Aleem Lucman Tandalong, RM of BDA-Davao Regional Management Office (RMO) encourages the audience to read and understand the Holy Qur’an during the Ramadhan Forum hosted by BDA-CenMin held at the Conference Hall of City Schools Division Superintendent Office in Cotabato City on July 27, 2013.

A Regional Manager (RM) of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) told the Moro youth during a Ramadhan Forum to read and understand the Holy Qur’an which was sent by the Almighty as a guidance to mankind and the unseen beings.

“The Holy Qur’an was revealed through Prophet Mohamad (peace be upon him) during Ramadhan,” said Aleem Lucman Tandalong, RM of BDA-Davao Regional Management Office (RMO) during the activity held at the Conference Hall of DepEd City Division Office in Cotabato City on July 27, 2013.

The forum was hosted by BDA-Central Mindanao (RMO) under the management of Ustadz Hashim Manticayan. It is part of the initiatives of BDA through its Youth Development Program (YDP) to impart Islamic values and knowledge in the hearts and minds of the Moro youth.

Close to one hundred Muslim youth comprised of secondary and college students from Central Mindanao who are all beneficiaries of the YDP participated in the activity.
Tandalong elucidated that the Holy Scripture is a complete guidance for the economic, political and spiritual affairs of mankind in general and, “it is not exclusively for the use of the Muslims.”

“If all the people around the world get reference from the Holy Qur’an, then there will be harmonious relationship and we will live in peace,” the resource person pointed out.

“It is very important for the young Muslim to read, understand and learn the Holy Qur’an,” he said considering the young generation will become leaders of the future.

Tandalong suggested, “During Ramadhan, let us also have crash diet on using the social media like facebook,” which eats lots of time.

Nowadays, many youth are glued on their computers or tablets accessing social network sites. “We are much busy browsing social media using computers,” he noted.
“We lament for underdevelopment, the Holy Qur’an is here as a solution, but we do not use it,” the speaker said.

“Those who cannot read should learn how to do so and those who can already read should strive to understand it,” he stressed.

He disclosed that the Holy Qur’an has scientific knowledge in it which was discovered lately by scientists.

The resource person said the scripture is a good source of important values which guide any person to the right path. These values include being respectful, understanding, God-fearing and being productive.

The resource person said that by learning the contents of the Hoy Qur’an, “one will be guided to the right direction.”

As young people, the Moro youth will still track a long journey, “thus it is important that you should be guided by the divine scripture,” he continued.

He added that reading the Qur’an during the month of Ramadhan will ensure multiple rewards from the Almighty in the hereafter.

YDP is a comprehensive educational program geared to develop the Moro youth which has activities that include Values Transformation Training, Islamic symposium, and capacity-building trainings. Ramadhan Forum is one of YDP’s main activities.

Fasting during Ramadhan is one of the pillars Islam. A fasting Muslim is forbidden to eat, drink or engage in carnal act from dawn till sunset.

Muslims are also encouraged to devote more time to pray, repent, reflect and give charity during Ramadhan.

BDA was institutionalized in 2002 as an agency with mandate to determine, lead and manage relief, rehabilitation and development of conflict affected areas of Mindanao as agreed upon by the Government of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front during its peace talks.

It has been engaged with various development partners in the delivery of basic services and projects towards the socio-economic empowerment of target communities./Gandhi C. Kinjiyo- Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (PMEO), RMO SouthMin