Eva Kimpo-Tan, Editor in Chief of the Cotabato City-based weekly newspaper, The Mindanao Cross, and News Editor Carlos Bautista turn over to Notre Dame University President Fr. Charlie Inzon, OMI and Sheila Algabre, Vice President for Administration and Extension the CDs containing the digitized newspaper from its first issue on February 6, 1948 to December 2012. Photo courtesy of THE MINDANAO CROSS
The microfilming process began in 2013 and ended in 2015. It was a joint project of the Ateneo De Manila University Rizal Library and The Mindanao Cross Publishers Inc. with funding support from the Center for Research Libraries – Southeast Asia Microforms Project.
“In the past, researchers both local and foreign, had to fly to Cotabato City to secure a copy. This time, there is no need to travel far. It is now convenient and accessible,” said Fr. Jonathan Domingo, OMI, chief executive officer of The Mindanao Cross.
To facilitate the implementation of the project, a memorandum of agreement was entered into by Fr. Domingo and Rodolfo Ang, acting vice president of Ateneo De Manila University.
Under the agreement, The Mindanao Cross will receive free from the Ateneo Rizal Library a copy, scanned from the microfilm, in digital format. Additional copies shall be provided at the regular price.
Strictly following the international archival quality standards on preservation microfilming, the Ateneo Rizal Library made a master negative film of every page of the newspaper.
“The digital copies of The Mindanao Cross are not only for the preservation of history and cultural heritage, but also for the academic and research interests of the members of the faculty and students of Notre Dame University,” Fr. Domingo said.
Microfilms are films strips rolled in reels containing photographic records of printed materials on a reduced scale.
The Mindanao Cross microfilmed copies are now preserved in earthquake- and fire-proof Ateneo Rizal Library. With right temperature and humidity, microfilm copies can last up to 500 years.
MC at 69
The turn-over of the digital copy of the paper to Notre Dame University was done as The Mindanao Cross, known as “The Little Paper With A Big Cause,” turns 69. Over the past six decades, The Mindanao Cross has grown to be a standard bearer of news for the whole of Central Mindanao, pioneering in peace reporting and advocating for Muslim, Christian and Lumad solidarity, and the preservation of the cultures and traditions of the region.