Boac, Marinduque – Local researchers, faculty, and students in the Southern Tagalog region will converge at the 1^st Baybayin Conference on Southern Tagalog Studies this coming October 12-14 at the Provincial Tourism, Agriculture Development Center Santa Cruz, Marinduque.

An initiative of the editors behind the baybayin.com.ph, Bukluran ng mga Mananaliksik na taga–Ilog in collaboration with the Marinduque State College School of Liberal Arts and MSC Office of Research, Extension and Development; the main purpose of the 1^st Baybayin Conference on Southern Tagalog Studies is to provide a platform for researchers to get published about topics ranging from arts, culture, language, media, spirituality, philosophy and much more. This is the initial activity of the Marindukanon Cultural and Arts Studies Program.

The Baybayin Committee was able to peruse at last 147 abstracts and was able to select 75 for oral presentation. The conference is also in celebration of the 65^th founding anniversary of Marinduque State College, the lone state college in the province. This is also in consonance with the preparation of the centennial year of Marinduque’s autonomy from Tayabas, Mindoro, and Batangas on February 21, 2020.