Baybayin.com (aka Alibata) art, translations and tutorials » tattoo

BaybayinFilm.com launched

Christian Cabuay — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:47:00 +0000

I setup a dedicated website for my Baybayin documentary at BaybayinFilm.com as well as a Facebook page.

Affliction Clothing: Brandon Vera Baybayin shirt errors

Christian Cabuay — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:44:15 +0000

1st of all, I think it’s cool that Baybayin is on a MAJOR clothing company like Affliction but unfortunately, there are a few issues. Here’s Affliction’s Signature Series shirt of Brandon Vera. The front has an eagle and “The Truth”. The back is where it get’s interesting where there are 4 Baybayin words that are tattooed on Brandon’s back. They represent the 4 elements Earth (Mundo), Wind (Hangin), Water (Tubig) and Fire (Apoy). Starting with the tattoo, Earth should probably be “Lupa” as in dirt. Mundo while conversational Tagalog (Spanish rooted) for world/earth. When your speaking about the element earth, I believe one means dirt not the planet Earth. Also the Ma character in Mundo is missing a kudlit that would make it Mu. The tattoo actually says Mando. Easy fix though.

Now to the shirt. The graphic below is a screenshot of the back. Besides being out of order as it s on Brandon’s back, there are some inconsistencies in kudlit writing. I think it’s fine in handwriting and even in art but for a commercial shirt, it should be uniform.

Tubig (Correct)
The characters written are Tu-Bi-G. Notice the cancellation kudlit under the last character. Without the + kudlit, it would read as Tubiga.

Apoy (Incorrect)
Looks like the characters written are A-Po-Yo. It should have a + just like the Ga character in Tubig. If using cancellation + kudlits, it’s important that you make sure they look different than your traditional kudlits.

Mundo (Incorrect)
Besides the Lupa and Ma tattoo issue I mentioned earlier, this also has the + issue but this time for the 2nd character Na. The last character looks like it was combined with the kudlit. With the + kudlit and DA errors, it looks like it says Manoda or Manade.

Hangin (Incorrect)
Again, the last character is missing the + kudlit. Now it looks like Hangino.

What sucks is that some people will probably get those wrong words tattooed. How did this happened? Probably the designer found a photo of Brandon’s back online and just reworked it and didn’t bother to research or ask around it it was correct or not.

Check it out at Affliction Clothing

Baybayin on hot bodies

Christian Cabuay — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:45:09 +0000

It’s summer and time to show off your tattoos and abs. Here’s some work I’ve done for hot bodies.

Kat Longa (Playboy model)
She liked the look of modified Baybayin on her back even if I tried to get her to go with traditional. How could I say no? Below is a photo of her wrist that says Ate (sister).

Other work:
UFC’s Phillipe Nover a few weeks ago via Facebook. Last Saturday, fellow UFC Filipino fighter Mark Munoz was spotted wearing one of my Hello My Name is Baybayin stickers along with comedian Joey Guila during the Asian Heritage Street Celebration.

AbsbyJoey.com

Phillipe Nover

Movie: Green Rocking Chair. A Juan Baybayin Story

Christian Cabuay — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:53:28 +0000

Came across this documentary today. I badly want to see this. Too bad it’s not on DVD yet. It was released 2008 in the Philippines and directed by Roxlee.

The filmmaker’s personal search for Baybayin or Alibata, the original Filipino writings before the Spaniards came and colonized the Philippines in 1521. The search will determine of such ancient alphabet still exists and practices all over the archipelago.

GreenRockingChairMovie.com
IMDB info

PI-NI-SI-YA

Christian Cabuay — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:11:57 +0000

Interesting cancellation kudlit technique

Christian Cabuay — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:09:17 +0000

Came across some Baybayin tattoo work from Ryan Anthony Saltiga. Below is what appears to be Pamilya translated to PA-MI-L-YA. Instead of using a + or x under the LA character (3rd one down), he uses a kudlit above and below it. Interesting method. He has some other work with this style that I couldn’t figure out the translation.

Usok

Christian Cabuay — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:54:30 +0000

Download video

With this style, I aimed to have thick ink look with fading tips kind of like smoke. Interested in getting this style tattooed? Check out my Baybayin translation services on PinoyTattoos.com.