Scholars and researchers gathered at Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Social Hall on February 18, 2025, for a seminar-workshop on Surat Jawi, focusing on historical documents in Jawi (Arabic script) stored at the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP).
Organized by WMSU and the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) with support from the Association for Asian Studies, the event highlighted the Jawi-writing tradition in Mindanao and Sulu, examining its colonial influences, linguistic shifts, and regional variations. Discussions emphasized the historical and cultural significance of these manuscripts and their connection to the broader Malay-Indonesian world.
The workshop, spearheaded by Dr. Melanie F. Lear, Director of Centro de Estudio Mindanao, featured distinguished scholars, including Dr. Ariel C. Lopez (UP Diliman), Atty. Ayshia F. Kunting (WMSU), and Dr. Tirmizy E. Abdullah (MSU-Marawi). They provided historiographical and textual analyses of Jawi documents in Tausug, Maguindanao, Meranaw, and Malay.
The seminar-workshop aimed to encourage further research on Jawi documents, promoting greater appreciation and preservation of these valuable historical texts. WMSU reaffirmed its commitment to advancing studies on Mindanaoโs linguistic and cultural history. (LMP, PAO)
