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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News

Seal of ARMM

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:

The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

P117 B to be allocated for BBL implementation

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/03/10/1431951/p117-b-be-allocated-bbl-implementation
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:00 am

By Paolo Romero With Jose Rodel Clapano, Aurea Calica, Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The government is eyeing a budget of P117 billion for the implementation of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in its first year.

Documents from the House of Representatives show that half of the intended appropriations will come from the annual budget of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other existing allocations from the national government. The remaining P59.46 billion will come from new sources.

The proposed budget includes P30.77 billion, representing the ARMM budget; P21.8 billion from downloaded funds from national agencies, Internal Revenue Allotment; P20 billion for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority; P21.5 billion as the region’s share from internal revenues of the national government, and a Special Development Fund of P17 billion.

Documents show that the government intends to spend P2.6 billion for the disarmament of fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and private armed groups in preparation for the establishment of the new autonomous region.

The BBL aims to replace the ARMM with a new Bangsamoro autonomous region once it is enacted into law and approved in a plebiscite.

President Aquino initially wanted the BBL signed into law last year on the assumption that Malacañang could submit the draft around April or May. The BBL was submitted last September with a revised timetable of having it enacted by March.

The slaughter of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 prompted the suspension of deliberations on the BBL in both houses of Congress. Malacañang had called on lawmakers to pass it by June.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc committee deliberating on the BBL, said Congress must approve the budget before the executive branch could make any allocations.

Rodriguez said he supports the funding plan for the new autonomous region since the area has long been impoverished and left behind in terms of allocation of government resources. ‘Pass the BBL’

The President reiterated yesterday his instructions to his allies in Congress to pass the stalled BBL bill soonest since the government has to demonstrate its sincerity to the Muslim rebels by adopting the measure in toto.

“If they will get less from the previous agreement, how will they say that the agreement is good? That is the practicality of it,” he told officials and members of the Christian Leaders Coalition in a Prayer Gathering at Malacañang.

Aquino himself acknowledged that, just like what some have been saying, his administration may have been offering the MILF too much in terms of P75-billion funds among other concessions, but he pointed out this is how negotiation works.

The whole concept is that of a “catch up” – where local government units in Mindanao will eventually be at par with Manila or with any other locality in Luzon or the Visayas that are highly urbanized and not those which have backward economy, the President said. MILF fighters register

MILF fighters made history when they registered for the 2016 elections, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting chairperson Henrietta de Villa said.

De Villa has joined Commission on Elections Commissioner Al Parreño and Comelec Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director Ray Sumalipao in overseeing the special registration last Saturday.

“Registration is the most important part of the electoral process. It is the entry point to the right of suffrage and the responsibility to participate in creating a government,” De Villa said.

Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) registered at the Bangsamoro Islamic Leadership and Management Institute Training Center in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat.

“I am happy. The last time that I voted was during the time of the late President Cory Aquino,” said BIAF spokesman Von Al-Haq.

Sumalipao said the special registration is an expression of the sincerity of both parties to pursue peace and development in Mindanao.

Members of the Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities, International Monitoring Team, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and local poll watchdogs witnessed the special registration.

Far from the madding crowd

Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/03/09/far-from-the-madding-crowd-3/
Monday, March 9, 2015 6:40 pm

(MST Lifestyle)

Only half an hour away from Zamboanga City (which, in turn, is only an hour and a half from Manila), the island of Basilan is one of Mindanao’s hidden treasures where you’ll soon forget what time or day it is.

Among its many beaches, White Beach puts the “escape” in “escapade.” For harried citydwellers who want or need to commune with nature and go offline for a while, this sea sanctuary has white powdery sand, lush patches of coconut trees and, with just a short climb up its hills, a breathtaking view of the entire island.

White beach is not isolated but it provides the kind of solitude that the soul seeks our or even hungers for from time to time. There is none of the crazy crowds or loud, flashy clubs, bars and stores that jampack other spots.

Virgin beaches

Whitebeach has 25 native, open-air cottages, a recreation area and a shower room. For those who can’t survive without the hum of an airconditioner, worry not, cottages with this amenity are currently being constructed.

