Philippine Muslim Today by Philippine Muslim Today

The Muslim National Digital Newspaper | Bearer of Glad Tidings. Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442) | 12 Pages | Online Issue

By Julmunir I. Jannaral

AVAO CITY — The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) advocacy to protect environment while increasing productivity and reducing poverty will take a giant step next week with the staging of a virtual convention to build the Mindanao Abuyog Sweet Jackfruit and Hass Avocado industries.

A5 THE COMMUNITY

A8 MINDANAO

A9 Focus on Ramadan

What happens to Saudidonated ‘korma’ for Muslims

Adiong opens late dad-desired Ramadan fasting not masjid in Wao, LDS about Hunger

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SAUDI-DONATED KORMA?

COTABATO CITY — Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto-Adiong Jr. has inaugurated in Wao town a masjid his late namesake father had desired but failed to construct in lifetime.

Several Muslim Filipinos who are undergoing their 30-day fasting during the holy month of Ramadan are always expecting that during the time of their Iftar or breaking of their fast they can savour the sweet dates or “Korma” usually through the courtesy of the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Makati City. This year’s Ramadan is a different story for the Muslims in the Philippines.

“This is another self-actualizing success. Our father had long desired but did not realize it for reason or another in his lifetime,” Gov. Adiong told the Philippine Muslim Today news by phone in the vernacular on April 25.

The questions about Ramadan are always pretty much the same. First there is interest in how we observe the sacred month, which began this week. Then there is shock at how intense the requirement of fasting is: “Wait, so you fast all the way from before sunrise to sunset?” “You can’t even drink water?” “I could never do that.” Don’t worry, it doesn’t cause us self-doubt, nor do we get offended...

Opinion Philippine Muslim Today Inc. Co. Reg. No. 2021030008913-02 DATU YUSOPH B. MAMA Chairman, Board of Directors MASIDING NOOR YAHYA President/CEO JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Vice President for Internal Affairs ALI G. MACABALANG Vice President for External Affairs ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Treasurer MACOD D. RASCAL Secretary CASAN C. CANA Auditor AMANODING ESMAIL Chairman, Special Committee on Administration & Finance

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief and Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor Bureau Chief for NCR & CALABARZON Regions ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor Bureau Chief for Bangsamoro & Central Mindanao Regions ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Bureau Chief for Northern Mindanao & CARAGA Regions JOHNNY R. LEE Bureau Chief for Western Mindanao Region PHIL MUSLIM Layout Artist FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Advertising Sales Director for NCR NUR-ALI A. MACABALANG Correspondent AMIR HUSSEIN ABBAS Correspondent COLUMNISTS | WRITERS: ATTY. HOMOBONO A. ADAZA ATTY. JUAN PONCE ENRILE GAMSON JR MAWALLIL QUIJANO JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D ATTY. MEHOL K. SADAIN MA. FHEBIE ORTIL DISCLAIMER: Opinion of the writer expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today nor of its management.

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Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

Tolerance in the Time of Ramadan: Looking for the Water of God

he deprivation and sacrifice that the fast of Ramadan instills in Muslims from all walks of life last for thirty days, from one new moon to the next, punctuated by a full moon in mid-month. Between the period before the break of dawn and after the darkening dusk, the faithful do not take food or drink, eschew material pleasures and refrain from blameful concerns. The spiritual obligation is best characterized as a fast of all the senses, and its aim is to create a God-fearing Muslim, a muttaqun. As the name and the aim suggest, being a muttaqun does not end with Ramadan; it is a spiritual station to be cultivated, nurtured and nourished from the time one reaches the discerning age until one dies. It is a Muslim’s way of life, regardless of time and season. The effects of the fast having been designed to transcend the fasting month, everything related to the fast should also be transcendenEHOL ADAIN tal. As purification it should not just cleanse the Muslims physically and spiritually, but also socially, particularly in their relation with their fellow men, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. The hunger and thirst are supposed to sensitize fasting Muslims to the travails of the impoverished, so that they will learn to be more responsive to their needs. In this light, therefore, the fast of Ramadan does not have room for arguments and animosity. A fasting Muslim is taught to restrain his anger, and to reply, ‘I am fasting’, when provoked. The lessons of restraint and tolerance should not be lost on him who is determined to go without food and drink for almost fifteen hours for thirty days to cleanse himself of faults and perfect his character. It will not help any if we debate whether a Muslim is better than a non-Muslim. What is best is to ascribe to him, as we should ascribe to each and every one of us, the universal belief in a Supreme Creator, whatever His Name may be and however manner He is worshipped. Neither does it help that we measure tolerance by the religious institutions allowed in a country, without realizing that all religions have hallowed grounds and sacred shrines necessitating homogeneity that other faiths must respect. For instance, we do not expect churches in Saudi Arabia because it contains the holiest shrines of Islam (in Makkah and Madinah) in the same manner that we do not expect mosques in the Vatican. But we can expect churches in the United Arab Emirates or in Indonesia which harbors the largest adherents of Islam, in the same manner that we can expect mosques in the United States which hosts various Christian denominations. It does not help to debate what we can and we cannot expect to prove the tolerance of one faith against another, because tolerance no matter how manifested is better appreciated than compared. Finally, it does not help to criticize from the fringes of faiths because such being the case, one cannot hope to reach resolve in the center of commonality. Neither should we be transfixed on history, which we turn into swords to slash at each other. We justify our present handicaps by harping on past adversities: the crusades pitting Christians against Muslims, or the 9/11 attacks, or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have a terrible way of using history even if it is centuries past and hopelessly unchangeable: we use history to harm and not to heal. We forget that as we stand on the threshold of today looking into the promise of the future, history is mere sewage under the bridge. We observe its flow but we do not necessarily have to wallow in its muck. We should realize that our different ways and venues of worship; our different prophets, priests, monks, rabbis and imams; our different prayers and genuflections, are but different means of reaching the One God. Once we reach our destination and we are all united in His Presence, we can look back and behold that we have left our differences behind, because having reached our destination they have served their purpose and may now be discarded. God in His Infinite Wisdom, has given us one destination with several paths, one ocean with different rivers. It is not our prerogative to question why; rather, it is our task to trek our own path or ride our own river, and perchance, the answer will be revealed to us at the end of our journey. The Holy Qur’an gives us an idea when God says, “O mankind, We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is most righteous.” [Surah XLIX, Verse 13] Created from the same source and mold, therefore, man draws God’s appreciation and favor, not by ethnicity or color, not by tradition or culture, not by kinship or affiliation; but by his acts of worship and good deeds, which Islam calls ibadah wa amal salih. This reminds me of a true and tragic story of the Trappist monk Christian de Cherge who met his death in the hands of Algerian extremists, but in his lifetime, had a Muslim friend named Mohammed who died much earlier defending the priests against the latter’s fellow Muslims. When both were still alive, Mohammed came to Christian and said reproachfully, “It’s a long time since we dug our well together.” The monk replied teasingly, “And what do we find at the bottom of the well, Christian water or Muslim water?” Mohammed then replied, “Really, after all the time we have been travelling together, you don’t know? What we find is the water of God.” This Ramadan and in the future, every time a Muslim performs his salah or a Christian says his prayers, let us be reminded that if ever we are in a desert of enmity fighting for our survival and we are presented with an opportunity to dig a common well, we should not look for Christian water or Muslim water. We should look for the water of God. [Note: This was written in Ramadan of 2010. It was good then; it is still good today.]

