CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan will formally launch the Dr. Magdalena Canag Cabaraban (MCC) Memorial Fund on March 5, honoring the life and legacy of one of Mindanao’s pioneering demographers.
The launch highlights the closing rites of the 2026 International Scientific Conference of the Philippine Population Association, currently hosted in the city under the theme “Intersections: Population, Environment, and Climate Resilience in the Philippines.”
Dr. Cabaraban, a longtime educator and social scientist, devoted 54 years to advancing demographic research and grassroots advocacy.
A PhD graduate of Xavier University and former fellow of the World Health Organization and George Washington University, she was known for bridging rigorous statistical research with community-based action.
Her work addressed key issues such as maternal and child health, Mindanao autonomy, gender equality, and climate resilience.
“The MCC Memorial Fund is a tribute to a woman who believed data is most powerful when used to serve the vulnerable,” said Don Antonio Velez, assistant professor at XU’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
He added that launching the fund during the international conference ensures her commitment to evidence-based policy continues to inspire scholars worldwide.
Beyond research, Cabaraban mentored generations of social scientists, teaching migration analysis, inter-ethnic relations, and research methods. The fund aims to support young researchers who will carry forward her work.
The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. at AVR 1, XU Main Campus, with PPA leaders, local and international demographers, academics, and Cabaraban’s family in attendance.
