Earliest evidence of writing in the Philippine archipelago: the Laguna Copperplate Inscription
Translation by Antoon Postma (1992):
Swasti! In the Shaka year 822*; the month of March-April; 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 Ganasakti; (and) His Honor the Leader of Binwangan, representing Bisruta. And, with his whole family, on orders of the Chief of Dewata, representing the Chief of Mdang, 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.
*equivalent to the year 900 AD in the Gregorian calendar **likely referring to modern-day Tondo, a district of Manila ***may refer to modern-day Pulilan, a municipality of Bulacan
