Philippines Unicode Keyboard Layout for Linux is now available! avatar
Yohan Yukiya Sese-Cuneta
 | | 5 minutes read | Update at

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Today, 23rd of October 2010, Filipino Linux users around the world can now download and use the first release of the Philippines Unicode Keyboard Layout, officially launched during the Philippines Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat Release Party.

What is this all about? Simple: being able to type the characters that Filipinos use, especially the ₱eso sign and ᜊᜌ᜔ᜊᜌᜒᜈ᜔ (Baybayin) glyphs that has been available for use since Unicode 3.2 (March 2002). Other characters are: Ññ, ©, ®, ™, ¢, ¥, ¶, Pahilís (acute diacritic), Paiwà (grave diacritic), Pakupyâ (circumflex diacritic), Ng̃ (the shortened form of nan͠g), and many more.

How about Windows users? You will have to wait more or less 2 weeks, it will be usable for Windows 7, Vista, and XP; both 64-bit and 32-bit installations. It is now available for download.

Without further ado, here are the steps to get you started with using our very own Unicode Keyboard Layout.

  • Download the PH-UKL-Linux file (available in 7-zip and zip format) here

  • Extract the content of the archive file you just downloaded

  • Install the font included so your system can display Baybayin (Alibata) glyphs

  • Then copy the file “ph” to the correct folder by typing in the terminal (be sure to adjust ~/Downloads/ to where the file is on your end)

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    sudo cp ~/Downloads/ph /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols

  • Open these two files by typing:

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    gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.lst

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    gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst

  • Search for:

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    ! layout

  • After it add:

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    ph              Philippines

  • Search for:

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    ! variant

  • After it add:

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    qwerty-bay            ph: QWERTY (Baybayin)
capewell-dvorak       ph: Capewell-Dvorak (Latin)
capewell-dvorak-bay   ph: Capewell-Dvorak (Baybayin)
capewell-qwerf2k6     ph: Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Latin)
capewell-qwerf2k6-bay ph: Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Baybayin)
colemak               ph: Colemak (Latin)
colemak-bay           ph: Colemak (Baybayin)
dvorak                ph: Dvorak (Latin)
dvorak-bay            ph: Dvorak (Baybayin)

  • Open these two files by typing:

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    gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.xml

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    gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.xml

  • Search for:

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    <layoutlist>

  • After it add:

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    <layout>
  <configItem>
    <name>ph</name>
    <shortDescription>Phi</shortDescription>
    <description>Philippines</description>
    <languageList><iso639Id>eng</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>bik</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>ceb</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>fil</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>hil</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>ilo</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>pam</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>pag</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>phi</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>tgl</iso639Id>
                  <iso639Id>war</iso639Id></languageList>
  </configItem>
  <variantList>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>qwerty-bay</name>
        <description>QWERTY (Baybayin)</description>
        <languageList><iso639Id>bik</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ceb</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>fil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>hil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ilo</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pam</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pag</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>phi</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>tgl</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>war</iso639Id></languageList>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>capewell-dvorak</name>
        <description>Capewell-Dvorak (Latin)</description>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>capewell-dvorak-bay</name>
        <description>Capewell-Dvorak (Baybayin)</description>
        <languageList><iso639Id>bik</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ceb</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>fil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>hil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ilo</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pam</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pag</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>phi</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>tgl</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>war</iso639Id></languageList>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>capewell-qwerf2k6</name>
        <description>Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Latin)</description>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>capewell-qwerf2k6-bay</name>
        <description>Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Baybayin)</description>
        <languageList><iso639Id>bik</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ceb</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>fil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>hil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ilo</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pam</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pag</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>phi</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>tgl</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>war</iso639Id></languageList>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>colemak</name>
        <description>Colemak (Latin)</description>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>colemak-bay</name>
        <description>Colemak (Baybayin)</description>
        <languageList><iso639Id>bik</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ceb</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>fil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>hil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ilo</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pam</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pag</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>phi</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>tgl</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>war</iso639Id></languageList>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>dvorak</name>
        <description>Dvorak (Latin)</description>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
    <variant>
      <configItem>
        <name>dvorak-bay</name>
        <description>Dvorak (Baybayin)</description>
        <languageList><iso639Id>bik</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ceb</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>fil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>hil</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>ilo</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pam</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>pag</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>phi</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>tgl</iso639Id>
                      <iso639Id>war</iso639Id></languageList>
      </configItem>
    </variant>
  </variantList>
</layout>

You’re done! Sort of. You need to activate it to actually use it, follow the next few steps to do so.

  • Go to: Preferences > Keyboard > Layouts
  • Click the “Add…” button
  • Search for the new keyboard you installed either “By country” (Philippines) or “By language” (English; Filipino; Cebuano; Philippine Languages; etc.)
  • There are different variants that you can choose from:
    • Philippines (default; QWERTY - Latin)
    • Philippines - QWERTY (Baybayin)
    • Philippines - Capewell-Dvorak (Latin)
    • Philippines - Capewell-Dvorak (Baybayin)
    • Philippines - Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Latin)
    • Philippines - Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Baybayin)
    • Philippines - Colemak (Latin)
    • Philippines - Colemak (Baybayin)
    • Philippines - Dvorak (Latin)
    • Philippines - Dvorak (Baybayin)
  • Click the “Add” button
  • Select the new layout that you added then click the “Move Up” button and place it on top
    Keyboard Preferences - Select Philippines Keyboard Layouts

    Keyboard Preferences

    Select Philippines Keyboard Layouts

    Keyboard Preferences by I’M YourOnly.One is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 International.

Let’s not forget to add the first Baybayin ᜊᜌ᜔ᜊᜌᜒᜈ᜔) keyboard layout, it is QWERTY-based. Simply repeat the process above but place it as second in your Layouts list. Then if you want to switch between Philippines Latin and Philippines Baybayin scripts, simply press Shift+CAPS_Lock. It is the default shortcut in Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat.

The font included in the zip file is a Unicode-only and Website-embed compatible version of Nordenx’s Baybayin brush font.

See the keyboard layout images here.

Official source repository: https://codeberg.org/yelosan/unicode-keyboard-layout-philippines. If you have suggestions or bugs to report, please do not hesitate to file a ticket here.

The Philippines Unicode Keyboard Layout is a project of Ubuntu Philippines LoCo Team.

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Yohan Yukiya Sese-Cunetaㆍ사요한・謝雪矢·ᜌᜓᜃᜒIf this is not the end of oblivion, then I shall live everyday as if my life were to end this very day.

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The YOOki Chronicles

The YOOki Chronicles is Yohan Yukiya Sese-Cuneta’s return into casual and personal blogging. The name “YOOki” is a mash-up of the acronym of YourOnly.One and my nickname ᜌᜓᜃᜒ (Yuki・雪矢).

Interestingly, according to Chinese legend, 柳 (YOO) is an ancient Chinese surname. The ancestors of the surname were closely linked with the ancient sage-king named Yu Shun. In Korea, the 유 (YU) lineage traces to the Xia, Han, and Joseon dynasties. Holders of the surname Yu or Yoo had a reputation for charity and diligence.1

It is also the word for “willow” or the “willow tree” which means graceful or slender; and a tree growing near a body of water which provide continuous nourishment and resources for everyone. It can also mean to exist, an oil (anointment(?)), and simply as “U” (you).

The Hanzi 紀 (ki) character means to record, be disciplined, provide order. While the Hangeul equivalent, 키 (ki), means energy, spirit, a banner, and a period of time; and is also a suffix used to make a gerund or an infinitive.

  1. 「유」 Yoo (Korean surname); CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported License ↩︎

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