But there is really no time nor opportunity to stay indoors (except maybe to sleep) when there is so much to do outside aside from swimming and sunbathing, playing volleyball or jogging on the shore, or even just simply frolicking or sitting on the beach: jet-skiing, water-skiing, knee and wakeboarding as well as banana boat riding and kayaking are all yours for the taking.

And as the evening begins to steal away the day, you’ll have a chance to admire the lapping waves of the ocean at high tide, swallowing the sun and revealing the stars.

Laidback

For extra adventures, neighboring cities like Lamitan and Isabela are merely boat rides away, affording guests and visitors a chance to experience their laidback vibe, rich cultures and histories, friendly smiles, and, of course, their sumptuous southern cuisine.

“Whether we get domestic or international visitors, we are quite proud of our hospitality and ability to host travelers. Kayang-kaya ng local businessmen,” said Mujiv Hataman, governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Hataman has been providing the aegis to transform the coastal areas of Basilan and its surrounding towns into a tourism hub. He’s rallied support from investors in order to provide opportunities for local businesses and opening up jobs for the locals.

If you’re still not convinced, take the word of royalty: “Basilan is a sight to behold. Its White Beach is the hottest brand-new discovery for travelers these days,” Princess Sitti Djaliah T. Hataman proudly said.

Total E&P beefs up exploration in Sulu

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/total-ep-beefs-up-exploration-in-sulu/167977/
Sunday, March 8, 2015 8:45 pm

By RITCHIE A. HORARIO

French firm Total E&P Philippines B.V. is beefing up its exploration activities to find possible gas sources in the country.

Total E&P Philippines has partnered with Mitra Energy Ltd. of Malaysia for the drilling operations in Service Contract 56 (SC56) in the South Sulu Sea.

Fabien Colmet Daage, general manager of Total E&P Philippines, said they were given an extension by the government to pursue the exploration until August 31, 2020.

“We have obtained from the Department of Energy an extension until August 31, 2020, more time to access the potential of the site,” said Daage.

The joint venture has spent around $50 million (P2.2 billion) for the study and has already completed a 3D seismic survey covering 540 square kilometers in the area.

The second 3D seismic survey followed an initial survey conducted in 2007 which covered 1,756 square kilometers in SC 56.

Although the project faces challenges, Daage said this will not prevent them from pursuing the exploration activities.

“You all know that the probability of not finding is higher than the probability of finding but we are not discouraged,” he said.

He explained that since SC56 was discovered in 2005, many changes have come to pass.

“Exploration is quite a challenge. Where on the planet to look for new gas?” said Daage.

He cited the drilling of four wells by Exxonmobil but it turned out to be not commercially viable.

In 2012, Daage said the company decided to enter into SC56, taking a 75 percent stake while Mitra holds 25 percent interest.

“In October of 2014, we have taken operatorship and now we are studying the development of the first well,” he added.

Following the results of the initial survey, the SC 56 consortium is optimistic of a bigger oil and gas find in the area in water depths ranging from 200 meters to 3,000 meters.

Mitra earlier said that based on previous drillings, SC 56 is estimated to contain a contingent resource of between 42 million barrels and 56 million barrels of oil.

Additional prospective resources in undrilled prospects and leads are estimated at 628 million barrels of oil to 1.127 billion barrels of oil.

Daage, however, said that exploration is a very risky business and that the result is “prospective and not to be relied upon.”

ARMM should continue moving on–and moving up

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/armm-should-continue-moving-on-and-moving-up/167841/
Saturday, March 7, 2015 10:14 pm

(Manila Times)

THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is “a failed experiment,” de facto president BS Aquino said when he was starting his propaganda, financial, political, and diplomatic campaign to fast track the creation of a Bangsamoro substate desired by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to subsume the ARMM.

It was an unfair characterization. In the 25 years and four months of the ARMM’s existence (its silver anniversary was in November last year), it has fared better than some provinces and regions of the Philippines within their first 25 years. Yes, MNLF Chairman Emeritus Nur Misuari and his successors as ARMM regional governor found it difficult to run the autonomous region and failed to turn it and its provinces into shining models of good governance and development. But managing their autonomous region was made doubly by the Philippine central government, which never did its proper duty of supplying it with the correct amount of its inadequate budget on time.

