a guide to Baybayin’s history and how it can be learned today, including one modern orthographic proposal.
a pre-colonial Baybayin manuscript; an officially sanctioned national standard; or the only valid way to write Baybayin.

⚠️ Warning: Thousands of people get Baybayin name tattoos using these phonetic approximations, and later discover their name is spelled wrong. Don't be one of them.
✓ Perfect for: Tattoos, jewelry, artwork, official documents, or any situation where accuracy matters. Your name spelled as it's actually pronounced.
This expanded set introduces 26 additional glyphs designed to represent sounds not present in pre-colonial Tagalog but commonly found in modern English, Spanish, and contemporary names. Rather than replacing the historical script, this approach proposes one method for adapting Baybayin to modern multilingual usage.
For tattoo artists and those translating names, having a clearly defined sound-to-symbol framework can reduce ambiguity and support more consistent spelling choices.
This manual presents a structured guide to using all 43 glyphs, along with exercises focused on spelling modern names and loanwords within this proposed system.
Reviving a script requires standardization. The key is clarity.
This manual explicitly separates historical Tagalog forms
from modern adaptations, ensuring you understand the origin of every glyph.
Complete 43-Glyph System
Step-by-Step Instruction
Cultural Context & History
No Filipino Language Required
Practical Applications
Family & Scholarly Lineage
I was able to master the script in 3rd grade. I'm now 18, and I can still remember all of the symbols... I guarantee that by the time you reach the last page, you'll know how to write in Baybayin fluently.

Bayani Mendoza de Leon is a Fulbright Scholar who studied under Philippine National Artist Guillermo Tolentino.
For more than 40 years, he has taught and promoted the study of Baybayin in communities in San Diego and New Jersey, helping sustain interest in this pre-colonial Philippine writing tradition.
This manual reflects decades of teaching experience and engagement with Baybayin, presenting one structured approach to learning both its historical foundations and a modern adaptation framework.
This manual emphasizes clarity about sources and design choices. It distinguishes between historically documented Tagalog character forms, editorial preferences, and modern additions intended for contemporary usage.
The framework presented here follows Ricardo B. Mendoza’s 1976 proposal to the Philippine Language Institute, developed during the 1970s — a period of active language policy discussion and national identity formation in the Philippines. At that time, questions about national language development and indigenous writing systems were part of broader cultural and educational conversations.
This guide does not claim to represent an officially adopted national standard. Instead, it presents one structured modernization proposal from that era and makes its design decisions transparent for readers and educators.
Online resources are excellent for broad exposure and artistic inspiration. This manual serves a different, specific purpose: it acts as a comprehensive technical guide to the 1976 proposal by Ricardo B. Mendoza.
While general resources often blend various styles, this book focuses on structural consistency and historical transparency:
A Specific Academic Framework: rather than synthesizing multiple modern styles, this guide strictly follows the framework proposed to the Philippine Language Institute in 1976. It allows the reader to study one cohesive system from start to finish.
Transparency in Design: The book clearly identifies the source of every character. It explicitly labels which glyphs are sourced from historical Tagalog documents and which are modern expansions required for the 1976 framework.
Methodology over Mandate: This guide does not claim to be the only way to write Baybayin. Instead, it presents the logic and construction of the Mendoza system, giving readers a clear understanding of how a modern standardized script can be constructed from historical roots.
Ricardo B. Mendoza approached Baybayin with a background in classical sculpture, applying a craftsman’s perspective to the structure and form of the script. This manual is authored by his nephew, Bayani Mendoza de Leon, preserving the context and teaching tradition connected to that work.
Artistic Lineage: Mendoza trained under National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, whose influence reflects a broader engagement with Filipino cultural heritage through the arts.
Structural Approach: Drawing from the visual logic of the core Baybayin glyphs, Mendoza developed additional characters by extending existing stroke patterns. His 1976 proposal aimed to integrate modern sounds in a way that remains visually consistent with the script’s traditional forms.
Documented Proposal: This system was presented in 1976 to the Institute of National Language (now the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino) as part of broader discussions on language and writing during that period. It represents one formal attempt to adapt Baybayin for modern usage.
No! This manual is written entirely in English with clear explanations. Baybayin is a writing system, not a language—you can write any language using Baybayin characters. No Filipino language knowledge required.
This is the ONLY comprehensive manual teaching the complete 43-glyph expanded Baybayin system. Most free resources show only the basic 17 characters, leaving you unable to write modern Filipino names or words accurately. Plus, the author's Fulbright scholarship and study under a National Artist ensures scholarly accuracy you won't find elsewhere.
With consistent practice, most students can begin writing basic Baybayin within a few days and achieve proficiency with the complete 43-glyph system within 2-4 weeks. The manual includes practice exercises to accelerate your learning.
Absolutely! Many tattoo artists use this manual as their authoritative reference to ensure cultural accuracy and avoid mistakes. The Digital Learning System and Complete Learning System packages include a Baybayin font, making it easy to create professional tattoo designs.
Yes! We ship physical books and charts worldwide to serve the global Filipino diaspora. Shipping times vary by location. Digital products are available for instant download globally.
The Baybayin font (included in Digital Learning System and Complete Learning System) contains all 43 glyphs, punctuations, markings, modifiers and is compatible with major design software. You can type Baybayin characters directly into your projects, perfect for logos, posters, educational materials, and digital art.
It depends on which approach you prefer to use. This manual allows you to choose between the historical method and the modern expanded method documented by Ricardo B. Mendoza.
1. The Traditional Approach (Phonetic Adaptation) The original 17-glyph script was optimized for pre-colonial Tagalog. It does not historically include sounds for F, V, J, Z, or soft C.
How it works: Foreign names are adapted to the nearest Tagalog sound.
Result: A name like "Victor" becomes "Bik-tor" and "John" becomes "Diyan" or "Siyan." This is the historically authentic method preferred by purists.
2. The Mendoza 1976 Approach (Phonetic Precision) The system taught in this book includes the standard script plus 26 modern adaptations proposed by Mendoza to accommodate contemporary phonetics.
How it works: It utilizes specific glyphs for non-Tagalog sounds, allowing for a character-for-character representation of modern names.
Result: You can write "Victor" preserving the 'V' and 'C', and "John" preserving the 'J'.
Which should you use? If you prefer historical strictness, use the traditional adaptation. If your goal is to preserve the exact spelling of a name for tattoos, jewelry, or legal clarity, the expanded system in this manual offers the necessary precision.
Physical books are typically delivered in 10-12 business days (printed on-demand directly from printer). Complete Learning System packages take 2-3 weeks as they're hand-assembled to ensure quality. All digital components are available for instant download.
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Baybayin Learning Manual by Bayani Mendoza de Leon
Effective Date: February 2, 2026
Last Updated: February 2, 2026
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Effective Date: February 2, 2026
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