By Sam Ramos
Three government institutions have launched a book project that will highlight the history of 13 ethnolinguistic groups in Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan, focusing on the Bangsamoro region.
Dr. Cecilia Tangian, commissioner at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and director of the Center for Advanced Education and Lifelong Learning at Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology, on Friday said the initiative will be supported by an PHP8-million grant. The NHCP is partnering with the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Mindanao State University (MSU) campuses in Iligan and Marawi to carry out the project.
An inception meeting took place on Thursday and Friday in Cagayan de Oro City, during which participants discussed the scope of research and publication. A memorandum of agreement is expected to be finalized shortly. “By 2027, we aim to produce a compendium of written works on Bangsamoro history,” Tangian said.
NHCP Executive Director Carminda Arevalo noted that one of the objectives is to integrate the history of the region’s 13 ethnolinguistic groups into a broader Filipino identity. Dr. Darwin Absari, a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of the Philippines, presented updates on new trends in historical research, underscoring the need for a comprehensive perspective on Bangsamoro culture and heritage.
The endeavor aligns with the “2030 Year of Philippine Muslim History and Heritage,” a nationwide program mandated through Administrative Order (AO) No. 10, s. 2023. Under this directive, agencies such as the NHCP, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the Bangsamoro Government, and various government departments are tasked with planning and organizing programs that highlight Muslim history and heritage as integral to Philippine history and culture.