21st Literature

• Mindanao


  Land of Promise
• Major islands of Mindanao


  • Mindanao mainland
  • Camiguin
  • Siargao
  • Samal
  • Dinagat
  • Bucas Grande
  • Basilan
  • Sulu
  • Tawi-Tawi
• Regions of Mindanao


  • BARMM
  • CARAGA
  • Davao
  • Northern Mindanao
  • SoCCSKSarGen
  • Zamboanga Peninsula
• Davao City


  Most populous place in Mindanao, home to Mt. Apo (highest point in the Philippines)
• Famous landmarks in Mindanao

  • Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin Island
  • The Grand Mosque of Cotabato
  • Dapitan
  • Zamboanga City
  • Islamic City of Marawi
• Languages in Mindanao


  • Mandaya
  • Kalagan
  • Giangon
  • Dibabawon
  • Tagabawa
  • Hiligaynon
  • Mansaka
  • Sangirese
  • Obo
  • Sarangani
  • Cebuano
• Ethnic groups in Mindanao

  • Zamboanga Peninsula - Subanons
  • Northern Mindanao and CARAGA - Bukidnon, Ata Manobos, Mamanwas, Matigsalugs, Agusan Manobos, Talaandigs, Kamigins, Higaonons
  • SOCCSKSARGEN - T'Bolis, Tirurays, B'laans, Saranganis, Cotabato Manobos
  • DAVAO - Obos, Mandayas, Giangans, Tagabawas, Kalagans, Sangirese, Mansakas
  • Maguindanaos
  • Maranaos
  • Tausugs
  • Yakans
  • Iranuns
  • Samas
  • Moros
  • Butuanons
  • Surigaonons
  • Kagay-anons
  • Zamboangueños
  • Hiligaynons
  • Cebuanos
  • Bajaos
• Mindanao literature


  Oral literary forms may be didactic, hortatory, entertaining, instructive, or informative
• Folktale names in Mindanao

  • Kana-kana (from Jama Mapun and Sama)
  • Katakata (from Tausug)
  • Oman-oman (from Davaoeños)
  • Totol (from Maranao)
  • Tudtol (from Iranon)
  • Tudtolan (from Maguindanao)
• Famous folktales in Mindanao

  • Agamaniyog Folktales (from Maranao)
  • Manuk-manuk Bulawan (from Indanan, also known as Agta and Datu Dakula)
  • Posong or Pusung (from Tausug - stories of how Posong the trickster has always deceived the datu and gets away with it)
• Famous epics in Mindanao

  • Bantugan (Maranao epic)
  • Indarapatra and Sulayman (Maguindanao epic)
  • Parang Sabil hi Abdulla iban hi Isara (Tausug epic/ballad)
• Most ballads in Mindanao are historical which feature heroic deeds of important personalities
• Filipinos have lack of access to the textual materials of the oral literature of Mindanao
• The people of Mindanao seem to be preoccupied in mundane with politics and economics
• Modern Mindanao literature themes revolve on topics such as war and conflict, quest for peace, social inequality, landlessness, love of one's land, and others
• Mindanao Harvest 4: A 21st Century Literary Anthology


  Published in 2018 by Far Eastern University (FEU) Publications, the first comprehensive literary anthology on Mindanao's contemporary literatures including 63 Mindanao writers, edited by Jaime An Lim, Christine F. Godinez-Ortega, and Ricardo M. de Ungria
• Antonio Enriquez


  Born in 1936 in Zamboanga, initially studied medicine in Manila, later worked odd jobs and with a surveying firm in Cotabato, wrote several award-winning short stories and novels, received a fellowship to the National Writers Workshop and earned a degree in creative writing, taught at Silliman University
• Antonio Enriquez's works


  • Novels: Subanons, The Living and the Dead

  Short story collections: Spots on Their Wings, Dance a White Horse to Sleep

  Other books: The Activist, The Survivors, Twice Told Subanon Tales
• Antonio Enriquez: '"GREEN SANCTUARY"'
• Telesforo Sungkit Jr.


  From Sumilao, Bukidnon, author of Ananaw (The Beloved) and Anijun (The Shining One), farmer and natural farming advocate, author of Batbat hi Udan (The story of udan) considered the first Lumad novel, recipient of NCCA Writers' Prize and NBDB Trust Fund for writers
• Telesforo Sungkit Jr.: '"I, Higaonon"'