The Art of Yearning: Second-Generation Filipinos Reclaim Identity Through Ancient Script
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
At a sold-out workshop in downtown Toronto, participants are using the intimacy of love songs to reconnect with Baybayin, a pre-colonial writing system.
In the heart of downtown Toronto, second-generation Filipinos are using an ancient script to bridge the gap to their heritage. As first reported by CityNews Toronto and OMNI News, a recent sold-out event held at Makilala restaurant on Church Street brought participants together for "Harana Night," a workshop dedicated to the study of Baybayin.
Baybayin is an ancient form of Filipino script utilized before Spain colonized the Philippines in the 1600s. While no longer in common use, OMNI News reports a surge in popularity among those seeking to explore their cultural roots. For attendees like Chrisia Rayos—who was born in Dubai and raised in Canada—the workshop is an opportunity to engage with the Tagalog language and Filipino culture. Her husband, Dennis Ngo, added that he enjoys learning more about his wife's culture and hopes to ensure their children understand their roots.
The workshop's theme of "Harana," or love songs, was chosen by instructor Kat Daaca, who has led Baybayin workshops across North America for two years. Daaca told OMNI News that the theme is a reclamation of "collective yearning," positioning the script as a tool for participants to access their self-identity.
Daaca also noted that the event aims to dismantle the shame or guilt often felt by those not fluent in the language. By leading the class despite not being fluent in Tagalog herself, Daaca intends to show participants they are "Filipino enough" to engage with these traditions, focusing on participation rather than linguistic perfection.