Fr. Francis Cunningham Madigan, S.J. is a respected Jesuit priest, a renowned sociologist, demographer and founder of the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture.

Father Frank as he was fondly called, was born on May 30, 1917 in New York City where he also spent his childhood and completed elementary and secondary schooling. After graduating from the Fordham Preparatory School in 1936, he went to Fordham College to obtain his baccalaureate degree in 1938, and thereafter entered the Jesuit novitiate at St. Andrew-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie, New York to study the classics.

In 1941, Father Frank was assigned to the Philippines to begin his philosophy studies at Sacred Heart Novitiate at St. Bellarmine College at the old Ateneo compound in Ermita. His studies were interrupted by World War II and he was incarcerated from July 8, 1944 to February 23, 1945 in the Japanese Concentration Camp at Los Baños, Laguna.

He returned to New York City after the war where he spent his regency at Fordham Preparatory School teaching Religion, Latin, English and Social Studies. Then he studied Theology at Woodstock College in Maryland and was ordained the Licentiate in Theology in 1951. After making the tertianship in Auriesville, New York (1951-1952), he entered Fordham University and finished a Master’s degree in Sociology in 1954. He earned his Ph. D. in Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1956.

The following year (1957), he returned to the Philippines and was assigned to Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan to start a research center. He founded the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCU) and became its first director. Along with research, he formally organized the department of Sociology and became its first chairperson. With these two institutions, Fr. Madigan was able to pioneer and develop the field of sociology and demography/ population studies. Cultural anthropology was later added to the department. Through the social, cultural, demographic and economic researches of RIMCU, issues and concerns of Mindanao were highlighted before local, national and international audiences.

Moreover, the research findings provided data for government and other entities for the integral development of Northern Mindanao.

Fr. Madigan was a great scholar who published 7 books, 35 monographs, and about 40 articles. He encouraged, trained and supported many young Filipino scholars to go into academic and professional careers in Social Science.

His many achievements as a classroom teacher, as an educational manager and as a meticulous scholar are highly recognized and awarded. In 1977, Ateneo de Manila bestowed on him the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa.

For this pioneering academic endeavor, leadership and research in Population and Sociology, he was conferred in 1994 the Fr. William Masterson, S.J. Award by Xavier University.

In 1993, he was conferred two important awards: 1) the Rafael M. Salas award for his achievement in population and development studies; and 2) Outstanding Foreign Social Scientist Award by the Philippine Social Science Council.

Fr. Madigan’s endeavors for the welfare of Mindanao were fully recognized by the city of Cagayan de Oro where he was a long time resident, and which was planning to give him an award on June 4, 1999. Unfortunately he passed away four days before he could receive it. However, he was still presented the Datu Salangsang award posthumously by the city government "for being a man for others and a man of Mindanao."

Father Frank touched the lives of many people, some of whom are now known in their professions including some of the research associates of RIMCU. A very kind hearted and generous man, he helped and financially supported many students and others in their dire need. He went out of his way in the best way he could to lend a helping hand – an advice of encouragement and a prayer for inner strength.

All of us in RIMCU who have worked and endured with him for a long time shall ever be grateful to him and attest to the goodness of this priest taught us humility and love. We hope to emulate his virtues and scholarly achievements, though difficult to be at par with him, and keep the legacy he left us, the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, as Centers of Excellence always.