Then ARMM Misuari suffered the most from national government neglect. Always, the political bigwigs of the central government, most specially the succession of Philippine presidents, had their own favorite warlords among the political leaders of the Muslim-majority provinces. One of these, the Ampatuan clan, became even more powerful than the ARMM regional governors and managed to give their Maguindanao province–and the ARMM–an internationally notorious image for the Ampatuan Massacre.

It is unfair to call the ARMM a failed experiment, for it is a sustainable autonomous region. It will probably be fairer to call the entire Philippines under BS Aquino a “failed state”–for despite the public-relations created image of our country abroad as a shining example of how to combat corruption and as a, economic success (thanks to the previous administration, the OFWs and the Bangko Sentral) –the truth is that BS Aquino’s governance stinks and is a gross failure. Poverty and unemployment are worse now than ever before.

The BS Aquino administration is more corrupt than the previous one of Arroyo.

It is more incompetent and ill-advised than any other. The painful and tragic Mamasapano Massacre as the grimmest example of how incompetent, lazy and unfit to govern and incapable of leading BS Aquino, DILG Secretary Roxas, Defense Secretary Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief Catapang, Peace Adviser Deles are.

The PNP-SAF company had partly succeeded in their mission to get the Malaysian terrorist Marwan but they and the other PNP-SAF company were besieged by the Malaysian-trained and Aquino-beloved MILF armies. And Aquino, Roxas, Gazmin and Catapang, who were together, did not move to reinforce the PNP-SAF commandos who were being massacred! And why? Because rescuing the doomed PNP-SAF Heroes and fighting the MILF/BIFF armies might derail BS Aquino’s precious “peace process” with the MILF!

Sec. Deles and her chief associate, Chief Negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer were (are) talking peace mainly with the MILF, sidelining the MNLF (with which the Philippine Government has an existing Comprehensive Peace Agreement which caused the formation of the ARMM), the sultans of Mindanao, specially the Sultans of Sulu and North Borneo, the aboriginal and Lumad tribes and communities and the Christians of Mindanao.

ARMM is not a failed experiment, it can be improved. Some of the ideas in the proposed creation of the Bangsamoro substate or autonomous region can be added to the ARMM. Or two autonomous regions can be created–as proposed by former senator Aquilino Pimentel (authored the extant local government code) and by the president of the Philippine Islamic Society (Parhimunan Sin Islam) and former Tawi-Tawi governor Almarin Centi Tillah. Created constitutionally of course, one for the landlocked Maguindanao and Maranao provinces and another for the island provinces of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu (maybe it should include Sabah).

News of ARMM investments increase Meanwhile, we are heartened by news that the ARMM as a regional government and its provinces are doing better now economically and developmentally.

A total of P863 Million worth of projects were approved by the ARMM Regional Board of Investments during its Joint Board and Management Committee meeting on February 20, 2015 in Davao City. The projects approved for RBOI registration were Tawi-Tawian Petroleum Trading Corporation and Chan C Mining Incorporated. Both companies are based in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi. They are expected to create 553 jobs for local residents.

There is apparently no halt in the influx of investments to ARMM as a result of the Mamasapano Massacre.

Ishak V. Mastura, Chairman/Managing Head of the ARMM Regional BOI, said in a news item published by the ARMM website, “that despite the Mamasapano incident, investors’ confidence is still high. In fact, there are fresh investments coming into Maguindanao with a project cost of P 1.3 billion on palm oil and a P 2 billion project on banana. A multi logistic hub – an assembly auction of heavy equipment company also signified their intention to do business in ARMM, Mastura also said.

He added that “aside from fresh investments, a string of projects in the ARMM are in the pipeline this year coming from some of RBOI-registered firms. Some of these are the expansion of the capacity of a biomass power plant, rehabilitation of a starch factory, expansion of banana plantations, and the construction of an oil depot at the Port of Pollocin Parang, Maguindanao by Iron Blaze Corporation.”

ARRM Governor Hataman, despite being a BS Aquino appointee, has also been more correct in his dealings with the MILF than OPAPP Secretary Deles and Peace Panel chief Coronel-Ferrer. He reportedly said last February that “the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must prove that it is capable of policing its own ranks.”

