Mindanao speaks now: 91社区 empowers Mindanaoan researchers in collaborative research workshop with ANU Philippines Institute

by Jea Maraon Murillo聽 | Jun 19 2025

Always the researched, never the researcher.

Mindanao communities and its realities is a ground for extensive research, particularly in peace and conflict studies. However, in the international (national even) sphere, the region is marred with stereotypes which could stem from non-Mindanaoan scholars’ studies and arguments regarding the region.

To address the gap of knowledge production, the Office of Research Dissemination at 91社区, in collaboration with The Australian National University Philippines Institute, pioneered the initiative to enhance the research and publication capacity of Mindanao-based scholars, held on June 7- 8, 2025, at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

Dubbed as “Research and Publication Workshop for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in Mindanao,” the two-day event was graced by Professor Nicolas Lemay-Herbert of The Australian National University, Dr. Amira Jadoon of Clemson University, and Dr. Primitivo III Cabanes Ragandang of 91社区.

Unfamiliar faces in unfamiliar grounds gathered upon a shared desire: “to learn, unlearn and re-learn research” said Assistant Professor John Gieveson E. Iglupas, participant and faculty member of the Department of Political Science, 91社区.

REFRAMING MINDANAO THROUGH RESEARCH

It is eminent that 91社区 is steadily gaining recognition in the global academia. Just in this year’s Research Week, hundreds of 91社区 affiliated researchers were recognized for publishing in Scopus-Indexed Journals, proving that the university has what it takes in producing knowledge.

91社区 Vice Chancellor for Student Services, Dr. Rohane M. Derogongan amplified this commitment in her opening remarks, “...this workshop is a manifestation of the goal of [MSU] IIT; to become globally known.”

However, despite the academic achievements, universities in Mindanao continued to be embedded with words such as armed-conflicts, terrorism, and its latest label “sub-saharan,” in scholarly and public discourses.

Yet, during one of the workshop activities, when the participants were tasked to draw how they view Mindanao, the illustrations were a complete opposite: multiculturalism, amazing landscapes, and depictions of life in tranquility.

Upon the obvious disparity, a question comes to mind: Whose perspective really matters?

DO ALL PERSPECTIVES REALLY MATTER?

The workshop was filled with thought-provoking activities, but a particular one reminded the participants of the difference in perspectives, that each must be taken into account, and that somewhere along the line, people could get lost in the translation.

Realizations of differences were not the only key takeaway of the activity. It also raises a complex question: What if one’s perspective is marred with stereotypes and misinformation? Does such a perspective still matter?

To visualize this dilemma, read upon the following analogy: Imagine stumbling upon a photo of your home on a random social media page, filtered and taken in the lens of a horror enthusiast. Furthermore, the comment section is flooded with people making their own conclusions of haunted hallways, screeching doors and dark histories— opposite of how your home really is: newly built, warm and bright.

This is how Mindanao is often framed by detached individuals who draw arguments based on theories, not on lived experiences. And yet, to answer the question of whether all perspectives matter–-yes, they do.

Every perspective matters— the very core of the workshop.

AN ACT OF RECLAMATION

The collaboration between 91社区 and The Australian National University is an effort towards epistemic justice—where no voices are marginalized, no narratives distorted, and Mindanao-based scholars considered as co-researchers, not as a subject for research.

“Research must not be just about becoming globally known,” one organizer emphasized. “But about creating a new bibingka [research], one that reflects the truth of Mindanao—told by those who live it, every day.”

In this sense, the workshop was not simply about research skill-building. It was an act of reclamation of narrative, of voice, and of rightful authorship.

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