BALAOD-Mindanaw traces its beginnings to Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI)’s legal program as implemented by the LARGE (Legal Assistance for Agrarian Reform, Governance and Empowerment) Unit.

The primary role of the unit was to provide legal assistance to communities being assisted by the Area-Based Operations Team (ABOT) of BMFI. In addition to providing assistance to ABOT, the LARGE unit also implemented the PESANTEch (Paralegal Education Skills Advancement and Networking Technology) project in the Mindanao areas together with SALIGAN and KAISAHAN. Other program components of the unit included providing assistance to other units of BMFI, Internship for Law Students and Policy Advocacy especially in the areas of Agrarian Reform and Local Governance. Cases filed before the courts by landowners were also handled including the controversial MAPALAD case involving 137 farmers of San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon who went on hunger strike in 1997. The passage of a law suspending the implementation of Agrarian Reform Program in Mindanao was also prevented through the efforts of the legal unit of BMFI.

The increasing demand for legal service and assistance from other sectors and groups in Mindanao provided the impetus for BMFI to allow the LARGE Unit to expand its wings while maintaining its focus on providing legal services primarily to marginalized sectors.

Thus, the formation of Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc., or simply, BALAOD-Mindanaw. “Balaod” is the Visayan word for “law”. It is a non-stock, non-profit organization duly registered with the SEC on 11 August 2000.