From Emily Catapang of the Mangyan Heritage Center: The Mangyan Heritage Center has been promoting the Hanunuo Mangyan script and teaching students how to write in the Mangyan script at our mobile exhibits that travels all over the country, through invitations from schools and museums. This started in 2006 and we've been to over 50 schools and museums nationwide.

We're currently conducting research on the Buhid script to come up with a Primer to Buhid Script. Just fyi, the Buhid Mangyans (Northern and Southern) are using 2 distinct scripts. The Southern Buhid script is very similar to the Hanunuo script while the Northern Buhid is distinct. We found a few variations in the samples gathered and the Buhid elders must agree on uniform characters for the Primer which will be used in teaching the Buhid script in Buhid schools. The Buhids also have to approve the use of pamudpod to cut-off the vowel. Thus, we cannot just adopt the characters of the Buhid script declared as National Cultural Treasure in 1997.

Regarding the Baybayin bill, the MHC finds it lacking in substance. In fact, there was an initial plan for MHC to invite Cong. Leopoldo Bataoil to discuss improvements for this bill. Yes, we agree, other Philippine scripts must be mentioned specially the living Mangyan scripts and it should also include teaching the script in schools nationwide, (integrated in Sibika) - in Mindoro - the Hanunuo and Buhid scripts must be taught.

In line with this, the MHC will be preparing modules and handouts for the teaching of the Hanunuo Mangyan script in addition to the Primer to Mangyan Script that we've been using, though we're still looking for funding for the allowance of Mangyan teachers who will be teaching the script to all grades 1 to 6 pupils in Hanunuo Mangyan school. We hope to start this coming school-year.

We also advocate for the inclusion of the Hanunuo and Buhid scripts in signages of government and private offices in Mindoro, as well as in signages of business establishments and street names. Initial talks with the tourism office of the province and the SP members was conducted. However, this requires approval of the Mangyans as we also respect their intellectual property rights as explicitly stated in the IPRA. Some elders are still not open to the idea, though there are now quite a few signages in Mansalay with the Hanunuo Mangyan script.