The Mamitua Saber Institute of Research and Creation (MSIRC) traces its origins to 1961 during the establishment of Mindanao State University (MSU). During its initial formation, the Institute of Research for Filipino Culture (IFRC) was created as one of the first four priority departments, alongside the Colleges of Liberal Arts, Social and Political Science, and Education. The IFRC’s mission was to uphold the university’s charter, emphasizing professional training, advanced instruction, and research in Filipino culture, art, science, philosophy, and literature.
In 1967, IFRC was renamed the University Research Center (URC), expanding its mandate to encompass a broader range of research topics across the humanities, natural sciences, and physical sciences. The URC was responsible for formulating research policies, coordinating activities, and publishing scholarly works. In 1989, many of these functions were transferred to the newly created Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), which became responsible for approving and supervising research and extension proposals emanating from the Marawi campus. The URC continued to operate as the facilitating arm of OVCRE, with its Dean of Research designated as the Director of Research, co-chairing deliberations on research proposals submitted to OVCRE.
While retaining the name “research center,” the URC maintained four divisions: Publications, which prepared research-related materials; Folklore; Library Services, serving as a repository for research outputs; and Administration, which provided support for these divisions. The URC continued to conduct its own research projects with OVCRE approval, and these functions remain active today.
Under the leadership of Dr. Mamitua Saber, the founder of both IFRC and URC, the center has made significant contributions to research and regular publications since 1974. It continues to publish the Mindanao Journal, the university’s multidisciplinary periodical established in 1974; Mindanao Art & Culture, a product of the Folklore Division since 1979; and the MSU Professional Papers series since 1980. During its peak funding years in the 1980s, the center published various college periodicals, including the Arts and Science Journal, the Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Development Administration Journal, along with numerous independently authored books. These internationally distributed publications helped establish MSU’s reputation on the global educational stage. As of 2004, the first three publications transitioned to online formats.
One of URC’s most notable publications is the Darangen Epic of the Meranao, an eight-volume collection produced over ten years by the Folklore Division under Dr. Ma. Delia Coronel. This work was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2002 and recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005, with its inscription occurring in 2008. The Darangen remains the longest-surviving epic poetry in the Philippines.
On January 31, 1992, Dr. Saber passed away. As a founding member of the university, he contributed significantly to its development. In his honor, the Board of Regents issued Resolution No. 14, series of 1992, renaming URC to the Mamitua Saber Research Center (MSRC).
In 2000, the MSRC building was destroyed by fire, resulting in the loss of invaluable historical documents covering 1900 to 1945, alongside over 300 archival volumes related to MSU since its founding in 1961. This loss included more than 200 rare and classical books, folkloric archives, and 7,500 research-related materials.
After the fire, the MSRC operated without an official building until 2003, when Dr. Federico V. Magdalena and Prof. Intuas Abdullah succeeded Dr. Saber. Despite financial constraints, the center persevered in its rehabilitation efforts. The university eventually converted an old bowling alley into a new MSRC office. In 2006, thanks to the efforts of Ms. Mindamera Saber-Macarambon and the MSU-ACEF Projects, the construction of the Mamitua Saber Research and Technology Center was completed on Second Street, near the Administration Building in Marawi City, providing the center with a new location.
On September 16, 2024, during its 268th meeting, the MSU Board of Regents approved a proposal from the current Director of Research, Dr. Mahid M. Mangontarum—BOR Resolution No. 368, s. 2024—officially renaming the “Mamitua Saber Research Center” to the “Mamitua Saber Institute of Research and Creation,” with Dr. Mangontarum serving as its first Institute Director. This change expands the institute’s mandate to promote and support the production of creative works, including literary, artistic, and cultural endeavors, alongside the university’s research initiatives.
