USM, Language Expert Pay Courtesy Visit to Cotabato Governor; Seek Support
April 24, 2026
The University of Southern Mindanao (USM), through the Extension Services Office (ESO), welcomed the President of 170+ Talaytayan MLE, Antonio D. Igcalinos, for a specialized training entitled “Training on Strategic Language and Resource Mapping for Literacy and Development” on April 23, 2026, at the ESO TC Room.
The training forms part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) initiative, addressing the need to preserve and promote linguistic diversity. In her welcome remarks, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Leorence C. Tandog urged the participants to actively participate in the preservation of local dialects.
“I encourage you to fully engage in this seminar. What we have here today contributes not only to academic knowledge but also to the preservation of our identity, culture, and heritage,” Dr. Tandog stated.
As the training transitioned into the formal lecture sessions, Dr. Igcalinos discussed the concepts, importance, and principles of language mapping, including its role in literacy and development. This was followed by an intensive workshop focused on conducting basic language mapping using participatory tools to identify, organize, and analyze linguistic resources for development planning.
The activity was attended by 33 English Language students from the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels, representing the Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Master of Arts in Language Teaching, and PhD in Applied Linguistics programs.
Wrapping up the workshop, Prof. Bryan Lloyd P. Bretaña (OIC of the VP for Research, Development, and Extension) delivered closing remarks on behalf of Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa.
“I challenge everyone here today to use what you’ve learned to contribute to 170+ Talaytayan’s thrust of promoting MTBMLE—an important step not only to improve academic capacity but also to preserve language and cultural identity.”
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants, marking a significant milestone in USM’s commitment to community-based linguistic research. By equipping students with these mapping tools, the university continues to solidify its role as a catalyst for cultural preservation in pursuit of the IDIL’s mission to safeguard linguistic diversity.
