Two BPEd Students Earn International Scholarships
April 23, 2026
The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) team and 170+ Talaytayan MLE Inc. President Dr. Antonio D. Igcalinos paid a courtesy call to Cotabato Provincial Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza on April 23, 2026, at the Governor’s Office in Amas, Kidapawan City. The visit aimed to seek institutional and logistical support for the upcoming 2027 International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) International Conference, which will be hosted by USM in Kabacan, Cotabato.
The USM team included Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa (VP for Research, Development, and Extension), Prof. Bryan Lloyd P. Bretaña (Director for International Affairs), Prof. Anamarie B. Uyangurin (ESO Monitoring and Impact Assessment Head), and Jimwell P. Pande (ESO Editor and Staff).
The courtesy meeting centered on strategically mapping out the integration of the international conference into the festival highlights of Cotabato to showcase the indigenous cultural heritage and linguistic diversity present in the province.
“If we really want people to have a great experience, we will strategically integrate your conference to the Kapagana (Moro) and Kavurunan (IP) Festival,” said Governor Mendoza.
The meeting concluded with Governor Mendoza referring the USM team to a follow-up session with the province’s festival organizers to ensure seamless coordination and maximum visibility for the event.
Following this step, the team is set to meet with partner universities to solidify collaborative frameworks and resource-sharing agreements. Through this collaboration, USM ensures that its hosting for the 2027 conference will serve as a catalyst for stronger regional ties and shared advocacy for linguistic rights.