Ijtihad

K. S

Opinion

Diliman Way

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself.” –Marcus Tullius Cicero

icero is a philosopher – he was a popular Roman politician. He was not only quoted by his peers and avid followers, he is quoted even now by knowledgeable and well read individuals but by brilliant and accomplished national and world leaders. Why? He fits Plato’s definition of a philosopher king – a leader whose wisdom is tested and well acknowledged by everyone, including his opponents and enemies. Cicero is a philosopher politician of all seasons – in words and in action, as shown On by the quote at the start of this article. Provocation and Remembering: Treason and Presidents are always interesting subjects – in a debate, political campaign, essay, and simple conversation. It becomes intriguing when it is a tussle in a court of

law or in the floor of Congress – in a criminal case or a case for impeachment. It becomes more interesting and intriguing if it is the subject of book like that of Rebecca West’s New Meaning of Treason. This article is first of two on treason and Presidents. The Presidents are the Siamese twins of the Philippine presidency – Rodrigo “Digong” Roa Duterte and Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III. On Digong, it comes as a provocation from two friends – retired general Robert Ganzon and barrister businessman Raul Corrales. Both of them are from the South –Robert from Iloilo, the home province of my irrepressible and ebullient friend, the late Senator and Mayor Roding Ganzon while Raul is from Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu cities. The provocation comes in the form of a question – Can Presi-

dent Duterte be charged with treason on his conduct involving the West Philippine Sea? This article is a response to that question. On Noynoy Aquino, it is a case of remembering. On March 4, 2015, Herman Tiu Laurel and I filed a case for treason against President Noynoy Aquino in the Office of the Ombudsman on his conduct in the Mamasapano incident, Noynoy’s giving Five Million (P5,000.000.00) Pesos to Ibrahim Murad, Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as President Noynoy Aquino’s gift to the MILF in Tokyo, Japan and for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The case is docketed as IC-OC-15.0531 in the Office of the Ombudsman – filed on March 4, 2015, dismissed quickly seven (7) days later on March

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

ere we come at 46th Digital Issue of the Philippine Muslim Today (PMT) with a few more issues before the historic 52 issues marking the 1 year in existence of this first Muslim Digital Online Newspaper which according to our Editor- in-Chief this is really a thankless job for our columnists, writers and other Staff Members in this time of Pandemic. Nevertheless writing for PMT since June 19, 2020 up to date is really a thankless reportorial

job. However, aside for the continuance of our advocacy as writers to bring the true facts of the news every Friday morning, we take our weekly writing for this Digital Online Weekly News as a “therapeutic writing” in so far as the onslaught of COVID-19 Pandemic that started throughout the world including the Philippines in March 2020. I coined the term “therapeutic writing” because since we started under the state of lockdown our journey from one place to

another or freedom of movement was restricted too by the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and all of us were subjected to Health Protocols by the mandatory wearing of face mask and face shield. This is in addition to observing a 1 meter social distancing from one another. Considering that due to lockdown many of us were forced to stay or work from home, writing for this weekly digital news is therapeutic for us since we have made use of

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

TREASON AND PRESIDENTS (1) 11, 2015. We filed a timely motion for reconsideration on April 24, 2015 which is pending resolution before the Ombudsman for five (5) years, eleven (11) months and twenty (20) days as of this day. Seven days to dismiss the complaint but less than eight days to exactly six (6) years with the motion for reconsideration This will be the subject of the second part on the article on treason and presidents. The crime: There is a discussion on when can one be charged on the crime of treason. To get a clear picture on what treason means, here is the definition of treason under Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code: “Art. 114. Treason. – Any Filipino citizen who levies war against the Republic of the Philippines or adheres to her enemies, giving them aid or comfort within the Philippines or elsewhere, shall be punished by reclusion temporal to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed a 100,000 pesos….” The discussion revolves primarily on whether there is war against the Philippines.

