In line with the observance of the Holy month of Ramadhan 2015, the Bangsamoro Development Agency- Central Mindanao (BDA-CenMin) Region held Ramadhan Islamic Symposium on June 25-26, 2015, 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM at Jasmine St., Barangay RH-6, Cotabato City.

Said symposium was conducted through the partnership of the Lumpukan na Mategel Midza Pantag Kanu Agama Islam (LMMPAI), an organization founded by Bangsamoro Muslim Overseas Filipino Workers (BMOFW) and the Peace Building Program (PBP) of BDA-CenMin Region.

Jasmine Kimbuwan, Administrative Officer of LMMPAI said, the organization has 8000 members and are continuously increasing in number.

According to the secretariat, the symposium was joined by more than 100 participants composed of staff and volunteers of the region; members of LMMPAI; students from different schools, colleges and universities from Cotabato City and the residents of Brgy. RH-6 of this City.

Two expert lecturers in the persons of Sheikh Nasrudin Musa and Sheikh Abdulfatah Dilna were invited to give lectures on “the utmost exertion in the way of Allah and the significance of Ramadhan”, respectively.

Sheikh Nasrudin Musa discussed the concept of utmost exertion in the way of Allah and the means to operate it.

He said, “one of the definition of the utmost exertion in the way of Allah is self-control and to fight against evil, all in the strongest possible form.

“And, the means to perform utmost exertion in the way of Allah are wealth, self (physical) and dua (prayer),” he added.

In his lecture, Sheikh Abdulfatah Dilna explained the three levels of Islamizing the personality of Muslims where Ramadhan significantly contributes a lot.

The first level is the five (5) pillars of Islam; six (6) articles of faith is the second level; and the third level is al-Ihsan (Muslim responsibility to obtain perfection, or excellence, in worship), he hinted.

Further, he clarified that fasting during the month of Ramadhan renders significant contribution in establishing a good Muslim communities in the Bangsamoro homeland.

Reading of Qur’an was also among the part of the program.

Number of International Bangsamoro Qari (reciter) was also invited in the symposium to demonstrate their talent in the field of reading Qur’an.

An Islamic Quiz Bee was also organized during the program, where participants were asked of questions based on the given lectures.

The management of the symposium allotted budget as special gifts for anybody of them who got, at least, one right answer.

In order to conduct this symposium, some members of LMMPAI shared financial support while others contributed their labor, while they all agreed to partner with BDA-CenMin Region through its PBP, Kimbuwan added.

Kimbuwan further said, the LMMPAI decided to partner the agency in this region in order to ensure the transparent, just and secured management and implementation of the planned activities.

Free Iftar (meal for breaking the fast), snacks and food for suhoor (pre-dawn meal) were served to participants during the symposium.

Sheikh Umar Mamokan, one of the participants of the symposium and secretary of PBP said, the participants attentively listened with the lectures while interestingly took note every major points.

Some of the participants said, we enjoy much in answering the given questions and claiming our prices.

“Attending this symposium serves as our memorable experience for we are given lectures while many of us receive special prices,” they added.

On a rotational basis, selected male participants were given the chance to lead the congregational prayer (Tahajud).

Anuar Cabalo, Regional Coordinator of PBP in this region stressed, the staff and volunteers of the agency in this region through the PBP in good partnership with LMMPAI did their utmost best in order to ensure the success of this great event.

“As newly designated regional coordinator of the PBP, I am very much thankful to the volunteers and staff of our office, more importantly to the LMMPAI and, above all, to Allah that make the event great and successful,” Cabalo added.

PBP is among the eight program thrusts of BDA such as the social welfare, economic development, education, health improvement and development, environmental advocacy and development, youth development and capacity building and strengthening.

PBP is continuously operating in the region according to the plan and strategies set by the regional office.

It is through this program that memorization of the Quran by all staff and volunteers of the BDA-CenMin, from regional, municipal and barangay levels are systematized and institutionally required.

Prof. Hashim B. Manticayan, in his final message, thanked the LMMPAI for its trust to partner with the BDA-CenMin Region; and, the staff and volunteers of the agency for their manual and technical supports that contributed a lot to the success of this undertaking.

He also thanked all the participants for their attendance and active participation.