Public school's unusual stone 'foot rug' could be historic artifact

At a remote public school in Masbate, elementary students have long been using a flat stone as a foot rug to dust their slippers. Now anthropologists are discovering that the flat stone at the Rizal Elementary School on Ticao Island, Masbate has ancient writings on it. The "foot rug," now called the "Rizal Stone" (named after the school), might actually be the first known stone artifact containing Baybayin writings, a 13th century system of writing in the Philippines. GMA News' Dano Tingcungco reported on Unang Balita on Tuesday that the stone remained unnoticed since it was found in 2000 and was used as a foot rug. However, a teacher saw markings on the stone and after it was cleaned, the ancient writings were revealed. "Biglang noong may nakapagsabi na may sulat diyan, pinalinis niya, so lumabas yung sulat," said Dr. Francisco Datar of the University of the Philippines Anthropology Department. Carbon stenciling revealed carved inscriptions that appeared to be in the ancient Baybayin script. Actual words like batahala (panginoon) were found, which is from Sanskrit and Javanese "batara," and from Malay "betara" and Bisaya "bathala." The other words that were seen on the stone were balahala (kataas-taasang panginoon in Bisaya), bahaya ("panganib" in Malay), and ihalad ("pag-aalay" in Bisaya). Experts say the message may have something to do with ancient religion and the stone may also be just a piece of a larger stone. If the stone is confirmed as authentic, it will be the first stone artifact with Baybayin writings. "Nakipagkwentuhan ako para i-test kaagad kung ano yung mga circumstances na nakapaligid. Yung mga ganyan kasi ang unang concern mo totoo ba ito o hindi," said Datar. Because markings are carved on both sides of the stone, it might have been a marker of a place. It is also possible that the stone did not originate from Ticao Island, as Masbate was along the routes of trade ships and pirates in the 13th century, which may be the period when the stone was carved. "Naipakita na yung linkages ng mga isla dito, mga pulo sa, let's say Sumatra o sa Java, which is just surrounding our area ay talagang merong ebidensya at yan, kung mapapakita natin na connected ito sa mga language sa Java o Sumatra," said Dr. Arnold Azurin, affiliate scholar of the UP Archaeological Studies Program. - VVP, GMA News