Just a light and some digestible pieces of reflection on Mindanao Philosophy

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By Menelito P. Mansueto

I borrowed some of the phrases I used in this piece from hip-hop. Since I am an avid fan of Pinoy hip-hop, it will be the highlight of this short essay. Several of the best rap battle artists in the country today are from Mindanao. Included in the very best are the three from Davao alone, namely: Thirdy, Sixth Threat, and Sak Maestro. I do not expect everyone to appreciate the rap battles, but undeniably it is one of the emerging new art forms in popular culture today. 

In his rap battle against Lebanese-American emcee Dizaster, Sak Maestro had referenced the Philippine government as a gang: “The biggest gang out here is the Philippine government.” Well, when those words were uttered, it did not ring a bell not until recently when those congressmen who voted in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte were recently bashed online. They had been rebuked for being disloyal. The walls on Facebook have it all. 

It is a tough pill to swallow but Mindanao is the new talking point – the apple of everybody’s eyes. The presidential election in 2028 is still far, but they can’t get their eyes off the former president’s daughter. The progeny of a man of steel is also an iron lady. She is radical democracy reborn. It took the entire House of Representatives to tackle the VP, with the QuadCom in tow. The Dutertes, however, can rely on Mindanao and their political supporters in protecting them against this political assault. 

No doubt the recent hot topic in Philippine academia is the radical approach to democracy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Professor Christopher Ryan Maboloc's seminal work, a post-modern take on the matter, has been acknowledged by prominent political scientists like Julio Teehankee and Wataru Kusaka.  Some academics still find it hard to accept this happening right at their very own noses. But the fact is that even scholars like Patricio Abinales and Fr. Jose Mario Francisco have cited the Davao-based author. 

The founding of the Social Ethics Society in Mindanao has been the most significant event for Philosophy in the region. The organization took Mindanao philosophy to new heights. These critics are just begging for their own survival and self-worth – no more than fame-riders of the great Karl Gaspar. Since 2016, Mindanao has become the subject of popular talks in town, much more in the discipline of Philosophy.  That inevitable pivot to Mindanao is happening. 

The rise of the Bukidnon Philosophical Association is a testament that we are no longer dominated by a Manila-centric paradigm. Dr. Romulo Bautista may be credited for having trained many of the leaders of Philosophy in Mindanao right now having taught them several years ago. Now, the tree is bearing its beautiful fruits. Let me once again borrow a quote from Mindanao’s top hiphop artist Sak Maestro, “Respect the past to build the future, but always mind the now.” 

- Menelito Mansueto is a Professor at MSU-IIT and author of Decolonial Turn in the Philippine South 

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