These questions arise – What is meant by war? Does it mean a declared war when the government through Congress passes a declaration of war against another country? Or, does war under this provision mean a state of war without Congress declaring that a state of war exists? But even if there is no war in terms of the use of armaments, any “Filipino citizen who adheres to her enemies, giving them aid and comfort in the Philippines or elsewhere…” commits the crime of treason as defined in Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code. And Communist China is an enemy! The answer: In law, here and elsewhere, when the words of the law are clear, there is no room for interpretation. The provision of the law, in application to President Duterte, states “– Any Filipino citizen who… adheres to her enemies, given them aid or comfort within the Philippines or elsewhere, shall be punished by reclusion temporal to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed a 100,000 pesos….”

As previously stated, the provision of this law is clear – President Duterte is adhering to China by allowing Communist China to invade the West Philippine Sea, exploit its resources, build artificial islands with military installations and possible nuclear weapons, preventing Filipino fishermen from fishing in our exclusive economic zones. Other than adhering to Communist China, Duterte is also “giving aid and comfort” to Communist China not only in his conduct relating to the West Philippine Sea but by allowing their drug lords to flood the Philippine with illegal drugs, dumping and allowing electronic gambling here which is prohibited in Communist China and according to Senator Ping Lacson, allowing more than three thousand members of Communist China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be here in the guise of workers in Communist Chinese gambling operations in the Philippines, in preparation to make legal what is a fact – de jure from de facto. (EXCERPT FROM LAST ISSUE)

On the therapeutic writing in Philippine Muslim Today our dull and boring moments in the house into a productive one. Hence, aside from doing away the daily boredom we have produced also this first Muslim weekly digital newspaper that is written by competent columnists, professional Journalists or writers and hardworking staff members who are voluntarily extending their worthy services as if they are receiving the monthly remunerations. To all our columnists and writers and Staff Members who are still with us be it during high and low tide, we

are extending our hats off in admiration and our brotherly and sisterly affection to all of you. To all of you thank so much and our sense of love and gratitude cannot be quantified for all you chose to stay with us and have not abandoned us. Hence, thank you very much too for your supreme sacrifice to write weekly for Philippine Muslim Today that is a thankless job without receiving any single cent. But this was propelled by your advocacy to help in bringing the true facts and accurate news or information.

Thus due to your constant manning the port, the fake news has no chance to invade or intrude into our domain. With the forgoing, I want to say Shukran to everyone and keep safe too that In Shaa Allah all of us can surpass the Pandemic situation until COVID-19 has banished into oblivion. Just go on writing for Philippine Muslim Today as your form of therapeutic writing! ———————For your Comments and Suggestions, please send an email to julmunir1845media@ gmail.com

World Round Up

On Covid-19 India's daily Covid-19 cases rise to record 379,257

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

Muslim soccer player thanks opponent for allowing him to break Ramadan fast in-game By Muslimedia.PH

EICESTER, London — Muslim soccer player Wesley Fofana thanked the Premier League and the Crystal Palace FC soccer team for allowing him to break his Ramadan fast during a game on Monday.

Makeshift hospital in New Delhi, India (Amarjeet Kumar Singh - Anadolu Agency) NEW DELHI – India marked a new high in coronavirus cases on Thursday, registering a staggering 379,257 new infections in the last 24 hours. The Health Ministry said that overall cases have now reached 18.3 million, while the death toll stood at 204,832, including 3,645 new fatalities. India has been registering over 300,000 daily cases since April 22, severely straining the country’s health system and leading to an acute shortage of beds, oxygen, and treatment drugs. There have been tragic cases in the country as people have died due to the non-availability of oxygen or because they failed to get hospital beds. With the number of cases continuing to rise, a number of Indian cities have announced weekend lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus. The capital New Delhi, which is the worst hit due to the virus and presently under lockdown, reported nearly 26,000 new cases and 368 fatalities late Wednesday. The western state of Maharashtra has reported a record high of 985 virus-linked deaths. With more fatalities reported across the country, cities are reporting far larger numbers of cremations and burials. A number of makeshift funeral pyres have been set up to deal with the growing cremations. On Wednesday, the country’s death toll crossed 200,000. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is facing criticism over his government’s response to the deadly second wave, sanctioned the procurement of 100,000 portable oxygen concentrators from the Prime Minister’s CARES Fund late Wednesday. As the country is battling its second wave, a Phase 3 vaccination drive allowing people above 18 years old to get vaccinated is all set to begin from May 1. After the government opened registration for Phase 3 vaccination on Wednesday, the Health Ministry said that more than eight million people registered for vaccination in the initial hours. India has so far provided nearly 160 million vaccine doses in the country. A number of countries have come forward to provide assistance to India. On Thursday morning, Russian aircraft arrived in India with medical aid. Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev said Thursday morning that two urgent flights operated by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) arrived in India carrying a cargo with a total weight of 20 tons. “These are oxygen concentrators, lung ventilation equipment, bedside monitors, medicines, including Coronavir, and other essential pharmaceutical items,” he said. The first emergency medical supplies from the UK had arrived on Tuesday. Anadolu

