Anton Poostma's Magic, National Museum

This was the most enchantint work day for me at the museum. To see grade school students learn and write the ancient script

Anton starts by telling them the history wrapped in story the children look over the material given them, they listen politely but intently to Anton on the board is a very clear graph of each ancient letter and their sound Anton says a name he writes it in Baybayin the students take notes the magic begins. they are in rapt attention they've learned something that was once their own anton asks for a volunteer to write his/her name they write awkwardly at first then they exhibit an eagerness, the handwriting now flows the curls she drew were so natural as if she knew it all along a confidence developed he was delighted to write his name in ancient script its inspiring to see students eager to learn notice the line. anton asked for only a few, everybody volunteered many times anton would extol them never to forget their ancient writing under his watchful eyes they wrote with a flourish a mistake was gently corrected but they persisted and enjoyed it just a half hour ago, these letters seemed intimidating anton had these kids in a spell the teachers wanted to learn too she seemed distant in the beginning, now an avid writer this boy came back to write, but not his name anton was almost choked with emotion the boy wrote to anton "mabuhay ka" anton distributing the bamboo slivers with a love poem in script they can now read it they copy it all the way he tells them never to forget ancient writing i wish we could have a hundred thousand more of these teachers we'd have a bright future a mangyan chants the writing on bamboo, students enchanted