Kabacan, Cotabato – The University of Southern Mindanao Extension Services Office (USM-ESO) officially launched its initiative under the UniK 2025 Program, to document and preserve traditional languages of Bagobo-Tagabawa and Obo-Manobo communities, commencing with the first leg of training for USM extensionists and students, held at ESO Conference room, on February 28, 2025.
The training aimed to equip participants with the skills needed for community engagement and linguistic data collection. Attendees included representatives from the College of Social Sciences, the Department of English Language and Literature (CASS-DELL), the Graduate School, and faculty extension implementers.
Faculty members from USM PALMA Cluster Campuses, Mr. Kevin Ray V. Abesamis and Ms. Jemina M. Atok, delivered the lectures and facilitated the workshops. Topics covered included an introduction to Philippine grammar, phonology, and literacy. Participants engaged in theoretical discussions in the morning and applied their knowledge in hands-on workshops in the afternoon.
Following this initial phase, the project will proceed with advanced training sessions and immersive community engagement to accurately and respectfully represent local languages. Subsequent phases will focus on the publication of research findings, and the development of accessible language resources for educational and cultural preservation purposes.
This initiative underscores the university’s commitment to protecting and promoting cultural heritage. By preserving the linguistic traditions of the Bagobo-Tagabawa and Obo-Manobo communities, the project aims to ensure these languages remain a lasting legacy for future generations.
