Professor Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz, current dean of the UP Mindanao College of Humanities and Social Sciences, received her trophy and certificate for the Elfren S. Cruz Prize for Best Book in the Social Sciences for the anthology “More Mindanawon Than We Admit. History, Culture, and Identity in the Philippine South” at the 43rd National Book Awards in ceremonies held on March 14, 2026, in conjunction with Philippine Book Festival, at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. Prof. Cruz served as editor of the anthology, which was published by Vibal Foundation.
“Best Book in the Social Sciences” is one of thirty categories making up the National Book Awards.
“I must begin by saying that this book has been God’s work from the beginning,” said Prof. Cruz in her acceptance speech. “This award was His way of ensuring that it becomes a testimony, as well as a part of transitional justice in Mindanao,” she said.
She expressed her gratitude to the book contributors. “I share this award with all the contributors to the book, whose work in their respective fields illuminates the diverse aspects of Mindanao history, culture, and identity.”
In particular, she expressed her gratitude to her fellow UP Mindanao colleagues who were book contributors. “Congratulations to UP Mindanao faculty members with chapters in the book: John Bengan (Humanities-Creative Writing), Raymundo Pavo (Social Sciences), Theresa Gallardo (Social Sciences), Nory Narvaez-Pernes (Architecture), and Farah Virador (Humanities-Creative Writing), former UPMin faculty member Jay Jomar Quintos, and UPMin BA English-Creative Writing alumna Potri Norania Hadji-Jamel,” she said.
She also acknowledged the contribution of Mindanao State University-General Santos Prof. Rufa Guiam in conceptualizing the book, and the UP Mindanao administration for the research load credit that allowed her to work on the book.
She emphasized that “The book itself is its own reward, but this award validates the work I have been doing for the past 20 years since I moved to Davao—the work of finding my place in Mindanao.”
