POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

SAN JUAN CAMPUS

San Juan City
A.Y. 2021-2022

FINAL ASSESSMENT:
POLICY PROPOSAL
Submitted by:
BSPSY 1-2 Group 1
Andrade, Ricamae
Antonio, Dannah
Boado, Rejyne Marie
Castillo, Mica
Diezmo, Ma. Christina
Gorriceta, Lorenzo
Imbat, Amira Lei
Mabalay, Michelle
Masubay, Ian Val Rafael
Padua, April Rose
Quihano, Reign Krissie

A Requirement in The Contemporary World (GEED 10043)

under Nico Candelario
 Table of Contents
Policy Proposal Originators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Policy Proposal Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Policy Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Policy Proposal Grounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Purpose and Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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 INCORPORATING BAYBAYIN IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM,
GOVERNMENT UNITS AND WORKPLACES

Policy Proposal Originators:

Andrade, Ricamae
Antonio, Dannah
Boado, Rejyne Marie
Castillo, Mica
Diezmo, Ma. Christina
Gorriceta, Lorenzo
Imbat, Amira Lei
Mabalay, Michelle
Masubay, Ian Val Rafael
Padua, April Rose
Quihano, Reign Krissie

Submission Date: 5 March 2022

Proposal Type. This new policy is proposed, in view of the House Bill 1022, Senate Bill
2440, and House Bill 10469 – all aimed towards reviving Baybayin and propagating it as
the national writing system of the Philippines, as a negating- or a counterpolicy, in
accordance with the enrichment and promotion of Filipino culture and identity in modern
times, by delimiting scopes or extremities.

Policy Proposal. In order to give attention and foster appreciation for the beauty and
richness of the Filipino culture, this group hereby recognizes the importance of
preserving Baybayin, but also believes that reviving and propagating it as the Philippine
National Writing System would be irrational. Therefore, as a counterpolicy, the
preservation and promotion of Baybayin, however tempting it must be to have a
localized national writing system, should rather be limited to educational and symbolic
purposes only. Thus, by delimiting the scope of the promotion of it becoming a national
writing system and only implement it for educational and symbolic purposes, the goal of
taking a crucial step to the enrichment and development of Filipino culture and identity

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and sparing Filipinos from the sudden shifting of writing systems can both be
considered and achieved at the same time.

This counterpolicy shall implement the following to achieve its aim:

(a) Incorporating Baybayin in Basic Education and Higher Education
curriculum as a subject associated with – but can stand alone from – the
Filipino subjects. It is known that Baybayin is already being taught as a
lesson in Filipino in Senior High School levels, however, in this policy,
Baybayin shall be taught in a similar way as the English writing system
and alphabet is taught in schools. It starts from elementary, learning the
basics on how to write the letters and the sounds they make and as
students continue to learn Filipino-related subjects, Baybayin shall be
incorporated as well, growing more complex as students also proceed with
their education.
(b) Enforcing Baybayin translations of signages of government and/or
company buildings or places, of school subjects and courses, as a
‘subtitle’ or a translation to Baybayin alongside the ones written in the
English alphabet. To give an example, it shall be similar to how ChowKing
presents their brand and logo in their buildings with both its English
alphabet version “ChowKing” alongside its translation in Chinese
characters “超群”. Going by this example, books or modules on Filipino
subjects will have its front cover title be alongside its Baybayin translation

“ ”
(c) Requiring basic knowledge of and ability to read and write in Baybayin on
white-collar workers and/or job applicants.
(d) Making free learning programs on both online and offline platforms,
ensuring availability to all who are willing and required to learn.
(e) Making copies of legal and educational documents and books translated
in Baybayin symbols. These copies shall be softcopies.

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Policy Grounds. In view of the influence of globalization across countries all over the
world, this group recognizes the shift in perspective of socio-economic progress and
growth in the Philippines as a developing country continues to widen and now, the
country striving for more in order to catch up to other countries in terms of economic
progress and also to improve the quality of living here in our country. Various actions are
being taken in every aspect to achieve this goal; however, it is also no surprise that the
country will have to be forward in risks and losses. But one thing Filipinos shouldn’t
sacrifice or consider losing is culture and identity. This proposal was brought forth
because of the recognition of certain perspectives and issues:
1. The rapid adaptation, or rather, the accommodation of other country’s
cultures in the education system, which most often diverts learners’
attention away from fully understanding and properly appreciating Filipino
culture and identity.
2. The importance of learning and using Baybayin as an aspect of Filipino
culture.
3. The disadvantage of implementing it as a national writing system.
4. The slow but sure dropping rates of Filipinos being proud of local Filipino
cultures, thus recognizing the need for a tool to rekindle that spark, which
in this case would be the incorporation of Baybayin in schools,
workplaces, and government units.

On the other hand, it also opposes the act of promoting and enforcing it as a national
writing system for the following reasons:
1. Adapting to a new, or going back to the old national writing system is
irrational. Seeing that Filipinos have gotten used to using the English
alphabet on a day-to-day basis and how long it took to have the entirety or
majority of the Filipino population get used to using it, shifting back to
Baybayin because of its enforcement as a national writing system would
put the nation back in square one. It would hinder communication
processes.

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 2. Appreciating and preserving Baybayin through learning how to write and
read it, learning about it in school and seeing it being used for symbolic
purposes is already considerably appropriate for the matter. As an
analogy, think of it as an armor used by soldiers that was made back in the
1800s: there is a cultural and historic value of that armor, but it would be
irrational to suddenly enforce that those kinds of armors built back in the
day should be the same ones people should use today. It should be
considered that there are already more effective armors to use for defense
compared to that of the 1800s armor. In the same way, Baybayin has a
historic and cultural value, but the alphabet that Filipinos already use
today provides a connection with peers from inside and outside the
country. In conclusion, the importance of Baybayin and how it shaped the
Filipino culture should be learned, but to enforce it as a national writing
system would be impractical.
3. The reason why this is a counterpolicy is that the previously stated policies
all assume or expect an openness and acceptance for if Baybayin gets
implemented as a national writing system, not bearing a consideration to
the effects of the sudden shift to the Filipino citizens. And while it does
enrich culture and identity, it would pose a detriment to person-to-person,
local, domestic and international communication and relationships,
therefore, its impracticality is decided.

Purpose and Benefits. This policy proposal shall serve several notable purposes and
benefits towards the enrichment of Philippine culture and identity.
(a) A foundation for stronger appreciation of Filipino culture and identity
through Baybayin, without taking a step back from where we are now
and/or disadvantaging the majority of the Filipino population by shifting to
a new (or old) writing system.
(b) Baybayin becomes a symbol and declaration, as it is an act of openly
embracing and accepting Filipino culture, which would then hypothetically

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 result in the eradication of the feeling and mindset of inferiority that was
engraved through centuries of colonization.
(c) Learning Baybayin and using it would become a catalyst or a gateway to
cultural acknowledgement and people will recognize its importance in
national cultural development, which allows the Philippines to deepen their
roots on their cultural identity all while striving forward for progress.

In conclusion, the earlier mentioned bills are promising and paints a beautiful image, but
the group has recognized that it was too idealistic and impractical to promote Baybayin
as a national writing system, thus deciding to delimit its scopes to specifically be used
for educational and symbolic purposes. This hypothetically results to both inspiring and
sparking Filipino citizen’s appreciation towards Filipino culture and, at the same time,
recognizing that enforcing it as a national writing system would hinder communication
and relations, both domestic and international.