Alibata is an ancient writing system that was used in what is now the Philippines.

Although it was all

but extinguished by Western colonization, variants of it are still used in parts of Mindoro and
Palawan, and it is also increasingly used by Filipino youth as a way to express their identity.

Baybayin is one of a dozen or so individual writing systems used in Southeast Asia, nearly all of which
are abugidas where any consonant is pronounced with the inherent vowel afollowing it— diacritical
marks being used to express other vowels (this vowel occurs with greatest frequency in Sanskrit, and also
probably in all Philippine languages).[

The term Baybay literally means "to spell" in Tagalog. Baybayin was extensively documented by the
Spanish.[2] Some have attributed it the name Alibata,[3] but this name is incorrect. (The term "Alibata" was
coined by Paul Rodriguez Verzosa after the arrangement of letters of the Arabic alphabet[4] alif, ba, ta
(alibata), “f” having been eliminated for euphony's sake." ) Versoza's reasoning for creating this word was
unfounded because no evidence of the baybayin was ever found in that part of the Philippines and it has
absolutely no relationship to the Arabic language.

“The abc. in the Tagalog language”

A  U/O  I/E  HA PA KA SA LA TA NA BA MA GA  DA/RA  YA
NGA WA

 The legend says that in the 13th century, 10 datus or chieftains from Borneo left their land
together with their families and friends to escape the cruelty and injustice of Sultan Makatunaw, the
ruler of Borneo. . 

They sailed on their balangays (vintas or boats) without knowing where to go. Finally they reached
Panay Island. They bought the island from the chieftain of the Atis or Aetas who were then occupying
the island. The chieftain's name was Marikudo and his wife was Maniwantiwan. 

Three of the datus decided not to settle in Panay but to sail northward. The three were: Datu Puti,
Datu Balensusa and Datu Dumangsil. They settled in some parts of Luzon. When Sultan Makatunaw
was no longer in power, Datu Puti returned to Borneo. 

The seven datus who stayed in Panay divided the island into three areas: Hamtik (now Antique),
Irong-Irong (now Iloilo), and Aklan (now Aklan and Capiz). Hamtik was under Datu Sumakwel, Irong-
Irong was under Datu Paiburong, and Aklan was under Datu Balangkaya.
The story of the buying of Panay by ten datus coming from Borneo is told in theMaragtas, a legendary
account about the pre-Spanish Panay Island. This narrative tells us that about A.D. 1250, at about the
time Malaysia and Indonesia were dominated by the Hindu-Malay Empire of Sri-Vijaya, a cruel sultan
named Makatunaw ruled Borneo–or perhaps part of it. Because he was cruel, ten of his datus decided to
leave Borneo and seek their freedom and fortune beyond the sea.
The Ten Datus were:
#1. Datu Puti (the leader)
#2. Datu Balensusa
#3. Datu Bangkaya
#4. Datu Dumalugdog
#5. Datu Dumangsil
#6. Datu Dumangsol
#7. Datu Lubay
#8. Datu Panduhinog
#9. Datu Paliburong
#10. Datu Sumakwel
One dark night after loading on boats their families, warriors, slaves, and supplies, they secretly left in
their balangays (boats) without a specific destination in mind. After sailing north for many days, they
reached the southern tip of Panay Island. They landed at the mouth of the Sirwagan River there, near the
present town of San Joaquin in Iloilo. From there they proceeded to Lake Andona where they met an Ati
fisherman. This man led them to the Negrito village of Sinugbuhan and was introduced to the local ruler,
King Marikudo and his queen, Maniwantiwan. Datu Puti addressed them and said they came as friends
and would like to buy land.
Marikudo consulted his wife and the elders of his kingdom and agreed to sell some land to them. The
purchase price consisted of a gold salakot (a native helmet) for Marikudo and a long
gold sumangyad (necklace) for Maniwantiwan. The sale was sealed by a pact of friendship and merry
feasting. After that, Marikudo and his people bade farewell to the Borneans and went into the hills.
Seven of the ten datus settled in Panay. The three others–Balensusa, Dumangsil and Puti sailed farther
north and reached Lake Taal, in present-day Batangas province. Impressed by the fertility and scenic
beauty of the area, Balensusa and Dumangsil settled there. Datu Puti, however, returned to Borneo. He
told the Borneans about his exciting adventures in the islands of the north.

 
bicolano

    The term "Bicol" could have been derived from "Bico," the name of a river
which drains in San Miguel Bay.   Possible origins also include the bikul or
bikal bamboo tree which line rivulets, and the ancient native word bikod
meaning "twisted" or "bent".  The region, administratively known as Region V,
is located on the southeastern end of Luzon; it is surrounded by the Visayan
Sea in the south, the Pacific Ocean I the east, Lamon Bay in the north, and
Sibugan Sea and Quezon province in the west.

HISTORY

The Bicol region was known as Ibalon, variously interpreted to derive form ibalio, "to bring to the other
side"; ibalon, "people from the other side" or "people who are hospitable and give visitors gifts to bring
home"; or as a  corruption of Gibal-ong, a sitio of Magallanes, Sorsogon where the Spaniards first landed
in 1567.  The Bico River was first mentioned in Spanish Documents in 1572.  The region was also called
"Los Camarines" after the huts found by the Spaniards in Camalig,  Albay.  No prehistoric animal fossils
have been discovered in Bicol and the peopling of the region remains obscure.  The Aeta from Camarines
Sur to Sorsogon strongly suggest that aborigines lived there long ago, but earliest evidence is of middle to
late Neolithic life.  

A barangay (village) system was in existence by 1569.  Records show no sign of Islamic rule nor any
authority surpassing the datu (chieftain).  Precolonial leadership was based on strength, courage, and
intelligence.  The native seemed apolitical.  Thus the datu's influence mattered most during crises like
wars.  Otherwise, early Bicol society remained family centered, and the leader was the head of the family.

The Bicol were described by some Spanish chroniclers as fierce warriors.  Thus their history comprises
many battles against foreign incursions.  Sorsogon participated in Samar's Sumuroy Revolt in 1649.  Over
400 suspected rebel sympathizers were massacred in Pilar, and some local friars exiled.  In Camarines,
minor rebellions occurred contemporaneously with the Sumuroy rebellion and during the British
occupation of Manila between 1762 and 1764.