ARMM investments remain buoyant despite security issues

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=742078
Friday, March 6, 2015

By Edwin O. Fernandez [(PNA), FPV/NYP/EOF]

COTABATO CITY, March 6 (PNA) -- Investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao remain buoyant despite recent security concerns in certain areas of Maguindanao province, regional officials said Friday.

Two companies based in the island town of Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi – the Tawi-Tawian Petroleum Trading Corporation and Chan C Mining Incorporated – registered a total of Php863 million worth of new projects with ARMM’s Regional Board of Investment in the first quarter of this year.

Tawi-Tawian Petroleum Trading Corporation is into the importation and distribution of petroleum products while Chan C Mining is engaged in mining and quarrying of nickel ore exported to China.

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said investors’ confidence in the region is still high.

“Pagdating sa investments, so far, wala pa namang umaatras. Tuloy ang investments sa Maguindanao. Nagkausap kami ng mga investors at nang kanilang foreign partners at nasabi nilang itutuloy nila ang kanilang mga investments (As far as investments are concerned, nothing has unchanged. I have talked to our prospective investors and their business partners and they assured us they will push through withe investments)," Hataman said.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI chair, said a string of projects are in the pipeline this year for Maguindanao, which includes a Php1.3 billion palm oil plantation and a Php2 billion banana plantation.

Mastura said there are also pipelined projects in other parts of the region that include an expansion of capacity biomass power plant, rehabilitation of a starch factory, expansion of banana plantation, and construction of an oil depot.

According to Jun Macalawan, RBOI supervising investment specialist, the incident in Mamasapano and the ongoing joint law enforcement operation of the police and military in parts of Maguindanao have not discouraged foreign and local investors from expanding their businesses in the region.

He said their trust in the good governance initiatives of the present ARMM administration and in the ongoing peace process are the main reasons for their confidence in the region’s economy.

In 2014, ARMM generated more than Php3-billion worth of investments, at least 400 percent of its target of Php700 million for that year.

The military has launched an all out offensive against the lawless Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the alleged foreign terrorists in Maguindanao while another forces were running after the extremists Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu.

ARMM holds 1st Planners' Congress to prepare region for Bangsamoto gov't

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=741578
Thursday, March 5, 2015

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, March 5 (PNA) -- Planners from the different regional line agencies and the 118 municipalities of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have gathered for a two-day congress in this city to draw up mechanisms that will strengthen the collaborations between government agencies in the region, the ARMM public information office said Thursday.

Dubbed as the first ARMM Planners' Congress, the activity started Wednesday and will conclude today, March 5.

The planners are expected to help formalize the institutionalization of a regional and local planning and budgeting mechanism that will ensure wider participation of stakeholders in the identification of regional programs.

The regional government said this will advance good governance and efficient public service.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman emphasized the role of planners in the region’s development and urged them to draft plans that focus on the need of their constituents.

“Ang isang epektibong pamamahala ay nakabatay sa epektibong pagpaplano, at ang epektibong pagpaplano ay nakabatay sa partisipasyon ng lahat (An effective management is based on effective planning where everyone participates),” he said.

“Bahagi ng ating simumpaan na magsilbi sa ating mga kababayan kaya ang plano natin ay dapat para sa ating mamamayan at hindi para sa iilan (Our mandate is to serve our people and our planning should be focused on all our people and not for the few),” he added.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said the contribution of the participants in the congress will greatly affect the future of the upcoming Bangsamoro Government.

“The participation of the planners mean they are going to be part of the whole plan and future of the ARMM that will later become the Bangsamoro Government,” she said.

The result of the congress will help revalidate and update the priority programs listed in ARMM’s Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP).

It is also expected to capture recent development priorities and nationally funded projects being handled by regional line agencies and their provincial counterparts.

The consolidated output will be presented to Local Chief Executives in the forthcoming 3rd Local Government Unit (LGU) Summit on the third week of this month where major issues needing regional action and further validation will also be discussed.

The activity was spearheaded by the Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO) in partnership with the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG), Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH).

A new political entity, called Bangsamoro government, will replace the current autonomous region. It is a product of 17-year peace negotiations between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) aimed at ending decades-old Moro problem.