Halfway through Leicester’s 2-1 win, Crystal Palace FC goalkeeper waited to take a goal kick to allow Fofana to ingest some liquids before returning to play. The short ingame delay was agreed upon in the captain’s meeting prior to the game. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. During Ramadan many Muslims abstain from food and drink in the daylight hours. At the time of Fofana’s water break it was transitioning to nighttime hours. Fofana tweeted: “Just wanted to thank the @premierleague as

Wesley Fofana. (USA Today photo) well as @CPFC @vguaita13 all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game. That’s what makes football wonderful.” Fofana was able to

play the entire game after previously playing 61 minutes in a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion — all while fasting. “He’s a young player in the middle of Rama-

dan so he’s obviously not eating during the day,” Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers told reporters Friday. “I think it’s absolutely remarkable.” Scott Gleeson |

USA TODAY

Asean leaders reach consensus on Myanmar coup crisis JAKARTA, Indonesia – Stressing an end to the violence, the leaders of Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) countries reached a five-point consensus on the Myanmar coup crisis on Saturday, according to a joint statement. The statement after the regional group’s meeting in the Indonesian capital Jakarta demanded "immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and (that) all parties shall exercise utmost restraint." “Constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a

peaceful solution in the interests of the people,” the statement read. It said a special envoy of the Asean chair shall "facilitate mediation of the dialogue process” in Myanmar, where at least 745 people have been killed since the Feb. 1 military coup. The Southeast Asian bloc will also provide humanitarian assistance, it said. The special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned, the statement said. The bloc also

stressed the importance of Myanmar’s continued efforts to address the situation in Rakhine State, including commencing the repatriation of Rohingya – an oppressed Muslim minority, some 1 million of whom fled to Bangladesh – in a voluntary, safe, and dignified manner in accordance with its bilateral agreements with Bangladesh. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah from Brunei, the current chair of the regional bloc, presided over the meeting in Jakarta. Among the participants of the meeting

were the bloc's Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and Myanmar’s junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, as well as Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Also attending were Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Philippines Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr., Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Anadolu

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Across The Nation

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

Saudi-donated ‘korma’ for Muslims on Ramadan remain undistributed

LGUs collecting pass-through fees on truckers may face probe

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

OMMONWEALTH AVENUE, Quezon City: Several Muslim Filipinos who are undergoing their 30-day fasting during the holy month of Ramadan are always expecting that during the time of their Iftar or breaking of their Based on the Facebook Timeline of Dr. Jun Alonto Datu Ramos, director of the Bureau of External Relations of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and concurrently the NCMF spokesman being the chief of the Public Relations and Information Division, it stated that the dates or Korma donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia numbering a total of 1,250 boxes are not yet distributed to the recipients in the Metro Manila as well as in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The Muslim Filipinos are still hoping that they can still receive the dates “Korma” as a form of yearly donations by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Busairi, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has made the donation for this Ramadan possible. Administrative Services Director Abdullah

fast they can savour the sweet dates or “Korma” usually through the courtesy of the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Makati City.

DATES FOR WAREHOUSE: Director Abdullah B. Macarimpas of the Administrative Division of the National commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has assured everyone that the dates “Korma” donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia thru Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser AlBusairi, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques are still intact at the NCMF warehouse but remained undistributed.(Contributed Photo) Macarimpas through General Services Division (GSD) Chief Sowaib Hassan has shown the thousands of boxes stored in the

NCMF Central Office in Quezon City and still undistributed. Aleem Said Ahmad Basher, a resident of Quiapo, Manila whose

residence is just very near the Golden Mosque told the Philippine Muslim Today over the phone that even themselves they’ve have not yet received even a single package of dates considering the proximity of the NCMF Central Office to the Islamic Center in Manila. Ironically up to today, Friday it is now 18 days of fasting and more or less 10 days more to go and fasting will bade goodbye and people will finally celebrate the Eid’l Fitr and these donated dates are not yet distributed. According to the NCMF under Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan the delay was due to the pandemic restrictions of the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus, NCMF Central Office lockdown, and most of all due to the exorbitant shipping fees of private couriers. KORMA | A11

Vaccination of ‘general populace’ might start in August

ANILA — More Filipinos will be inoculated by August as the government expects steady deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines in the coming months, National Task Force (NTF) chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday. Galvez, also the country's vaccine czar, said the government may start inoculating priority groups under categories A4 (other essential workers such as frontline uniformed personnel) and A5 (indigent population, overseas Filipino workers, and the

other remaining workforce) by June. “At saka iyong ating tinatawag na other targeted adult population o iyong general populace ay baka magstart na po tayo sa August or September (And we might start vaccinating other targeted adult population or the general populace by August or September)," Galvez said a Palace press briefing. He said at least 10

million doses of vaccine are expected to arrive in June and “all the orders” will be delivered from July to December. “Nakikita po namin na kapag nagkaroon po tayo ng full vaccination program, iyong 5,000 po natin na mga vaccination sites with 100 each, makakavaccinate po tayo ng 500,000 a day (We can see that once we have already the full

vaccination program, we can vaccinate 500,000 a day in our 5,000 vaccination sites with 100 each),” Galvez said. He said the Philippines had secured about 140 million doses this year, excluding 44 million doses acquired through the COVAX facility. Based on the latest NTF’s count, Galvez said 1,809,801 doses have been administered to priority groups under categories A1 (healthcare workers), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (persons with comorbidities). About 1,065,728 healthcare workers, 240,221 senior citizens, and 256,866 persons VACCINE | A11

