to Mindoro last year (2010), it is now commonly used everyday by the tribes. All Mangyan books, souvenir nicknacks, shirts, handicrafts and artifacts I encountered back home bears the newly introduced mark & character. This is especially true when a Mangyan language composition is mixed with Tagalog, and foreign words. This is another reason why I included a Ra and pamudpod mark in my fonts.

BOTTOM LINE:

Just because my fonts have the adjective 'modern' attached to its name and the characters have been stylized, it doesn't mean that they can not be used in the traditional way of baybayin. Each character in all my fonts retain the traditional character form & shapes.

I also can't stress enough that you learn both the traditional method & Spanish "reformed" method of writing baybayin and educate yourself about Filipino languages and orthography.

Paul Morrow's site is the best place to start: Sarisari etc.

← And don't forget to check out the other links listed on the sidebar of this blog.

Ganado

Download this font from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Gana-Font-225516266

I finally finished uploading all updated Baybayin Modern Fonts this month and released several new fonts along with the it.

For a list of all the fonts, click here: "FONT DOWNLOAD PAGE"

Included in all my fonts are alternative glyphs/characters that you can use if you prefer to.

1. ᜍ = ra: may be the only character modification I introduce. Its shape is carefully designed and based on D, P, R letter shapes and ᜇᜎᜉᜁ character shapes, strokes & qualities as well as the Bikolano, Mangyan, other Malay, and other Asian ra characters.
   
2. x = virama [Spanish cross kudlit (+)]: rendered by the = equal and + plus keys, it cancels vowels, preferably for leading or stand-alone consonant sounds;
   ex. ᜊ᜔ᜍᜓ bro | ᜅ᜔ ng
   
3. / = pamudpod (Mangyan's virama): rendered by the / forward-slash key, it cancels vowels, preferably for trailing or dead-consonat sounds;
   ex. ᜊᜍ/ bar | ᜈᜅ/ nang
   
4. ● = solid kudlit marks can be used as traditional kudlits, I use them for high vowels i and u kudlit.
   
5. o = hollow kudlit marks are alternatives that I use for the mid vowels e and o.

The other alternate characters (not modified, just a different style of the same type/character):

1. O = ᜊ can still be pronounced as ba but can be used to signify va.
   
2. vz = ᜐ can still be pronounced as sa but can be used to signify za.
   
3. I and U characters has more complex strokes than E and O but are essentially still the same I/E and O/U characters.
   
4. Uppercase Q renders the character combination ᜃ᜔ᜏ k'wa.
   
5. Lowercase q renders the character combination ᜃᜓᜏ kuwa.
   
6. Uppercase J renders the character combination ᜇ᜔ᜌ d'ya.
   
7. Lowercase j renders the character combination ᜇᜒᜌ diya.
   
8. Both X and x renders the character combination ᜃ᜔ᜐ k'sa. eg. ᜁᜃ᜔ᜐᜋ/ = exam
   
9. Some font sets have ᜆ᜔ᜐ t'sa or cha assigned to uppercase C.
   
10. Updated in all fonts, the A character ᜀ can now only be accessed by the uppercase A like the other vowel characters I, E, O, and U.
    
11. You can use ᜉ fa as the traditional pa.
    
12. My fonts use an old loop-ended version of pa that some of you may mistake as the old loop-ended ya. You may substitute them if you're looking for a traditional look.
    
13. My ᜌ ya is a more modern open ended (non-loop-ended) glyph.

The updates reassigned several glyphs to different keys, standardized & cleaned several character strokes, and fixed compatibility clashing issues.

They grow like weeds...

Download this font from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Damo-Font-184637586

Hiram-gana

Download this font from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Kana-Font-184288362

I've been contacted by many folks requesting a Japanese style Baybayin font. Here's one inspired by the Japanese syllabary hiragana & katakana. A couple more Asiatic styled fonts are in the works that I plan to release along with other fonts, some updated (fixed) old ones and a whole batch of new ones, hopefully soon.

Surat Mangyan Brush Font

New Mangyan Font:

Download this new font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Brush-Font-169880405

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Updated Mangyan Font:

Download the updated file from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Font-149145096

Font updated to v.1.50

• Unicode ranges transferred from Tagalog to Hanunóo
• Finished welding and verifying all glyphs
• Various cleanup and re-alignments

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A Brush with Fate (Baybayin Sighting)

During my quick and short visit to my home province of Mindoro last year (May, 2009), I spotted this poster on a wall inside a restaurant in Calapan City.

