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ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-IIT celebrates 2024 National Heritage Month on May 16

May 22 2024

The scant resources on Moro Blades prompted the exploration of these weapons and heirlooms during the 2024 National Heritage Month with a webinar, “The Function and Power of Moro Blades” on May 16, 2024.

The Mindanao Creative and Cultural Workers Group, Inc. (MCCWG) and the Department of History headed by Dr. Jamelyn B. Palattao and the Department of History’s Mindanao Heritage and Indigenous Research Center headed by Asst. Prof. Jed Otano in cooperation with the BARMM Commission on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage presented an exploration of Moro Blades with the following speakers:

  • Datu Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan to speak on “The Different Types of Blades of the Iranun and Magindanao: their Traditional and Present Symbolisms”. Lidasan is Founding Director of Al Qalam Institute of Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia at the Ateneo de Davao University;
  • Assistant Professor of History Nelson Dino with his topic “Insigts into Sulus Indigenous Cultural Heritage: Unveiling the Secrets of Barung, Ukkil and their Symbolisms. Dino is Director, Mindanao State University-Tawitawi College of Technology and Oceanography;
  • Tirmizy E. Abdullah, to talk about “Meranaw Blade Weapons”. Abdullah is a faculty member of the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ main campus Department of History;
  • Benji Sahabir, Founder and Grandmaster, Gagandilan Combat Arts and District Chairman, State Silat Sport, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia to discuss the “Tausug Warrior’s Gagandilan Attire and Combat Arts”; and
  • Al-Masir J. Adilon to show a video presentation of Sulu blades. Adilon is proprietor of Sulu Pakukus and is responsible for reviving the traditional arts in Sulu.

The reactor to all speakers was Jason Chanchoco of Bladed Bicol and proprietor of The Minasbad Shop. Chancoco was a writing fellow of the Iligan National Writers Workshop.

Dr, Ephrime B. Metillo, Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise and BARMM Commissioner Bobby Alonto gave messages during the program and Dr. Christine F. Godinez Ortega, Founding Chair of the Mindanao Creative & Cultural Workers Group opened the event.    

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