WITH an area of 97,530 square kilometers, Mindanao is the 19th largest island in the world. An area this large allows Mindanao to have a diverse and colorful landscape.
The island group is divided into six administrative regions -- Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barmm). Each region has its own set of unique qualities and we will need more than this space to write it all.
Mindanao is a significant source of food in the country. It is a major producer of cacao, coffee, bananas, and coconut, among others. It is also a major source of fruits, vegetables, and meat products. Mindanao is not only producing food for itself but also for those in the Luzon and the Visayas. It can be recalled when the African Swine Fever (ASF) broke out in Luzon, it was the pork products from Mindanao that were exported to Luzon to meet the demands and stabilize the increasing price of the product.
Being the home of around 25.7 million people (2015 census), Mindanao is as diverse and colorful as it can be. The cultural communities and ethnic groups in Mindanao each have their own set of cultures and traditions, which forms the diversity of Mindanao. For example, different languages are spoken around the island. Cebuano is predominantly used for those in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga Region while Hiligaynon is quite common in Soccsksargen. The Tausug, Maranao, and Maguindanao languages are commonly spoken in most parts of Barmm. Chavacano, which is a Spanish-based creole language, is widely spoken in Zamboanga Peninsula. However, within the towns and cities of Mindanao, other languages are being spoken by different cultural communities and ethnic groups.
Mindanao is likewise dotted with wonderful landscapes and seascapes. Towering over Mindanao is the country's highest peak -- Mt. Apo, a destination for many mountaineers and hiking enthusiasts. Mindanao is home to one of the seven Unesco World Heritage sites in the country -- Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to a plethora of endemic flora and fauna. The white sands and clear waters of Tawi-tawi rivals many of the country's well-visited islands and beaches. The province is home to the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, which is also being considered to become a Unesco World Heritage site. According to Unesco, the island is "the only major nesting habitat of Green sea turtles in the Philippines and the only major nesting ground in the whole Asean." The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Association has also named Pujada Bay in the Mati City, Davao Oriental as one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World. Siargao has also made a name for itself as one of the top surfing destinations in the country. Mindanao is dotted with a lot of gems that form part of the island's beauty.
The island group is also home to several endemic species -- the Philippine Eagle, Giant scops owl, Mindanao bleeding-heart pigeon, and Philippine warty pig to name a few.
For a long time, the only news people get out of Mindanao are of kidnappings, bombings, and conflicts. But efforts have been made to improve the security situation on the island.
"In Basilan, as confirmed by Rep. Mujiv Hataman himself, there had been zero kidnapping incidents since President Duterte came into office," Vice president-elect Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said in a statement following Raissa Robles's outdated views on Mindanao.
Likewise, different stakeholders have done their part to promote Mindanao and allow people to understand it better. From the efforts of the national government agencies down to the efforts of the local government units and different associations, each institution strived to make it known to people living outside its borders that Mindanao is beautiful, a prime investment destination, and a generally safe place to live in. Mindanawons themselves do their best to let people understand their hometowns or promote the tourist sites in their area.
Mindanao is not perfect. It still has its flaws. It still has its issues that need to be addressed. But at the same time, it has the goods -- from beautiful seascapes and landscapes to the lower cost of living compared to some areas.
"There is a need for a concerted effort to bolster Mindanao's peace and development initiatives. It would help to highlight instead what is amazing and promising about Mindanao rather than get stuck in the old construct of 'it's bad news that sells,'" Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Maria Belen S. Acosta said in a statement.
We just brushed the surface. To know Mindanao, you have to visit Mindanao. Mindanao is our home, and we are proud of the progress that it made in recent years.