Faculty members and graduate students from the History and International Studies Department of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan actively participated in the Local History Writeshop: Mindanao History in the Making of a Nation, held from 20 to 21 May 2026 at the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).

Representing the department were faculty members Kurt Casas, Kevin Legaspi, Rebecca Baldo, and Nichole Christine Virtudazo, alongside MA History students Jason Maderal and Rose Vidal, who presented their research papers. Miraflor Panamogan (MA History student) joined as a participant. Their collective involvement underscored the department’s commitment to fostering inclusive historiography.

The delegation was guided by Dr Faina Ulindang, MA History faculty and program coordinator of the department, whose mentorship has been central in encouraging faculty and students to engage in collaborative research and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Organized in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (EcoWEB), Inc, the two-day writeshop at MSU-IIT’s PRISM Hall formed part of the observance of National Heritage Month 2026. The event brought together historians, cultural agency representatives, and emerging researchers from across Mindanao to strengthen the writing and publication of local histories. These efforts are recognized as vital contributions to the broader Philippine national historiography, ensuring that diverse regional narratives are woven into the nation’s historical fabric.

By participating in this writeshop, Xavier University’s History and International Studies Department reaffirmed its role as a leading voice in the documentation and interpretation of Mindanao’s past, contributing to a more inclusive and representative understanding of Philippine history.

 

Photos courtesy of Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (ECOWEB), Inc and MSU IIT Department of History