I don't know who the artist/writer was but I am quite intrigued with his/her use of Hanunoo script. I am not sure if this poster actually is written in the Mangyan language; I can read the script alright, but it only seem like gibberish to me. It does not seem to be written in Tagalog and I don't fully understand Mangyan so I can't truly be sure what it says.

Anyway, it's been a year since and I am going back to the Philippines this July 9, 2010 and will be staying until Aug. 28, 2010. I plan to visit the Mangyan Heritage Center in Calapan City sometime during my stay there. Maybe I can ask someone over there to translate this poster to me.

Anyway, this poster is one of the inspirations for the new brush-style font. I was also looking at other examples of Hanunóo handwriting (not carving).

What's new?
Like the previous Hanunóo font, I included the pamudpod as well as the cross kudlit or virama. To access the pamudpod use the equal key ( = ) and to access the virama use the plus key ( + ).

There is a new kudlit system?
The Nordenx fonts are created so that a standard western keyboard can easily access the baybayin characters. However, please note that the Mangyan script have different kudlit positions depending on what character is used. These different kudlit positions can be accessed by typing the keys for e, i, o, u, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (see sample image in the download page). Using these keys, you can easily and accurately position your kudlits to write the proper Mangyan syllables. To render kudlit in the classical baybayin i/e & o/u locations, just use the i an o keys respectively.

Hanunóo script is used in writing ambāhan - I think it's time to learn how to write these epic poems.



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Baybayin Unicode Converter

UPDATE:  

Outdated tech, Adobe Flash no longer functions. 

 

So you saw your Filipino friends using Baybayin (a.k.a. Alibata to the uninformed) characters on Facebook and you wondered how they do that, right? Well, if you're not that tech savvy - here is the secret: it's called Unicode.

This typepad application converts typed text to the Baybayin Unicode character equivalent and vice versa.

If the application below doesn't load, try this link: Baybayin Unicode Converter Typepad Page

BMF UNICODE MONO FONT IS REQUIRED BY THIS APPLICATION TO DISPLAY THE GLYPHS CORRECTLY: 

• Download the Baybayin Modern Font (BMF) Unicode Mono - Updated: Sept. 10, 2011

TIPS & USES:

• To type Baybayin Unicode, select the "TYPE Baybayin Unicode" option from the drop-down menu on the top-left of the app.
• There are 2 Typing modes; the x Mode automatically types a virama below each character making them stand alone consonants, while the a Mode types syllable characters with the default 'a' vowel sound. Depending on which mode you use, typing vowels or kudlit marks after each character alters the default 'a' or cancels an auto-typed virama.
• The ·· check-box allows double kudlit marks that repeats a same-vowel syllable. It is automatically unchecked after each double kudlit is typed.
  
• After typing in Baybayin Unicode characters, you can highlight your characters and copy (simply click on the ⇩ copy button) then paste & post the glyphs in Facebook or forums or anywhere else on the web for that matter.
  
• Anyone with a web browser that is set up to view UTF8 and have a Unicode compliant font installed in their computer that has Baybayin characters in the appropriate range (Tagalog range: U+1700–U+171F), would be able to see the Baybayin characters you posted.
  
• To configure your browser to view Unicode: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/mideast/encyclopedia/browsers.html
• To convert Baybayin Unicode to text, select the "READ Baybayin Unicode" option on the drop-down menu, copy then paste the characters you wish to convert onto the text area, then click the "conv" button.
• You can scroll up or down on the text area using your mouse wheel.
  
• To learn more about how to write in baybayin, please visit this - list of pertinent Baybayin links.
  
• Unicode compliant Baybayin Fonts:
  Morrow's Fonts - Sarisari etc...
  Baybayin Modern Fonts - Download Page

Limitations:

• Type using your keyboard at a normal speed, not too quick as network lag can slow down processing and will end up skipping characters.
  
• The app only converts every text character typed the end of the word/sentence, letters inserted in between other characters will not be converted.

Warning! This is not a translator application. Do not rely on this tool for correct spelling and transliteration. This is a free-form learning tool. Unless you're already proficient with Filipino languages and Baybayin script, transcribing is best left to professionals.

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Download Free Modern Baybayin Fonts

Download Free Baybayin Modern Fonts

PLEASE GO TO THE DOWNLOAD PAGE FOR A MORE UPDATED LIST.

