Is it AHA or AYY?: Lagusnilad Baybayin public signage, a way to revive ancient scripts; ‘unnecessary’ and for ‘cool purposes’ says netizens

Lagusnilad, also known as the Manila City Hall Underpass, has reopened to traffic after a six-month renovation.

The underpass has been off-limits to the public since May 2 of this year to facilitate the necessary repairs to the pumping system and concrete.

Apart from providing access to the public, the underpass boasts several characteristics that highlight Filipino culture to resurrect the ancient script characters known as Baybayin.

Lagusnilad (Manila underpass)

Before the rehabilitation, the Lagusnilad Underpass, which connects Intramuros to Manila City Hall, was notorious for being congested, filthy, and noisy.

However, since its renovations in the latter week of August 2020, it seems that the area is outside of Manila as the project was a product of a nine-month construction of Manila City during the pandemic.

The key issues such as flooding, vagrants, and security were addressed in the reconstruction of the underpass with key agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-NCR), Manila City Security Office, and Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM).

It is additionally outfitted with security guards and CCTV cameras operating around the clock to ensure that using the underpass is safe.

The Lagusnilad Underpass is a component of the Lawton development master plan. The master plan includes Arroceros up until the Lagusnilad Underpass.

The features of the Lagusnilad

The vibrant and significant art murals depicting the nation’s heroes, including Lapu Lapu, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and the “front liners” who helped Filipinos battle the epidemic, are among the visually stunning features of the underpass.

The artworks remember and honor the heroes who once saved the Filipinos. They were created in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and NCCA Gerilya artists inspired by the works of the renowned artist, Botong Francisco.

An interactive display showing information about the City of Manila including tourist destinations and public transport routes is also installed in the underpass.

The famed “Books from Underground”, a second-hand bookstore that has been in business for 12 years, is also situated there.

Lastly, one of the underpass’ most striking and distinctive elements is the combination of traditional and modern public signage that employs the Philippines’ writing script, Baybayin.

“Maganda na! The change that we haven’t expected,” said a netizen.

For aesthetic purposes only?

While many were impressed by the modernized structure, eye-pleasing visuals, and nod to the history of the tunnel, the usage of Baybayin’s directional signage generated controversy on the internet.

Some online users said that the use of the Baybayin script characters on street or public signs is unnecessary and is just decorative.

“Signs that can’t be understood are just designs,” an X (formerly Twitter) user said.

Social Media users also criticized the functionality and goal of the aforementioned script’s public signage.

“While having Baybayin there is cool, but let’s not forget that signages are functional. There is a science behind it, ensuring maximum visibility, readability, and viewer safety. With these considerations, I’d rather not put a ‘cool’ translation that no one can actually read,” he tweeted.

Crisanta Amor Merjudio, a communication student at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), expressed her worries about the Lagusnilad underpass, stating that as someone who frequently passes by Lagusnilad, she finds it difficult to understand the written texts on the signpost.

Merjudio went on to say that translating in Filipino might be more effective and readable than translating in Baybayin.

“Kung gagamitin ko yung signage na ‘yun para hanapin yung Intramuros, prefer ko yung Filipino translation, though both baybayin at filipino translation nandoon. Yung filipino words yung una kong binasa then sa baybayin. Appreciation na lang,” Merjudio ended.

Some online users argue that there’s nothing wrong with the signs written in Baybayin, saying it is beneficial for promoting the scripts and reviving the history of the country.

Meanwhile, Mark Ragil, a fourth-year education student and an expert in Baybayin scripts, revealed that, at one point, the Baybayin contributed to the advancement of the antiquated writing system, only if the government had exerted significant pressure to revitalize it.

“Yes to a degree. But, revitalizing language systems requires a considerable push by the government, especially in the education sector. While adding Baybayin to signs can be a good start, it’s just that, the start,” he said.

However, several critics pointed out that some terms, such as Intramuros, which should have read “Intpamuros,” and Manila, which should have read “Manala,” were spelled incorrectly in the inscriptions.

Furthermore, Ragil also cited that Baybayin is syllabic and phonetic, the way it’s pronounced is the way it’s written. Therefore, acronyms tend to be awkward when transliterated. The critics on the internet made the same claim, claiming that the signage’s use of the script was improper.

“The Lagusnilad sign for LRT is written as L.R.T. in its Baybayin transliteration, but if we follow the actual rules of writing in Baybayin it should be written as EL.AR.TI,” Ragil shared.

Baybayin still has a long way to go, but the Lagusnilad signage catalyzed to bring it to current prominence.

Kudos to everyone who has put in so much effort to revive the traditional writing system and Filipino nationalism.

All government initiatives, structures, and landmarks were, nevertheless, paid for with tax that the general public provided. Thus, we have to presume that it is meant to be functional and could benefit the Filipino people.