University of Cebu – Banilad

College of Business Administration

HUM 103, TTH, 7:30 – 9:00

Midterm Project 1: Baybayin Critical Analysis

Submitted to:

Sir Nino Ardiza

Prepared by:

Anga, Bremt Cloyd R.

March 07, 2021

The short documentary, Ang dedikasyon ng isang cultural worker sa pagtuturo ng Baybayin , by
UNTV News and Rescue is thought-provoking and inspiring because Leo Emmanuel Castro, a graduated
mechanical engineer, shifts his effort on teaching Baybayin instead of practicing his prestigious
engineering career. The video lifts the curtain on a dramatic change to the patriotic perspective of Castro
and how easy it can be to learn and teach Baybayin.

The thing I like in the video pertains to the scene in which Castro teaches the reporter concluding
Baybayin can be taught and learned in a few minutes. This is the most persuasive part of the short
documentary since the scene shows raw footage of the reporter trying Baybayin who made a lot of
mistakes at first but managed at the end. Moreover, Castro did not hold back to correct the reporter. You
could gaze at Castro pouring his heart into teaching the reporter which is truly inspiring, knowing he
changed his career from engineering to cultural worker.

However, I dislike the physical layout of Castro’s space in the video. It is dark and down-to-earth
making it less persuasive for the audiences to pursue the proliferation of Baybayin usage since one can
conveniently think that Castro made a wrong decision in picking Baybayin over his engineering career.
Although the place contains a lot of historical ornaments, it is his atelier where he spent most of his time
bothers me. No one would desire to pursue the main character in a desolate place. Putting some light
fixtures and new paint would greatly enhance the mood of that place. The goal is to captivate the
audience in pursuing our long-hidden writing system, Baybayin. They must have at least fixed the place a
little to make it presentable since they are targeting the footage to the youth. Uninviting ateliers create
less appeal to the young audiences. Contemplate why primary schools have neat and colorful classrooms.

Overall, the short documentary is a must-watch for its thought-provoking content due to the
friction between the primitive layout of Castro’s atelier and his unfathomable desire to spread our ancient
writing system, Baybayin. His dedication is an inspiration to the nation. I cannot erase in my mind how he
mildly scolded the reporter on her errors, creating a passionate scene that can surely touch the hearts.

Source: UNTV News and Rescue. (2019). Ang dedikasyon ng isang cultural worker sa pagtuturo ng
Baybayin. Retrieved on March 07, 2021 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkh1oKaAqnU.

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Baybayin: Cultural, Communication Art

The report, GMA Digital Specials: Ano ang Baybayin? | Need to Know by GMA News is heavily
informative and impeccable because the scenes showcase our ancestors’ multifarious uses of the
Baybayin writing system in society, and the probable scenarios if such a writing system has been
implemented. The short video mulls over the historical use of Baybayin, basics of such writing system,
scenarios if it had been implemented, piece of art done using such writing system, and its importance in
strengthening Filipino identity.

The thing I like in the video resides in the various sources and opinions it took into consideration
in educating the masses regarding Baybayin. The report is undeniably interesting as it exhibits the
aesthetics of Baybayin oeuvres and artworks. The former creates a unique sensation sufficient for one to
be wishful that Baybayin should have been implemented in our society, as further evidenced by
astonishing images after the introduction of House Bill 1022 showing probable faces of the common
present-day commodities if Baybayin was implemented long ago. Adding to that, the yearning for time
travel to promote Baybayin in the past for it to be prevalent in the present keeps getting louder upon
discerning the jaw-dropping artworks of Baybayin artist Taipan Lucer and his self-coined, calligraFilipino.

Despite the bountiful details in the report, I dislike the curtailed information on the status of the
House Bill 1022 or National Writing System Act whether it was still a bill or law. For someone who does
not know the basics of the law might believe there is such applicable law, despite its “bill” status. This
means in the bill becoming a law, referral of a certain bill to a House committee in Congress is one of the
processes. A bill is a law in the passage. A bill is not yet a law. Hence, it is vital to give an update on
whether it was still a bill or already a law since it has been two years since the inception of the said bill.
Imagine students taking a debate and believing that is a law. A piece of wrong information is deadlier
than ignorance. Anyways, journalists are not lawyers so we can cut them some slack.

Overall, you must see this report because it is informative as it details things all about Baybayin
understandable for a wide range of audiences. The canny choice of scenes and organization of
information, in which some are ingeniously repeated, surely allows one to bring some bacon of
knowledge. Everything is almost impeccable. It has been an arduous task to find fault in the entire
report.

Source: GMA News. (2020). GMA Digital Specials: Ano ang Baybayin? | Need to Know. Retrieved on
March 07, 2021 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3LOfY1KAno.

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Baybayin: Zion’s Agitation Speaks Less than His Actions

The report, Ang Baybayin | Matanglawin by ABS-CBN is engaging and enlightening because Kuya
Kim, a renowned energetic host of Matanglawin segment, did not fail to pursue the entire report with
active enthusiasm while being knowledge-inducing destroying any boring moments as expected of him.
The video seeks the existence of the Baybayin writing system in mental-inventories of people in the
mainstream society, as well as, its basic structures and present Baybayin teachers.

The thing I like in the video stanchions on the child-friendly approach of explaining the Baybayin,
as evidenced by incorporating youths as a soft indicator whether the Baybayin would pursue in the
future, and the well-timed pacing of explanation throughout the video. Because the video recognizes that
if a thing will continue in the future, let us ask the children. The pacing was matched perfectly to the
mode of explanation. This was evidenced by the use of images and highlights in the middle of the video
to teach the basics of Baybayin. Thus, meeting the purpose of an informative video to be understandable.

However, I dislike the part of Zion as he spoke about his rationale for teaching Baybayin. He
seems agitated and unprepared which was a big err, especially in national news. The producers should
have assisted Zion with his pacing rather than cutting the scenes, which did poorly to hide his
nervousness. He had a brilliant resolve that he spoke of. It is the professionals behind the lens I abhor
for not helping ease Zion’s agitation.

Overall, I highly recommend this video for those who wanted a quick understanding of what is
Baybayin without snoozing as the energetic explanation pervades beyond the screen. Zion may feel
betrayed by the producers of the video for not helping him, however, his actions in teaching the children
Baybayin, speak louder than any syllable.

Source: ABS-CBN. (2019). Ang Baybayin | Matanglawin. Retrieved from March 07, 2021 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke-7SpakbUw.