Nimble Dragon Studios

Discover the ancient writing system your Filipino ancestors used for centuries before Spanish colonization. Baybayin: Ancient Script of the Philippines is the authoritative guide to mastering this 1,000-year-old script-created by Fulbright scholar Bayani Mendoza de Leon, who studied under Philippine National Artist Guillermo Tolentino.

Why This Book Is Different:
Most books teach only the 17 original Baybayin glyphs that use a mix of Baybayin characters from different regions. This manual teaches the complete 43-glyph expanded system based on the historical Tagalog version of the original Baybayin -building on the groundbreaking work of Ricardo B. Mendoza, who proposed the expanded approach in 1976. Professor de Leon spent 40 years refining and teaching this system, creating the only comprehensive manual with systematic exercises for accurate representation of modern English, Spanish, and Pilipino as they’re actually spelled.

What You’ll Master:

Inside, you’ll discover:
- The 17 original glyphs plus 26 expanded glyphs (43 total), including silent consonants, consecutive vowels, and uppercase/lowercase forms
- 44 progressive exercises systematically building from basic strokes to confident writing
- Trilingual instruction in Pilipino, Spanish, and English-no Filipino language fluency required
- The pictographic and spiritual meanings behind each character, as transmitted by National Artist Tolentino
- Scholarly context spanning four centuries (1593-1990), from the first Filipino printed book to modern linguistic research

Perfect For:

Whether you’re a Filipino American reconnecting with ancestral roots, a tattoo artist seeking authentic script references, an educator building culturally responsive curriculum, or a designer exploring indigenous typography-this manual transforms curiosity into capability.

Professor de Leon taught Baybayin for over 40 years across San Diego and New Jersey cultural organizations. His systematic approach has helped thousands reclaim cultural heritage suppressed during colonization.

Begin your Baybayin journey today.