Baybayin Translator is created by Kristian Kabuay, a Manila-born, San Francisco-based Baybayin artist, author, and one of the leading authorities on the propagation and instruction of the ancient Philippine indigenous script. With over two decades of research, teaching, and cultural advocacy, Kristian built this free online tool to make the ancient pre-colonial Philippine script accessible to every Filipino in the Philippines and across the diaspora.
“When I internalized what Baybayin meant to me, I realized it was a gateway to our pre-colonial past and what it meant to be living in a post-colonial world.” | Kristian Kabuay
Our Mission
Our mission is simple preserve and promote the indigenous Baybayin script through modern digital tools. We believe that every Filipino deserves easy, free access to their cultural heritage. This Baybayin Translator is a direct extension of Kristian’s lifelong advocacy built on real expertise, real research, and a genuine love for the Philippine indigenous writing tradition.
Who is Kristian Kabuay?
Kristian Kabuay is a self-taught Baybayin artist influenced by calligraphy, graffiti, abstract art, indigenous culture, and Asian writing systems. Born in Manila and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he spent years immersed in the study of pre-colonial Philippine culture and the ancient Baybayin abugida script.
Kristian is the founder of Baybayin LLC an organization dedicated to Philippine indigenous writing for cultural identity and preservation. He is the author of multiple books on Baybayin including Writing of the Soul, and has given talks and workshops at universities across the United States, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
In 2011, Kristian coined the term “PreFilipino script” to reframe Baybayin not as a forgotten relic of the past, but as a living, breathing symbol of Filipino identity that predates colonial naming and culture.
Media & Recognition
Kristian’s work in reviving and teaching the ancient Philippine script has been featured in major international and Philippine publications:
- OZY
- Scout Magazine
- Nextshark
- Philippine Daily Inquirer
- ABS-CBN
- Philippine Primer
What We Offer
Built on Kristian’s two decades of Baybayin expertise, our free tools include:
Baybayin Translator: Convert Filipino & English text into authentic Baybayin script instantly
Baybayin Alphabet Tool: Explore all Baybayin characters and their pronunciations
Baybayin Name Generator: Write your name in the ancient Philippine script
Why Baybayin?
Baybayin is more than just a writing system. It is an abugida a syllabic script classified in the Brahmic family and a direct link to the pre-colonial identity of the Filipino people. From tattoos and graphic design to personal exploration and cultural education, Baybayin belongs to every Filipino.
The script is encoded in Unicode block U+1700 to U+171F, making it fully supported in modern digital environments. Its revival is actively supported by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino and the proposed National Script Act in the Philippines.
Get in Touch
Have questions, feedback, or suggestions? We would love to hear from you. Visit our Contact Page and reach out anytime.