MANILA – A new joint memorandum circular (JMC) of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Finance (DOF) is directing all local government units (LGUs) to stop collecting fees and taxes from vehicles transporting goods. During the virtual signing ceremony Wednesday, ARTA director general Jeremiah Belgica said they issue JMC No. 2021-01 as they continue getting complaints on the imposition of pass-through fees by the LGUs despite prior rules and regulations prohibiting the collection of fees and taxes on the transport of goods and products. The JMC covers “taxes, fees, and charges and other impositions upon goods carried into or out of, or passing through, the territorial jurisdictions of local government units in the guise of charges for wharfage, tolls for bridges or otherwise, sticker fee, discharging fee, delivery fee, market fee, toll fee, entry fee, and/or mayor’s permit fee, or other taxes, fees, or charges in any form whatsoever upon such goods or merchandise”. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said some 30 LGUs have ordinances still imposing taxes and fees on the transport of goods. Under the new JMC, Año said these LGUs are directed to submit their ordinances relating to the imposition of tax and fee collections on the transport of goods for review. He said no ordinances should be passed by LGUs regarding the collection of fees in the logistics sector. “One good thing here, there’s provision for sanction for violators,” he said. “We can also ask the Ombudsman and even courts if we have to use (it) and there are bases for filing of cases against violators.” Truckers may file complaints to the government’s 8888 hotline, or through ARTA’s dedicated e-mail address for these concerns at passthrough@arta.gov.ph. ARTA deputy director general Ernesto Perez said this initiative is part of the government’s effort to improve the country’s logistics sector. “This JMC is not the end of our efforts to improve our logistics sector as we will continue to work on more initiatives to eliminate regulations that hamper the efficient transfer of goods across the country,” Perez said. The logistics sector is one of the five priority areas of ARTA’s National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies (NEHEMIA) program, which aims to streamline and automate registration, payment, and issuance of licenses and permits in national government agencies and LGUs. Earlier, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said logistics costs share 27 percent of the total operating cost, one of the highest rates in the region. Through NEHEMIA, the government targets to bring down the logistics cost share to 15 percent. Moreover, Belgica said suspending the illegal collection of taxes and fees for the transport of goods will help in lowering logistics costs. Kris Crismundo/PNA

Across Mindanao

POPCOM-inspired short film adjudged best int’l documentary in Ireland

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

SPECIAL REPORT

Green Mindanao Project MinDA to convene farmers and buyers of Abuyog jackfruit and Hass avocado in a virtual convention on May 8 By Julmunir I. Jannaral

AVAO CITY: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) advocacy to protect environment while increasing productivity and reducing poverty will take a giant step next week with the staging of a virtual convention to build the Mindanao Abuyog Sweet Jackfruit and Hass Avocado industries . BEST INT’L. SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM: Students of the Alaminos City National High School (ACNHS) who comprise the production team of the internationally acclaimed short film, Sa L:ayag ng Bankang Paurong. (Photo courtesy of POPCOM)

ANILA CITY — “Sa Layag ng Bangkang Paurong” (Boats that Sail Backward) — a documentary film produced by young filmmakers from Alaminos, Pangasinan — was declared Best International Documentary Film in the recently concluded Fresh International Film Festival in Limerick, Ireland on March 28, 2021. The short film created by students of Alaminos City National High School (ACNHS) was a product of POPCOM-Region I’s 4th Adolescent Health and Development Film Festival in 2019 under the theme, “The Youth and the Demographic Transition.” It depicts the plight and demographic issues of young students who thrive as boatmen working in the province’s Hundred Islands to support their education and family’s livelihood. The documentary represented the region in POPCOM’s National Film Festival in 2020, and since then has managed to break through in the global scene. Its string of feats continues this year, as it was again selected in Bangladesh’s Children’s International Film Festival; 3rd Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival in Fukuoka, Japan; and was also recognized as Best Advocacy Statement as well as Best Documentary Film in the Streets to Schools National Film Competition of the Association of the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia on March 21. POPCOM-I Director Erma R. Yapit commended the successful journey of the young filmmakers who started their passion for filmmaking in 2017 during POPCOM’s 3rd Regional Film Festival: “We are overwhelmed to witness these young students’ mindsets evolve: from simple perspectives, to gender and culturally sensitive, ageappropriate, and advocacy-worth films by way of their exposure to POPCOM’s film festivals.” According to Yapit, “Sa Layag…” emphasizes issues and needs that beset young people of today, and the way they affect the country’s quest to achieve its desired demographic dividend: “Meeting the needs of these young people contributes mainly to the attainment of their full development into adulthood.” According to Dr. Raquel Rarang-Rivera, coach and founder of the Layag Productions of ACNHS, 87 of ACNHS students earn their living as boatmen. Many are forced to drop out of their schooling, as they choose to work by way of sailing— despite an existing city ordinance that restricts minors to work in hazardous environments. “At a young age, children like them learn the ways of their fathers’ work,” Rarang-Rivera confirmed. “They grew up in that kind of life where they have been deprived of their rights and liberty early on.” POPCOM | A11

