Western Subanon New Testament (SUCWBT)

Overview

The Western Subanon New Testament, titled Kitab Bogu Pasad talu' nog Mikpongon, was published in 1996 by Wycliffe Bible Translators [1]. Western Subanon (also known as Siocon Subanon; ISO 639-3: suc) is an Austronesian language of the Subanen branch, spoken by approximately 125,000 to 150,000 people in the southwestern Zamboanga Peninsula of Mindanao, Philippines, particularly in the municipalities of Sibuco, Siocon, Baliguian, Labason, and Ipil [2][3]. The Western Subanon are part of the broader Subanon ethno-linguistic group, considered among the earliest inhabitants of Mindanao; groups in the western portions of the peninsula who adopted Islam are known as Kolibugan, a Sama-Tausug term reflecting their intermarriage with Sama and Tausug peoples [4][5]. The language is classified as having both Latin and Arabic (Jawi) script traditions, reflecting the historical influence of Islam in the western Zamboanga region; this edition uses Arabic script [6]. Cultural preservation efforts have intensified since 2012, with the development of educational materials, dictionaries, and workshops aimed at promoting literacy among younger generations of Western Subanon speakers [3].

Language and People

Western Subanon (ISO 639-3: suc) is spoken by approximately 125,000 people in Southern Philippines. [Glottolog: west2557]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References