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In Search of Excellence, Not Violence! |
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Written by Ayesa Z. Sadain
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Sunday, 19 October 2003 |
The Philippine Islamic Council (PIC) and the UP Muslim Students’ Association (UPMSA) organized a Muslim Youth and Leaders Forum last September 21 at the University Hotel in UP Diliman. With the theme: “In Search of Excellence, Not Violence!”, the event was held in order to recognize some of our successful Muslim youth achievers in the country and at the same time inspire the Muslim children and youth who attended. In a society where Muslims are often portrayed by the media as bandits, terrorists and victims, the occasional story of success and achievement is important for our Muslim kids to know.
Ustadz Omar Matling started the morning activity with a Qur’an reading, followed by the opening remarks of PIC’s Commisioner Taha Basman. The keynote speech was delivered by Hadji Omar Khayyam, better known as Governor Antonio Leviste and the inspirational talks by Atty. Blo Umpar Adiong of the Bureau of Plant Indutries, Former Ambassador Abul Khayr Alonto and DSWD Undersecretary Omera Dianalan Lucman.
For an intermission number, an Arabic song was rendered by the children of the Ma’had Metro Manila Al-Islamic School. One of their teachers, Ustadah Maimonah Casedar, a three-time national champion in Qur’an-reading in the Philippines and Malaysia, began the afternoon awards ceremonies by reciting some verses from the Holy Qur’an.
The awards ceremonies included a visual presentation of the profiles of the awardees and short inspirational messages coming from each of the Muslim youth awardees present. The awardees were:
1. Edilwasif Baddiri – Board Member of Sulu and President of the Philippine Councilor’s League
2. Samira Gutoc – freelance journalist and 2001 TOYM awardee
3. Adnan Marohomsalic – Engineering Board Exam Topnotcher
4. Rommel Romato – Former UP University Student Council Chairperson
5. Assad Baunto – Ford Foundation Scholar and former ADB Consultant
6. Acmad Rizaldy Moti – Math Olympiad and CEO of a Web Designing Company
7. Elin Anisah Capal Guro – Youth Leader with worldwide recognition
8. Najib Ismael – World-Class Pianist
9. Abdul Gani Madueno – 1st Place, Art Competition
10. Azraf “Revi” Sani – Karate Champion (gold medallist), European World Championship
11. Dr. Aquil Moh’d Alip – Successful Medical Doctor with Physical Handicap
12. Princess Hafsha Lucman – Cum Laude, UP Diliman
Mr. Baddiri, Ms. Gutoc, Mr. Sani, and Mr. Baunto were out of town and unable to make it to the event, while some of the awardees such as Mrs. Guro and Mr. Romato came all the way from Mindanao to attend the event.
The late Sen. Ahmad Domocao Alonto and the late DepEd Undersecretary Macapanton “Jun” Abbas were given posthumous Leadership Awards for their achievements. Former Ambassador Abul Khayr Alonto and his wife, former Commissioner Norhata Alonto, accepted the award in behalf of the late senator. A Special Citation was also given to Senator Loren Legarda for her support to the Moros which was received by her husband, Governor Leviste.
The event ended past 4 p.m. with the closing remarks by Maharlika Alonto, President of UPMSA, and a Du’a by Alim Amin Balindong.
At the start of the program, the youth attendees including the awardees were reminded of the virtues of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) by PIC’s Professor Salem Guimba. Prior to enumerating the virtues, he cited favorable descriptions and opinions of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) by world-renowned non-Muslim historians, scholars and thinkers such as Historian Gibbon, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Gyanandra of India, Lamartine of France, and R. Bosworth Smith of London. Mercy, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and friendliness were among the virtues of the
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Prof. Guimba also reminded all of us that besides being an achiever in worldly affairs such as in our own field of work or in our academics, we must also aim to achieve well in the Final Test. He emphasized making our works as our means of worship to Allah and not merely for fame, recognition, or for our own materialistic success. That is why the parents of young Muslims should teach their children how to balance their activities and their works on worldly matters and for the Hereafter.
Comm. Basman also shared with the audience how his idea of recognizing Muslim youth achievers started. The idea began in New York where he stayed before his flight back to the Philippines after attending a conference. He saw on television an all African-American forum for the Black youth of America, with speakers such as Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and Sen. Jesse Jackson among others to inspire them to succeed in life. Comm. Basman thought that it would be helpful for our Moro youth if a similar event would be held here. Not only will the event inspire Moro youths to work harder, but it will also prove that indeed Muslims can succeed in their own fields of endeavor.
Due to the requests and appreciation of our Muslim leaders, PIC is planning to hold this event annually by officially creating a Search Committee that will screen young Muslim achievers all over the country as their possible awardees.
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