“Land of Promise” and “Rising Star of the Philippines” are two of many taglines that refer to this island group. It is in the southern part of the Philippines, the second largest island group in the country consisting of 27 provinces, 33 cities within six administrative regions, including the BARMM. This is Mindanao.

Born and raised in Metro Manila, I trace half my roots to Piagapo, Lanao del Sur and Balo-i, Lanao del Norte. This has given me both the lens and the enduring longing to see and feel Mindanao’s beauty, potential and resilience. I am happy to say I have achieved this!

During my college semester break, I convinced my parents to let me travel to Piagapo and Balo-i. It remains vivid to me to this day the first time I set foot on Mindanao in 1999. The nearest airport then was in Lumbia (now its Laguindignan Airport) in Cagayan de Oro City, widely known as the city of golden friendship, famous for its people’s hospitality.

About two hours drive from the airport (passing through Misamis Oriental province) is the gateway to Lanao province — Iligan City, the city of waterfalls. Some 20 waterfalls are found here, including the famous Maria Cristina Falls and Tinago Falls. Incidentally, it was in Cagayan de Oro that I met the woman I would marry. Farther down from Iligan City were Balo-i and the Islamic City of Marawi.

Decades later, while in government service, I had a chance to visit other places in Mindanao. My superior who had a fear of flying was a blessing in disguise. While flying to one city and leaving from another would have been the norm, there were times we had to travel by land.

Travel between cities was on long, often winding roads. From Cotabato City into the heart of the Maguindanao provinces, you could not miss the tuna capital, General Santos City. Then you had a choice: Davao or Bukidnon. Either way, you would see a variety of fruits (durian, marang, mangosteen etc.) and vegetables at unbelievable prices.

From Bukidnon with its vast fruit plantations (among them Del Monte), we drove to Agusan and Davao. The taste, sights and smells, all of them, were in abundance. Any hardworking Filipino will definitely flourish in these places. This was the blessing in disguise I mentioned.

Zambasulta — Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi — is altogether another story. Recently, I went to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, both via Zamboanga City, which is highly urbanized. I saw and felt the development in the area, especially in terms of peace and security. Gone are the days you were afraid to set foot even at the airport. This is indeed a testament to great political leadership.

Mindanao, though, is still not without its challenges. Poverty, like in the rest of the country, is still present.

However, with the passage of time, vast improvements have taken place in the various Mindanao provinces. Primarily, this may be due to its current crop of regional leaders and, perhaps, because the needed support from Manila has finally reached Mindanao’s shores.

From province to province, the difference in culture and dialect is evident. Despite this, what remains is the Mindanaon identity — Mindanao’s beauty, potential and resilience in preserving the distinct character of the region, including the perseverance to fulfill Mindanao’s promise.

I am one proud Mindanaoan indeed!