BEIRUT - The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon, in celebration of National Heritage Month (NHM) hosted a Baybayin calligraphy lecture and workshop for the Filipino Community in Lebanon on 19 May 2024.
Photo: H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat welcomes the Filipino Community during celebration of National Heritage Month
In his opening remarks, H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat emphasized the significance of Pambansang Buwan ng Pamana, which is celebrated every May by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 439, s. 2003. This year’s theme, “Championing Heritage: Capacity Building to Transform Communities”, honors cultural workers and advocates who tirelessly work in assisting indigenous people (IP) communities in bringing their creativity to the mainstream media. Baybayin, an ancient script used by Filipinos in pre-colonial times, is one of the indigenous artifacts regaining traction and popularity in popular culture.
In line with the theme, the Embassy invited Mr. Taipan Lucero of CalligraFilipino to serve as the workshop’s resource speaker. CalligraFilipino is Mr. Lucero’s self-developed style of calligraphy which incorporates the indigenous writing system of Baybayin through his calligraphy and art, and is inspired by elements of the Philippines’ traditional culture.
The workshop covered the history and background of the Baybayin script, including the visual etymology of the ancient writing style. Mr. Lucero also discussed the trending of Baybayin in mainstream culture, how it is being applied in the modern Filipino setting (i.e. as a design element in products, in signages of government buildings), as well as his own contributions to furthering awareness and appreciation for the ancient Filipino script.
Photos: (left) Participants listening to the lecture and (right) trying their hand in writing Baybayin during the workshop proper
The lecture was followed by a workshop where 32 attendees, composed of Lebanon’s Filipino community members and Embassy personnel, accomplished practical exercises that required them to translate romanized Filipino words into Baybayin calligraphy. The worksheets provided by Mr. Lucero progressed from basic to more advanced words and applications of the script; the material also included calligraphy exercises of Filipino phrases that participants can trace.
Photo: H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat presented the Bagong Pilipinas campaign in the Town Hall Meeting held after the Baybayin workshop.
After the workshop, Ambassador Balatbat took the opportunity to address the Filipino Community on Presidential Directive No. PBBM-2024-850 on the Conduct of Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meetings, as part of the branding and campaign for the all-inclusive plan for economic and social transformation under the current administration.
The Philippine Embassy continues to conduct activities that promote cultural understanding and appreciation of Filipino heritage, alongside the promotion of government initiatives. It continuously provides capacity-building activities to the Filipino community amid the economic, social and political challenges in the country and conflict issues in the region.
Photo: Philippine Embassy personnel and the Filipino community in Lebanon with H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat (seated center).
END.