Secretary Manny Pinol of MinDA said the Virtual Convention set on May 8, Saturday, will involve Plant Propagators, Farmers, Buyers, Funders and relevant agencies of government, including the National Commission on the Indigenous People (NCIP) which supervises wide Ancestral Domain Areas. MinDA Asst. Secretary Cherrylyn Santos Akbar, former mayor of Isabela City, Basilan, will head the team which will establish the Mindanao Avocado and Jackfruit Organizing Council. Among the identified participants are: 1. Mindanao Development Authority - Lead Convenor; 2. Department of Agriculture, Mindanao Regional Offices; 3. Bureau of Plant Industry, Mindanao Regional Offices; 4. Department of Trade and Industry, Mindanao Regional Offices; 5. Department of Science and Technology, Mindanao Regional Offices; 6. National Commission on the Indigenous People; 7. Department of Environment and Natural Resources; 8. Government Financing Institutions (Land Bank & Development Bank of the Philippines; Agricultural Credit Policy Council through Credit Cooperatives); 9. Cooperative De-

MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol hosts a new weekly radio program in Kidapawan City, with invited guests from the North Cotabato-based Sta. Catalina Multi-Purpose Cooperative who announced willingness to help guide households, including OFWs in small-scale investment ventures as part of Mindanao recovery program. (Photo supplied)

HASS AVOCADO: Secretary Manny Pinol shows his Hass Avocado being planted at his privately owned farm the Braveheart Farm and Nursery at Kidapawan City, North Cotabato. (Photo by Mayette Tudlas, MinDA OC) velopment Authority (CDA); 10. Registered Plant Propagators and Plant Nursery Operators; 11. Registered Farmers’ Cooperatives; 12. Prospective Consolidators and Buyers (i.e. Dole Philippines, Avante Agri Products, Dizon Farms, Eng Seng, Ultramart Supermarket, etc.) According to Secretary Pinol, the Virtual Convention aims to organize the stakeholders of both the Abuyog Jackfruit and Hass Avocado Industries into a cohesive group which would set production targets based on the absorptive capacity of the market. They will be assisted by concerned government agencies in attaining the target by providing technical and funding support, including post-harvest facilities. The prospective consolidators and buyers will provide assur-

ance of market absorption while the Government Financing Institutions (GFIs) will provide funding for the program with loan maturity based on the gestation period of both products. This program supports the Green Mindanao Project which promotes the planting of trees in the deforested and denuded highlands of Mindanao while boosting the economic growth of the region. Prior to the May 8 Virtual Convention, a preliminary conference involving government agencies, GFIs and prospective buyers will be held. Jackfruit and Avocado Industries Let's build an industry! This is the battle cry of MinDA Secretary Pinol as he referred to the raising of 100 Jackfruit and 50,000 Hass Avocado seedlings in 21 target seedlings production sites. This year, Braveheart Farms and Nursery owned by the family of Pinol based in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, will produce 100,000 Abuyog Sweet

Jackfruit and 50,000 Hass Avocado seedlings. According to Secretary Pinol, “this will be my personal contribution and support to the Green Mindanao Project of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) which I designed shortly after I left the Department of Agriculture in 2019.” He emphasized that the Green Mindanao Project aims to introduce high value fruit trees farming in the deforested and denuded highlands of Mindanao. It is the implementation of the proverbial "hitting two targets with one bullet" as the program aims to protect the environment while at the same time boost agricultural production, he pointed out. “I have chosen two varieties of fruit trees the DA-EVIARCdeveloped Abuyog Sweet Jackfruit and the Hass Avocado - because of the huge market demand and adaptability to the cool climate in high elevation,” he also said. GREEN | A11

Across BARMM

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

SPDA marks 46th Founding Anniversary sans fanfare

BARMM's livelihood assistance to improve socio-economic conditions of IDPs in Marawi

By Celestino B. Siglos, Ed.D.

AVAO CITY — The Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) has simply celebrated its 46th founding anniversary this year without the usual festive activHowever, the Authority has not lost sight in highlighting the significance of the anniversary celebration this year as it embarked into a four-day ‘Strategic Institutional Review and Mindanao-wide Planning Workshop of the SPDA 5-Year Strategic Plan for CY 20212025’ conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). The said strategic planning seminarworkshop which involved the top-level management of SPDA in Mindanao, was part of enhancing even more SPDA’s competence to face the current and future challenges. This

was realized through an online virtual conference via the Google Meet Platform. Southern Philippines Development Authority Administrator (SPDA) and Chief Executive Officer Abdulghani ‘Gerry’ Ajul Salapuddin, who untiringly participated the said four-day seminar-workshop, observed that this activity had tickled the minds

ities due to the government’s strict preventive measures to curb the surge of the COVID-19 cases in the country.

and imaginations of SPDA’s top level management. Salapuddin further observed that the reactions, comments, and presentations made by each group during the series of activities of the said seminar-workshop had shown that the Authority’s officials were very much aware on the potentials, strengths, and opportunities which

can be tapped to pursue and achieve the SPDA mandates. “We are also aware on the different actors in the national and local levels, we must link up and work with them in order to achieve our mandates, Salapuddin said. He added that SPDA’s top brass have already possessed a clear picture on the future trends, technologies, and the rise of potential risks and threats which the entire organization must anticipate as the Authority forges ahead to achieve its economic agenda in Mindanao. SPDA | A10

