The Intersection of Culture and

Governance in Mindanao

Naval, Ella Mae

Geron, Leianne May
Sevilleja, Samantha
Lozada, Shairose
Anglis, Sittie Radzia U.
INTRODUCTION
Defined as the ‘values and beliefs that bind people together (Throsby, 2006),
culture is seen as a development medium that may be used to galvanize strong
governance platforms and promote social inclusion by indulging collaborative
opportunities between government offices, private sector groups, and volunteer
organizations; opportunities forged through the expression and celebration of the
values and beliefs that bind them all together. Since culture is a broad concept, it is
necessary to justify the specific cultural medium that will be used in this study in
order to achieve its objective of facilitating the development of a culture-based
governance and social inclusion model that capitalizes on the distinctive cultural
characteristics of cities while simultaneously addressing issues of marginalization
and scarce government resources.

Governance is an inclusive process that recognizes the interdependence of

public, private, and voluntary sectors (Stoker, 1998); promoting ‘collective action
amidst limited government resources (Durlauf, 2005) thereby encouraging a
collaborative atmosphere towards inclusive engagements in the development of
cities. Culture, on the other hand has been described by Betterton in 2001 as able to
‘improve the capacities of cities to provide citizens with a better quality of life through
physical, economic, and social aspects of development.

BACKGROUND
About 22 million people live in Mindanao, the southernmost of the three main
island groupings that make up the Philippines. Together, they make up a civilization
notable for the variety, intricacy, and depth of its divides. This makes Mindanao a
particularly difficult situation for any one measure that aims to capture its divisions,
which partly drove the selection process. A single example chosen for demonstration
purposes requires careful extrapolation. However, we think that analytical depth and
empirical precision are the methodological upsides, and these lessen the
unappealing trade-off with generalizability. Due in significant part to its early
interaction with Islam in the fifteenth century, Mindanao's historical trajectory has
diverged from that of the rest of the Philippines (Majul 1973). Islamic centralized
power swiftly spread over the region, exemplified by the sultanates of Buayan,
Maguindanao, and Sulu. By way of Spanish colonial conquest, which began in the
late sixteenth century, the two more northern Philippine island groupings of Luzon
and Visayas, on the other hand, had greater interaction with Christianity. The Muslim
ethnic groups of Mindanao, collectively known as the Moro, fought a protracted fight
against Spanish conquest that lasted more than 300 years.

Following Spain's ultimate defeat by the United States in 1898, a new colonizer
arrived in Mindanao and began governing the region through accommodations
achieved with a few Muslim leaders in the area (Abinales 2010). But after
independence in 1946, Moro resistance surfaced once more, this time opposing
assimilation into the contemporary Filipino nation-state. The Lumad, the collective
identity of the island's primarily un-Christianized and un-Islamized indigenous
communities, also call Mindanao home. Although their predicament is comparable to
the Moro's in numerous ways, it has received far less attention because they are a
smaller, less organized group.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The intersection of culture and government presents a complex and
multifaceted challenge that demands careful examination. As societies evolve,
diverse cultural identities coexist within the framework of a governing system,
leading to potential conflicts, inequalities, and misunderstandings. The interplay
between culture and government raises pressing issues that require attention and
resolution.

1. Cultural Representation and Inclusion - Many governmental structures

struggle to adequately represent and include the diverse cultural identities
within their jurisdictions. Lack of representation can result in policies that do
not consider the unique needs, values, and perspectives of various cultural
groups, leading to feelings of exclusion and marginalization.
2. Policy Bias and Cultural Inequities - Government policies may inadvertently
perpetuate cultural biases, reinforcing existing inequalities and limiting
opportunities for certain cultural groups. Discriminatory policies can
 exacerbate social disparities, hindering the overall progress and development
of the society.
3. Communication and Understanding - Governments may struggle to
effectively communicate with diverse cultural communities, leading to
misunderstandings and misinterpretations of policies and initiatives. Lack of
clear communication can result in decreased trust in government institutions
and hinder the implementation of beneficial programs.

OBJECTIVES
This study aims to determine the Intersection of Culture and Governance in
Mindanao and its significance in shaping the trajectory of societies and influencing
the effectiveness of governance structures. The intersection of culture and
governance is crucial for building sustainable, inclusive, and responsive societies.
Recognizing and navigating the complexities of this intersection ensures that
governance structures are not only effective in addressing the needs of diverse
populations but also contribute to the overall well-being and progress of societies.

METHODOLOGY
In this study, the researchers will use the mix-method from qualitative and
quantitative methods in order to seek the intersection of the different cultures with
the governance from the cities they live in. Mix-method study is a procedure for
collecting, analyzing, and “mixing” both quantitative and qualitative research and
methods in a single study to understand a research problem.