l e t r a - t o

by Sophia Gans

This photo series came to be because we had an idea to reimagine certain building names and street signs as if they were written in the traditional writing form, Baybayin. Inspired by the artistic styles of Ben Heine and the logo mock-ups of Lloyd Zapanta, we’ve come up with our own take on Baybayin. This embodies our native identity as Filipinos and it is actually a well-established form of writing but as we were colonized, we adapted to the American way. This photo series aims to revive Baybayin in the modern world, as if we weren’t influenced by our colonizers.

Ben Heine's work called "Pencil vs. Camera"

Illustrations by Lloyd Zapanta

We’ve done simple pencil drawings to further emphasize the usage of Baybayin on these signs and names, and to really highlight the difference that it would make. Finally, we lined up the drawing with the actual location, overlapping it to achieve a complete look.lma Hall holding GE classes for most students, Plaridel Hall being the home of the College of Mass Communication, and J. P. Laurel Street which is more commonly known as Area 2, the go-to place for cheap but tasty food.

We’ve done simple pencil drawings to further emphasize the usage of Baybayin on these signs and names, and to really highlight the difference that it would make. Finally, we lined up the drawing with the actual location, overlapping it to achieve a complete look.

M107. A classroom along BC Hallway, and coincidentally where our Comm 100 class takes place.

Plaridel Hall. The home of the university’s most fearless journalists, broadcasters, researchers, and filmmakers.

Area 2. This is an entire street occupied by food stalls serving all kinds of food. From sisig to seafood to fruit shakes, Area 2 has whatever you’re craving.

Palma Hall. Also known as AS, this is where most of the GE classes are held, and mobilizations often happen at the front steps.

However, Baybayin is only for the Tagalog language. If we want a national writing system, we have to take into account all the other languages and their writing systems. We must consider the diversity of our country for us to be able to accurately and appropriately represent our languages and our culture as well.