MOH, DOH sign IRR for Universal Health Care in BARMM DAVAO CITY — The Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOHBARMM) and the national Department of Health (DOH) signed the Bangsamoro region’s Universal Health Care (UHC) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in a ceremony held here on Monday, April 26. MOH Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph said the IRR would pave the way for the full implementation of UHC in BARMM, and that it is reflective of the region’s uniqueness and distinctive structure. “The UHC affords every Bangsamoro equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services and protection from financial risks,” said Latiph, adding no Bangsamoro will be left behind in terms of health care. Latiph said MOHBARMM crafted the IRR while incorporating all inputs from the series of

By Julmunir I. Jannaral

MOH Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph (right) and DOH Undersecretary Abdullah Dumama (left) sign the Universal Health Care Implementing Rules and Regulations for BARMM. (Contributed Photo) consultations supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the BARMMHealth Project. In February 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law which automatically includes all Filipinos into the national health insurance program under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). With the UHC IRR signed, local governments in BARMM must register their constituents to a primary health

care provider in their jurisdiction in close coordination with PhilHealth and MOH-BARMM. Latiph said the success of UHC in BARMM hinges on the full cooperation of local governments through the Provincial Health Boards. The IRR established the UHC BARMM Regional Management Council (RMC), which will oversee UHC implementation in BARMM. The RMC shall set the BARMM health policy directions, supervise, and monitor the integration and delivery of health services across the health care continuum. It shall also estab-

lish monitoring and evaluation protocols in the implementation of the Special Health Fund. Dr. Abdullah Dumama, Jr., DOH undersecretary for Visayas and Mindanao field implementation and coordination team, said the UHC IRR is a significant milestone in pushing for health reforms in BARMM. “The signing of UHC IRR is a clear manifestation of the BARMM Government’s sincerity to uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people,” said Dumama. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Hajj Murad” Ebrahim commended the MOH-BARMM and all sectors that contributed to the crafting of the UHC IRR. “I thank everyone for making this possible and we remain one with the idea that health care is not just a privilige, but a right that every Filipino and Bangsamoro must enjoy,” Ebrahim said in a video message. JIJ

MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie (left) and Member of Parliament Abdullah Macapaar, (3rd from left) the “Commander Bravo” of the MILF personally handed over P15,000.00-worth of livelihood seed capital to IDPs in Marawi City. (Contributed Photo) COTABATO CITY — A total of 1,177 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City, Lanao del Sur were provided livelihood assistance by the Ministry of Social Services and Development's (MSSD) Bangsamoro Sagip Kabuhayan (BSK). The BSK is one of the programs implemented by MSSD under the Marawi Recovery, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation Program of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), which targets to provide 2,000 indigent home-based IDPs with livelihood seed capital funds. Each beneficiary received P15,000.00 as seed capital for micro and small business owners to develop or expand their micro-enterprises and improve their socio-economic conditions. The distribution of the BSK funds began with the first batch of 185 beneficiaries on Dec. 11, 2020, followed by the second batch of 499 beneficiaries on Jan. 24, 2021, and 493 beneficiaries on Mar. 24, 2021. Beneficiaries of the BSK program have undergone a comprehensive evaluation and confirmation process in collaboration with members of the Project Steering Committee of the Bangsamoro Government's Marawi Rehabilitation Program. Indigent and disadvantaged people, persons with disabilities (PWDs), single parents, senior citizens, low-income families, workers in the informal sector, subsistence economy workers, rebel returnees, and women, in particularly difficult circumstances, were among those who benefitted. MSSD Minister lawyer Raissa H. Jajurie said, “the livelihood assistance grant from MSSD seeks to reduce poverty and inequality by generating employment among the poor IDPs from Marawi City, and moving them toward economic stability.” Based on the recommendations of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority's (BTA) Special Committee on Marawi Recovery, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation, the Bangsamoro Regional Government launched the Marawi Recovery, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation Program for the year 2020, which combines all of the Bangsamoro Government's initiatives using the initial Php500 million funds from the OCM.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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Across BARMM

CDO-Cotabato route to open

Adiong opens late dad-desired masjid in Wao, LDS

COTABATO CITY — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated (RTMI) to ply for the route from Cagayan de Oro City to Cotabato City and vice versa, according to reports reaching Philippine Muslim Today. The reports said RTMI is preparing its passenger’s buses to ply for the route from Cagayan de Oro City that will pass through Talakag in Bukidnon, the towns of Banisilan, Alamada, Libungan and Pigcawayan in North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao to Cotabato City. John Del Castillo, RTMI Branch Manager in Cagayan de Oro (Bulua Branch), said it is easier for the commuting public from the two cities going to one another since the route has been shortened. He said the City of Cotabato has also approved for RTMI to travel to the city (for this route.) Meanwhile, North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco saw this as good news and as a boost to the economy.

