Chancellor Lyre Murao receives the Blaan representatives, and Prof. Quintero's book

The Blaan representatives receive their ceremonial copies

Prof. Quintero shares highlights form the books

The Blaans and the UPMin faculty

The creative writing atudents

Prof. Quintero signs students' copies

Blaan indigenous peoples' representatives received 100 copies of two new books on the indigenous peoples' literature from Associate Professor Genevieve Jorolan-Quintero (Department of Humanities) in the book launch held at the UP Mindanao University Library on December 5, 2023.  

Kag. Manuel Gullava, the Indigenous Peoples' Mandated Representative of Brgy. Pag-asa, Mlang, North Cotabato, welcomed the donation as a timely gift for the barangay fiesta to be celebrated the following day.

The books are "Saftuk, Lingen, Katbut (Riddles, Songs, Stories) of the Blaan of Brgy. Pag-asa, Mlang, North Cotabato," and "When Gods Cry," short stories adapted from indigenous peoples' oral literary tradition, both by Prof. Jorolan-Quintero. The book publications were sponsored by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.  

Writer and College of Humanities & Social Sciences Dean Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, Humanities department chairperson Asst. Prof. Dennis John Sumaylo,  fictionist Assoc. Prof. John Bengan, and University Librarian Briccio Merced Jr. gave personal messages at the ceremony.

Prof. Jorolan-Quintero shared highlights of her experiences in the years researching and writing the books. Creative writing and other students and faculty representatives from the academic departments attended the event.