Philosophy in Mindanao is least concerned with carving out a distinctly Filipino identity for philosophy. Such a preoccupation belongs, perhaps, to those who feel that their intellectual traditions remain unrecognized within the broader corpus of knowledge that thinkers before us have cultivated in their enduring search for truth. Mindanao’s philosophical tradition, by contrast, is grounded in lived experience. It draws from the histories and struggles of the Lumad, the aspirations and continuing struggles of the Bangsamoro, and the concrete realities confronting communities across the region.
Its central concern is not to define what makes philosophy Filipino, but to ask what philosophy can contribute to human flourishing in a particular social and historical context. For contemporary academics and scholars in Mindanao, philosophy becomes meaningful when it engages real problems, gives voice to those at the margins, challenges structures that perpetuate injustice, and contributes to solutions that advance the welfare and dignity of ordinary people. In this sense, the task of philosophy in Mindanao is not to construct an identity for itself, but to think with and for a people as they confront the conditions of their existence and work toward a more just and humane society.
For some people, the pursuit of knowledge is preoccupied with establishing what one might consider our own intellectual brand. In Mindanao, however, our concern is simply to do what great thinkers have always done: engage with important questions and produce meaningful results. The future of philosophy in Mindanao is bright, with young scholars like Migs Mansueto and Noel Andrada leading the way. Prof. Mansueto of MSU-IIT is an accomplished academic who has written extensively on decolonial history, while Andrada is a courageous thinker carving out his own niche in the field of social justice theory.
History and tradition give us clues and signs. Prof. Ambong Fernandez is the heir to Fr. Michael Moga, SJ, in building that sphere of influence through the writing and publication of philosophy textbooks across various fields, from Ethics to Philosophy of Religion, here in Mindanao. Fr. Moga is an American, but he devoted much of his life to serving the three Ateneo schools in Mindanao, where he founded their Philosophy departments. This is a remarkable achievement for one individual, who successfully bridged classical Western ideas with the Mindanao experience.
Without leadership, one cannot achieve much. But leadership must reflect not merely an image or position; it must be grounded in genuine authority as a scholar. Dr. Rogelio Bayod, a well-published and highly cited author, embodies this kind of leadership. He is an expert in Indigenous Studies and Ethics. His strong leadership was clearly demonstrated in the success of the Mindanao Conference on Public Health and in the various SES conferences where he served as chair. The SES takes pride in fostering a new generation of philosophers whose primary mission is to find meaningful solutions to the problems of everyday life and to contribute to the common good. The President of the SES, Fr. Dexter Veloso, is leading the way.
In terms of a role model, Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera, a full professor at Mindanao State University (Marawi), is one of the country’s most respected women philosophers, recognized for her insightful contributions to peacebuilding and peace education. A true pillar of the Social Ethics Society, she represents the face of Mindanao's unique and innovative brand of philosophizing and truth-seeking. Mindanao's philosophical roadmap is about valuing and giving opportunity to everyone to speak and be heard, especially indigenous groups and the marginalized.
Mindanao's philosophical trajectory fears nothing. This is exemplified by the study of radical politics pioneered by Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc. Prof. Gerry Arambala, now chair at the University of San Agustin, follows that lead in Ozamiz where he taught for almost a decade. In fact, he is a protégé of Dr. Ryan Urbano and Dr. Maboloc while at USC. Prof. Arambala is a well-published scholar, having studied the thought of Amartya Sen, Thomas Pogge, and Chantal Mouffe. He continues to be a valuable anchor of philosophizing in the South, consistently making his mark.
There are other figures as well who are doing their share and making a mark. Prof. Bryan Tumlad serves as an inspiration to many young students through his tenacious commitment to engaging them in philosophy. The same can be said of Dr. Arnel Morte (CMU), Prof. Rey Atacador (UM), Prof. Kaka Juaneza (USM), Prof. Oliver Perater (MSU-IIT), Dr. Robert Panaguiton (WEMSU), Jumadir Mungkon (MSU), and Karl Exala (AdDU), all of whom are doing their part in thinking things through away from the spotlight. The South has indeed secured its place in the future of philosophy.
Philosophy, to use the words of Fr. Daniel Pilario, must return to the “rough grounds.” This is precisely what Mindanao researchers and scholars are doing. Thinking is no longer merely about idiosyncratic ideas or the battle of paradigms over what should characterize a system of thought. Rather, it is about understanding the problems of the people, giving them a voice, and finding meaningful and sustainable solutions to the many issues and questions that ordinary citizens face. This is the arduous task that we must undertake—and a burden that we must be willing to carry ourselves.