Download Free Baybayin Modern Fonts

Note: even though the style of these fonts are modern, you can still use it to write in the traditional way.

The updated font files are hosted in deviantART. If you download them from any other font-collective websites, keep in mind that they may not be the most up-to-date version of the file.

In the deviantART page for each font, look for the download link in either the text description or the download arrow button located at the upper-right side of the page.


FAQ: How to install these fonts on your computer? Click Here for Answer

All of Nordenx Baybayin Modern Fonts are for personal and non-commercial use only. Please contact me at nordenx@yahoo.com for any inquiries about commercial use in publications or electronic applications.

To try-out any of these fonts before you download them, use this typepad: Baybayin Fonts Typepad

Previews & Download Locations of available fonts:

Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Bern-Font-253861545


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Tanso-Font-241218356


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Alemania-Font-241209530


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Alphabeta-Font-241191137


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Club-Font-231829356


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Ringo-Font-221118715


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Jepoy-Font-231576002


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Gana-Font-225516266


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Kana-Font-184288362


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Damo-Font-184637586


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Sinta-Font-150968942


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Mono-Font-150969288


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Mindoro-Font-149015455


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Batbayin-Modern-Brush-Font-148846227


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Divine-Font-148108328


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Modern-Sulat-Font-147024184


Download this font set from: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40485497/


Download this font set from: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40485871/


Download this font set from: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40485989/


Download this font set from: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40486111/


Download this font set from: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/58810506/

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Mangyan Fonts:

Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Postma-Font-252407086


Download this new font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Brush-Font-169880405


Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Mangyan-Hanunoo-Font-149145096

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Kapampangan Fonts:

Download this font set from: http://nordenx.deviantart.com/art/Baybayin-Pamagkulit-Font-246309064

Watch this video tutorial on "How to type Kapampangan script (Kulitan) vertically in Microsoft Word using the Pamagkulit Font inside a table." Please watch it in Full Screen Mode to see the details:

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~How to install these fonts on your computer:


The fonts are in compressed (.zip files). The latest Operating Systems (OS) are now able to open these in their own folders when you click on the file. If your computer is older and unable to open these files, then you will need a utility such as WinZip or WinRar to uncompress them. Download a free evaluation version of WinZip or WinRar.

Each zip file contains the true type font file (.ttf) and a text file (.rtf) that contains aditional info about the font and its use & features; please read it.

You can extract (uncompress) the font file directly to your C:\WINDOWS\Fonts folder if you want or you can extract it to a temporary folder then follow the font installation instructions can be found at MyFonts.com or from Paul Morrow's Site.

For Windows 7 / Vista users:

• Right-click the font file(s) and choose Install.

For users of the previous Windows versions:

• Copy the included file(s) into a default Windows font folder (usually C:\WINDOWS\FONTS or C:\WINNT\FONTS)

For Mac:

• Expand any compressed fonts packages.
• Double-click the icon of the font file you want to install. The Font Book will open and display the font so you can preview it.
• By default, the application installs the font in the Library folder of your home directory, making it available only to you. To make it available to all users on the computer, from the Font Book menu, select Preferences... , and then change the "Default Install Location:" from User to Computer.
• Click Install Font.

A Note On Baybayin Styles and Names

Although there are many forms of the baybayin, it must be remembered that they are not unique to the languages that share their names. That is to say, the baybayin, like our modern alphabet, can be written or printed in many ways and each style can be used to write in any language. Just as italic printing is not only for Italian, a so-called Tagalog baybayin is not just for Tagalog or a supposed Ilokano script only for Ilokano etc.

The baybayin is a single writing system. The confusion between the forms of the baybayin and various Filipino languages may be due to historical circumstances or just sloppy reporting on the part of some historians. For example, the typeface chosen by Father Francisco Lopez in 1620 to print the Ilokano version of the Doctrina Christiana looks different to the one used in the Tagalog version of 1593 but they are both just two styles of the one baybayin. However, the Lopez typeface has since come to be mistaken in some circles as the “Ilokano alphabet” simply because it was used most notably in an Ilokano book.

Other forms of the baybayin such as Bikol and Bisaya have similar histories. Their origins can be traced only as far back as certain modern printed documents of the Spanish era that were written in their respective languages – their particular styles originating in the artistry of the authors. – PAUL MORROW

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