SEREPUNGAN RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP Phase 2

SEREPUNGAN (literally, nexus or connection, confluence) RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP Phase 2: University of the Philippines–Diliman, Notre Dame of Midsayap College, and OMI Pangipasan Mission

The program, dubbed Serepungan, aims to establish a collaborative research and publication initiative among members of the UP Diliman faculty, selected faculty of Notre Dame of Midsayap College, and representatives of the Indigenous Peoples from the Pangipasan Mission in North Cotabato. Anchored on the spirit of partnership, the research activities prioritize dynamic exchange not only between the UP Diliman team and NDMC but, more importantly, between the academe and the community. Drawing upon the principles of Indigenous Research Methodology (IRM), the program seeks to privilege the voice of the community as a co-producer of knowledge rather than treating it merely as a field site where research is conducted. It recognizes the vital role of the community in addressing gaps in mainstream discourses—whether in advancing nation-building or challenging the theoretical and methodological assumptions embedded in prevailing research paradigms. Only through such an approach can Mindanao Studies be properly situated within Philippine Studies, and vice versa.

The research project is also aligned with the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of Philippine Studies, bringing together members of the academic community from various disciplines and areas of specialization. Its ultimate goal is to produce a participatory and holistic approach to knowledge creation—one that reflects both academic rigor and the conceptual world of the people whose heritage and lived experiences are being documented.