We all know that on 1898 that we Filipino gain our indepence as declared by the First President Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898 at Kawit, Cavite. But the month of April on its 21st day at 900 AD, the first ever document that tells payment of debt has been recorded. And this document which is the Laguna Copper Plate Inscription is considered to be our very first dated document that give us our own Identity.
It is said that this official document of acquitance from debt is the earliest known calendar-dated document in the Philippines. Found on 1989 by a laborer near the mouth of Lumbang River in Wawa, Lumban, Laguna, Philippines. Let us look at what the LCI contains:
"Hail! In the Shaka-year 822; the month of March–April (Vaishakh) according to the astronomer: the fourth day of the dark half of the moon; on Monday. At that time, Lady Angkatan together with her relative, Bukah by name, the child of His Honor Namwaran, was given, as a special favor, a document of full acquittal, by the Chief and Commander of Tundun, representing the Leader of Pailah, Jayadewa. This means that His Honor Namwaran, through the Honorable Scribe was totally cleared of a salary-related debt of 1 kati and 8 suwarna (weight of gold): in the presence of His Honor the Leader of Puliran, Kasumuran; His Honor the Leader of Pailah, representing Ganashakti; (and) His Honor the Leader of Binuangan, representing Bisruta. And, with his whole family, on orders of the Chief of Dewata representing the Chief of Medang, because of his loyalty as a subject (slave?) of the Chief, therefore all the descendants of his Honor Namwaran have been cleared of the whole debt that His Honor owed the Chief of Dewata. This (document) is (issued) in case there is someone, whosoever, some time in the future, who will state that the debt is not yet acquitted of His Honor..."
Translated by Antoon Postma (1992)
This official dated document give us idea of who we are during 900 AD and see that our ancestors living at that time has their own calendar system that is different from what we are using right now. In the translation the word astronomer was used but in original language term used was the word jyotisha which means Astrologer. It is amazing that the role of astrologer extends its duties not only giving guidance to the citizens but also extends their work in witnessing documents like the work of a notary public. And in this document we have seen that the Namwaran have been cleared of the whole debt together with his descendants. Which as i understand, if debt is not paid, it means all of Namwaran's descendant will pay for it.
It is nice to know that this document of acquittal can be seen also as a document of independence for Namwaran and all of his descendants. And through this documents we had a glimpse of what had happened in the past that we could commemorate today in the present. And one way of commemorating this is that we provide information drive on the use of Baybayin through Sulong Baybayin Abril 21. We help people learn how to write and read in Baybayin to bring back pride into our identity as FIlipino.