READHIS | ASSIGNMENT NO.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription and the Process of Its Authentication

Hana Elbeitam | FODAR1

1. The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (henceforth LCI) is one of the few local items to
undergo very rigid external criticism. Explain the reasons why there is no reason to doubt
that the material copperplate was really an ancient document from the 900’s (10th
century) and not a hoax.

Based on the identifying script type known to have existed during the eleventh century and the
accuracy of the language(s) used, LCI is authentic and legitimate, significant aspects of which
would be impossible to replicate or falsify today without being detected by specialists. On the
validity of the LCI, he sought and received opinion from Dutch and Indonesian specialists. The
experts determined that the LCI's script style was compatible with the date given, and that a
forger would have had a difficult time concocting the accuracy of the languages and phrases
used.

Based on the writing type and the accuracy of the language used, paleography and Old Malayan
experts testified to the LCI's validity. It utilized the early Kavi Script, which was derived from
Indian mainland scripts and extended to Southeast Asia and the Malayan Archipelago.
In my opinion, the Laguna Copperplate Inscription is genuine. Those who are the most
knowledgeable in the area see it as such. The island has several copper mines, therefore it's not
surprising that they discovered documents written on copper.

2. When the LCI was first “internally-critiqued”, experts like Antoon Postma believed that
the document was from ancient Java (Indonesia)—especially since it was written in a
Javanese script (Kawi). However, these experts changed their minds and eventually
declared that the LCI text was written by an ancient “Filipino”. What are the findings that
convinced these experts that this is indeed a Filipino document—and not a trade item
from ancient Indonesia.

Heat was applied to Indonesian copperplates until they became soft. The letters were then
pressed on the soft metal with a stylus, generating smooth and continuous strokes. The letters on
the Philippine copperplate, on the other hand, were hammered into the metal using a sharp tool.
From the hammering, the letters reveal closely connected and overlapping dots. The item is a
tiny copperplate that measures less than 8x12 inches. It is also engraved with minuscule lettering
hammered into the surface. As you can see, the Filipino copperplate fits the criteria since the
Laguna Copperplate Inscription that was found was engrave with hammer. Therefore, it

 convinced the experts that this is a Filipino document and not a trade item from ancient
Indonesia.

3. The text of the LCI is incomplete. Some people argue that since it is incomplete, it is
possibly a hoax. Some people believe however, that the very fact that the text is
incomplete proves that it is an authentic document. What is your opinion regarding this
debate? Kindly explain your answer.

Sometimes incomplete items are more legitimate than those items that are complete. Just
like if we buy bulk items on a branded store, they don’t give receipt and paper bags for
each of the items. Sometimes they use their own brand plastic bags to pack the item and
use one big paper bag for all the products. If we try to resell it, people will think it is fake
because it has no complete inclusions. However, if you search online for the identical
product with all of the features and the seller is a reseller, it's strange because where did
he/she get those receipts and paper bags? It's conceivable that her or his items are merely
replicas.

In my opinion, these texts date from around 900 A.D. We can't expect things to be
complete because they're so old. Especially that it was just discovered 31 years ago, in
1989, on the southern edge of Laguna de Ba'y. Some of it may have sunk to the bottom of
the sea.

4. How did the LCI change your own understanding of ancient Filipino culture prior to the
arrival of the Spaniards? Kindly explain your answer

The LCI made me curious about the original history of the Philippines. According to the
sources that I’ve read. Filipinos had no history of their own. The Philippines were claimed in the
name of Spain in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan. But what exactly happened to the island of the
philippines before it was claimed by the colonizers? I think Filipinos used to have their own
history too. It is odd that there are no records of the Philippines before the arrival of the
Spaniards. What if the records of the Philippines was completely destroyed by the Spaniards?