Maguindanao, Lamitan City declared champions in ARMM Palaro 2015

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=5&rid=741019
Wednesday, March 4, 2015

(PNA), LGI/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, March 4 (PNA) – Athletes from the schools division of Maguindanao II and Lamitan City emerged as overall champions in the elementary and secondary level, respectively, of the 2015 Palarong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletics Association (ARMMAA) held in Parang town, Maguindanao, education offcials said.

Maguindanao II, which garnered a total of 30 gold medals, 16 silvers and 16 bronzes, was followed by the divisions of Tawi-Tawi, Lamitan City, Maguindanao I, Sulu, Lanao del Sur II, Basilan and Lanao del Sur I.

In the secondary level, Lamitan City bagged the over-all championship slot, garnering a total of 28 gold medals, 38 silvers and 33 bronzes.

It was followed by the divisions of Maguindanao I, Maguindanao II, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Sur I and Lanao del Sur II.

The closing ceremony was held Monday at the Parang Central Elementary School.

ARMM Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan congratulated all the athletes and the coaches who participated in the five-day sporting event.

He said they are happy that the annual sporting event proceeded without a hitch despite the tragic incident in Mamasapano and the on-going military action against lawless elements in Maguindanao’s second district.

He also urged the athletes who will make up the region’s contingent in this year’s Palarong Pambansa on May in Tagum City, Davao del Norte to practice regularly and prepare for the games.

The region was able to secure 9 wins in different sporting events in the national games last year.

“I am confident we can surpass our performance last year in this year’s Palaro in Tagum City,” Kulayan said.

A contingent of close to 500 athletes will represent ARMM in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa.

Kulayan said they will not only aspire to bring honor and glory to the region, they will also bear the message of peace – the enduring peace yearned by its people.

Grade 7 student Aira Lhyne Suraman, 13, the arnis gold medalist, said she will practice hard to prepare for the national sports meet.

“I will try my best in the coming national games to show ARMM is not only about wars and conflicts, that we also have athletes and good athletes, I am convince we have better chances of winning now,” she said.

Lanao Sur dad underscores importance of barangays in fire prevention efforts

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521425298471/lanao-sur-dad-underscores-importance-of-barangays-in-fire-prevention-efforts
Tuesday, March 3, 2015

(JNY & APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 3 (PIA) --- The important role that barangays play in fire safety and prevention was underscored by Provincial Governor Mamintal A. Adiong Jr. during the kick-off ceremony of the Fire Prevention Month observance.

Adiong said he plans to gather the leaders of the 1,156 barangays in the entire province for a seminar and lecture on fire prevention and how to organize fire volunteers within their barangays.

He said this is part of his support to the intensified fire prevention drive of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to make the province fire-free.

The Governor also lauded barangay Raya Madaya in the city for being an active partner in fire safety and rescue efforts. Raya Madaya is the only barangay in Marawi City equipped with a fire truck and with volunteers.

Fire Supt. Adam A. Guiamad, regional director of the BFP in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said the role of barangays in fire safety and prevention was recognized under Republic Act 9514. He said barangay leaders are required to organize volunteers within their respective areas.

ARMM humanitarian unit aids Maguindanao IDPs

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=740354
Monday, March 2, 2015

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao, March 2 (PNA) -– The humanitarian arm of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Monday launched an “all-out” relief operations to some 28,600 individuals displaced by the military manhunt against lawless Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, disaster officials said.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said a total of 5,727 families or 28,635 individuals were displaced from seven municipalities of Maguindanao based on validated number of evacuees.

“More and more people have been fleeing so we expect the number to of IPDs (internally displaced persons) will rise,” Alamia said.

Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan of Radja Buayan town said no fighting as of today but people continue to leave homes. “No military action in Rajah Buayan and people are coming because they feel safe in my town,” he said, adding that civilians from nearby Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona towns moved to his town.

Alamia said the evacuees are housed in various evacuation centers like barangay halls, covered courts, schools and roadsides.

She said the displaced families came from the towns of Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi, Datu Piang, Datu Shariff Saydona, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak and Rajah Buayan.

Alamia, ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) chairperson, the region’s emergency response unit personnel are busy distributing relief goods while the region’s health providers conduct medical mission to affected families.

“We know when there is evacuation, diseases accompany out people so we are addressing it,” she said.

