Marinduque Island Studies benchmarks the BukSU Cultural Studies Program via virtual visit
Boac, Marinduque – The technical working committee from Marinduque State University (MarSU) has successfully touched base with their counterparts at the Bukidnon Studies Center of the Bukidnon State University (BukSU) last April 16 (Thursday).
The BukSU director, Loreta Sol Dinlayan, led the discussion, while the MarSU technical working committee chair, Dr. Randy Nobleza, exchanged thoughts and ideas on how to establish a cultural study for the university. Bukidnon Cultural studies were established in 2017 and started to offer Institutional Subject 101 about cultural studies. All undergraduate students must take the 3-unit course. According to the BukSU mandate, demonstrate the capability to collaborate or implement initially and sustain the Bukidnon cultural heritage. Likewise, this is aligned with the BukSU core value of cultural sensitivity. Therefore, IS 101 offers the students knowledge of material and immaterial indigenous culture.
In addition to IS 101, BukSU Bukidnon Studies Center is housed in a three-storey building, with Kaayaran gallery, ethno-cultural museum, Katata-u library, artist hub for soil painting, and other facilities ideal for cultural activities such as Arte Kultura workshop and exhibit, soil art exhibit, art exhibitions, and a dedicated women’s space art exhibit.
The BukSU Research Center also shared its best practices, such as partnering with BukSU students, local artists, indigenous peoples, IP students, and other stakeholders. Most notably, BukSU also has a Kag-lambaga radio program, youtube channel, continuous acquisition of artifacts, a Binukid class in the community, and a partnership with local and international institutions.
Dr. Nobleza, on their end, also imparted Marinduque Island studies initiatives with the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura, publications, institutional museum, and Book Nook Marinduque. Mam Bernadeth del Prado from the MarSU College of Education and Sir Hide Yasu Nakajima of the College of Governance joined in the virtual benchmarking. In addition, Dr. Karidad Raza also participated remotely from the Tourism Management department. To round up with the composition of the Marinduque Island Studies technical working group are Dr. Rex Asuncion, former cultural and arts studies director, Mam Ruby Ann Lantita, the current culture and arts head, and Sir Neil Sapungan, a cultural anthropologist at MarSU College of Environmental Studies.
The MarSU TWC would also be conducting similar benchmarking activities with the Palawan State University’s Center for Palawan Studies and De La Salle University Dasmariñas Cavite Studies Center. In addition, in the near future, MarSU is intending to partner with the local studies center consortium, Kabansa (Kapisanan ng mga Bahay Saliksikan sa Bansa), and the pioneering Cebuano Studies Center at the University of San Carlos who just celebrated its 50th anniversary with a roundtable discussion of the country’s local studies centers last November 2025. # Randy T. Nobleza, Ph.D.
