By Jamie Biel C. Perez
“Ink-stained strokes glide atop thick sheets of white paper, appearing as a script so familiar yet so unknown.“
On January 15, 2026, FEPS collaborated with the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and extraordinary Philippine artists to host a Baybayin Workshop, also referred to as a “Katha,” highlighting creativity and community. The workshop fostered a curiosity for heritage among the young Filipinos and aimed to help students reconnect with the ancestral script.
Following a few words from a Philippine Consulate diplomat, the Katha shortly began with G. Gino Banola, who led the workshop, and G. Shawn Brainard Riveral, who provided extra guidance to students throughout the class.
The session unfolded, with the fundamentals of the history, the structure, and the cultural significance of Baybayin being taught to students as they multitasked and worked on hands-on writing exercises, which truly brought to light the nuance of the Tagalog script, inviting participants to slow down, reflect, and acquire appreciation for the depth of this writing system that once flourished across the Philippines.
The artists’ mentorship played a pivotal role in creating an atmosphere where students were free to voice out questions and satisfy their curiosity; additionally, they received additional guidance with the exercises given. G. Banola’s demonstrations brought to light Baybayin not only as a script but also as a form of artistry and creativity.
As the workshop came to a close, G. Banola received a certificate of appreciation for his teachings and commenced with a photo opportunity where students displayed their own products and the artwork personally created and gifted to them.
The Katha brought together the past and present, art and identity, among the next generation of Filipinos abroad. Many attendees left the program with a renewed desire to reconnect with their heritage, not just in Baybayin. Rather, the session marked the start of a journey of connecting with one’s community.
Photos by Lorre Chantillhie Annia G. Rote and Vaniya Khan