MINDANAO HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

MINDANAO HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE 21^ST CENTURY: PROBLEMS and PROSPECTS

BY:

FAINA C. ABAYA-ULINDANG,Ph.D

Professor,Deptartment of History

Mindanao State University

Marawi City

ABSTRACT

            Current literature on Mindanao are decidedly focused on the peace process and economic development of this region. Apparently, these highlight the importance of contextualising these issues only a comprehensive and reliable historiography could provide.

            This paper, first, surveys what historical literature/or sources (both published and unpublished) on Mindanao are made available to historians and those interested in history writing at present; and second, provides an  based on the following:

1.Who authored these sources? What authority do they have in their authorship of these sources?

2.What approaches did they use and from what perspective? Could they be considered local/regional/national history? Or did they deal with the history of Mindanao as an isolated area of study?

            This paper limits  its presentation to current literature available to historians based on the listing of collections (disseminated via the internet mostly)which are found in the libraries and research centers  of Mindanao and Manila. However, it does not pretend to cover the entire field of sources historians could use for their study on Mindanao. This is premised on the idea that any history writing is always a work-in-progress.  Moreover, for the term `Mindanao’ the author utilizes the current accepted definition where it means a geographic entity covering not only the island of Mindanao but Sulu as well.

            For its conclusion, the author recommends what gaps in periodization as well as in methodological inquiry should be addressed to by scholars interested in Mindanao historiography.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(a short CV)

            Professor Faina C. Abaya-Ulindang of the History Department, Mindanao State University-Marawi campus earned her Bachelor of Arts major in History(1972),Master of Arts in Asian Studies (1982) and Doctor of Philosophy major in History (1996) at the University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City.

            Her  works largely  deal with the social history of Mindanao, specifically migration and resettlement, war in Mindanao, slavery, and women’s movements. Some of her writings are published in the Mindanao Journal, MSU Graduate School Research Journal, Adhika Journal, NHI Kasaysayan Journal, NCCA Batis, and ADHIKA & NHI Kasaysayan ng Bayan. She is presently involved with the writing of a textbook on Philippine History 1 of the Mindanao State University and has finished (in limited circulation) a sourcebook for Asian Civilization. She has also contributed to the ICAS newsletter an article on Chinese slavery for the SAGE Encyclopedia on the Social Sciences.

            She is currently a full time faculty of the History Department, and part time faculty of the Graduate School MSU-Marawi. She was the former MSU-Marawi College of Social Sciences and Humanities Coordinator for Research & Extension(1999-2007). She also served as a member of the NCCA Executive Council for the National Committee on Historical Research(1998-2004;2007-10)and member of the Board of Directors, Adhika ng Pilipinas(1998-2007).