Classes were also suspended beginning today in elementary and high schools in seven municipalities because classrooms were used as evacuation centers or students did not report to school as evacuation continues.

Mayor Benzar Ampatuan of Mamasapano said at least eight villages in his town were also deserted, including Tukanalipao and Pedsandawan, site of bloody police action last January 25.

As of Sunday, the ARMM-HEART served 2,400 families out of 5,727 validated and confirmed IDPs in seven Maguindanao towns.

Dr. Tahir Sulaik, Maguindanao health chief, said several children have experienced diarrhea, skin rashes and coughs.

Sulaik said his office has ample supply of vitamins and medicine but if the current situation continues they might run out of medicine supplies.

“We expect more diseases among children and elderly because evacuation sites are vulnerable to various diseases which are transmitted by water or by air,” Sulaik said, adding his office deployed three teams of medical workers to attend to the needs of IDPs.

Latip-Yusoph: Bracing our Imaan toward Peace

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lifestyle/2015/03/01/latip-yusoph-bracing-our-imaan-toward-peace-394977
Sunday, March 1, 2015

By Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph (SunStar - Only a Meranaw)

IN THESE days of havoc in the country, Muslims from different parts of the country need to brace their intentions in believing in Allah’s mercy and to His power to control everything that happened is for a purpose.

Muslims and non-Muslims alike have been disturbed by the chaos happening around the globe especially in our country where our peaceful intentions have been polluted because of what we see in different media platforms.

However, because Muslims in this part of the country believed that there is always a reason to hold on and strengthen our connection to God, our leaders, volunteers and donors put their efforts together to stage an international Islamic conference tour in the country featuring the respected Muslim scholars of this generation.

The Islamic conference showcased the Philippine Tour of Mufti Ismail Menk of Zimbabwe and Brother Wael Ibrahim, world’s renowned scholars and preachers of this generation.

The tour started at Cotabato City last February 25, 2015 until March 1, 2015 in Manila. All these events were intended to strengthen and brace the intentions of the Muslims in believing in the Almighty.

In Marawi City and Cagayan de Oro, there were two sessions where specific themes were tackled. In Marawi, Mufti Menk and Bro. Wael covered lectures on "Turning our youth into partners of today, leaders of tomorrow," and "The Muslim, working and earning rightfully" on February 26 and 27, respectively.

While in Cagayan de Oro, February 28, 2015, these two scholars discussed topics on "What makes up a blessed Muslim family?" and "Islam: Touching Lives, Redeeming Souls" at the Luxe Hotel and Limketkai Atrium, correspondingly.

Science in Islam

What was very interesting in these events in the cities of Marawi and Cagayan de Oro was the inclusion of a discussion about Science in Islam and the Greatness of Allah through the Universe. These lectures were delivered by Prof. Yusoph C. Latip, a retired Physics professor and Natural Scientist in Mindanao State University who founded the first integrated school (Islam and western education) in the country.

His lectures enlightened the audience, both Muslims and non-Muslims, about how one believer should think about the greatness of his God as the Lord of the Universe. This way, one can appreciate the greatness of the religion along with the Almighty’s power to create the infinite universe we have.

Successfully, during the Cagayan de Oro lectures of Mufti Menk and Bro. Wael, there were reverts to Islam who confessed there that they wanted to wilfully submit to the will of Allah that they shall become Muslims from that day. They all bear witness that there is no other God other than Allah, and that Jesus, the son of Mary is a prophet and that Mohammad (may Peace be upon them all) is Allah’s Messenger.

Everyone in the crowd was crying because of how the reverts showed their intentions to embrace Islam as their religion.

Indeed, the events enlightened both Muslims and non-Muslims of what is really Islam as a religion. It is a religion of Peace and the complete submission and obedience to the Almighty, the most compassionate and merciful God.

Interestingly, with the thousands of people who attended, many were able to listen to how Islam became a religion of peace that teaches what is good and forbid what is evil.

With the interactive question-and-answer portions of the events, many were further discussed like women empowerment, marital relationships in Islam, social media influence, and even issues on terrorism as an act hated by most if not all pious Muslims in the whole world.

Certainly, to most of the convenors, the events were successful because of the contribution of everyone for the sake of the Almighty. Alhamdullillah!