North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco and Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. officials in the latter’s visit to the former. FB Gov. Catamco met on Monday Del Castillo, RTMI Area Supervisor Dominic Aranio and Legal officer Celer Estologa who personally informed her of the details of the route. She asked the RTMI officials for the strict compliance of health protocol to ensure the protection of the passengers. She also asked them to coordinate with local officials of the towns in (North Cotabato) covered by this route. RTMI officials thanked the governor for her support to the transportation sector. RTMI which is based in Cagayan de Oro City is a sister company of Mindanao Star Bus Transport Incorporated (MSBTI) which is based in Cotabato City. It is expected that RTMI buses will start plying for the route next week and the fare from CDO to Cotabato City is P541.00. Muslimedia.PH

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Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

By Ali G. Macabalang

OTABATO CITY — Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto-Adiong Jr. has inaugurated in Wao town a masjid his late “This is another selfactualizing success. Our father had long desired but did not realize it for reason or another in his lifetime,” Gov. Adiong told the Philippine Muslim Today news by phone in the vernacular on April 25. He was referring to the full completion of “Masjid Abdulmalik” in Wao town he personally opened for public use on the second week of Ramadan this year after “more than two years of family-funded construction.” Abdulmalik is the Islamic name adopted by late Governor and Congressman Mamintal Adiong Sr. after performance of fist obligatory hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) decades ago, the son said when asked of

The ‘Masjid Abdulmalik’ in Wao, Lanao del Sur, that the family of Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. has funded for construction in over two years, On April 21, the governor returned to Wao and formally opened the masjid with a dhohor or noon prayer, according to supporters, who posted more photos of the

Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. joins a jammah (congregation) for noon prayer on April 21 at Masjid Abdulmalik in Wao, Lanao del Sur. the rationale behind the name of the new masjid (mosque) Dr. Alinadir “Allen” Minanalng, Integrated Provincial Health Office chief, and fellow public servants joined Gov. Adiong in an ocular inspection of the masjid last April 8, and posted some photos in Facebook alongside his impression. “We visited Masjid Abdulmalik, a beautiful Islamic structure built… for the fortunate people of Wao. I was amazed by the architecture and the workmanship that could qualify it as a tourist attraction,” Dr. Minalang said.

namesake father had desired but failed to construct in lifetime.

panoramic small masjid. In the interview, Adiong described the masjid construction as another “fulfilled dream” by namesake father, who had served as Congressman of Lanao del Sur’s First District from 1992 to 2001 and as governor in succeeding years until his fatal cardiac arrest on July 3, 2004. When elected governor in 2001, the elder Adiong told reporters he would “end the isolation” of Wao and Bumbaran (now Amai Manabilang) towns by building a road linking them to their mother province and Marawi City. Past

leaders in the province hesitated to build such a road for fear that it would open the gate of settlers to the whole province. Since their creation of Wao and Bumbaran, officials and residents therein had to spend eight to 10 hours of land trip passing through Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte provinces and several cities before reaching the capital city of Marawi. “This is awkward and affront to community growth,” the late governor once lamented in a press briefing

ing that pavement concreting would follow phase by phase. As of press time this week, road concreting works were 95 per cent completed, with four concrete bridges still being rushed for completion by July this year, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The late governor was a licensed civil engineer and contractor before joining politics. He had once served as DPWH assistant secretary, something some Maranao compatriots described as his moti-

The late Mamintal Adiong Sr., third from right, who desired the place of worship in Wao and the building of concrete road linking the town to Marawi City. (File photo) before he had ordered the launch of construction road works from Mulondo towards Wao. In 2016, the governor-son announced the completion of road construction to fill in the six -decade vacuum, say-

vation to build the vital road. The governor-son, also a licensed civil engineer, “did not find it hard to pursue his father’s dream road,” a Lanao Sur-based scribe said. AGM

April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

Ramadan FOCUS ON

۟ ‫يََٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱل َّ ِذينَ ءَا َم ُن‬ َ‫وا ُكتِب‬ ُ ‫َعل َ ْي ُك‬ ‫ٱلصيَا ُم َكمَا‬ ‫م‬ ِ َّ ‫ُكتِبَ َعلَى ٱل ِذينَ ِمن‬ َ ‫م ت َ َّت ُق‬ ْ ‫م ل َ َعل َّ ُك‬ ْ ‫َق ْبلِ ُك‬ ‫ون‬ Surah Baqarah Ayah 183. O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous –

A BEAUTIFUL MOSQUE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BACOLOD KALAWI IN THE BARMM’s PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL SUR, PHILIPPINES. (file)

Ramadan fasting not about Hunger It’s about living mindfully By Omar Suleiman | The Salt Lake Tribune

he questions about Ramadan are always pretty much the same. First there is interest in how we observe the sacred month, which began this week. Then there is shock at how intense the requirement of fasting is: “Wait, so you fast all the way from before sunrise to sunset?” “You can’t even drink water?” “I could never do that.” Don’t worry, it

doesn’t cause us selfdoubt, nor do we get offended. In fact, it’s pretty cool when your friends think you have superhuman abilities. The reality, though, is that fasting is very doable, and rewarding. There are, of course, those Muslims who should not fast, due to illness or some other temporary condition; they are excused, and they make it up if and when they can. If someone is permanently unable to fast, they are required to feed a poor person for every day missed. But most of us are

Maybe neither today nor tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow If it wouldn’t, surely there’s always a reason and a best to come Be hopeful, be grateful, fill your heart with patience and pleasure

(Khalil Hamra | AP Photo) Muslims wearing face masks attend the Eid al-Fitr prayers outside a mosque in Gaza City, Sunday, May 24, 2020. able to overcome the effects of fasting within the first few days of Ramadan. You may miss your coffee, and fatigue and hunger still happen, but the body does adjust. One question remains: Why do we fast during the month of

Ramadan? Firstly, it is a requirement in the Quran and pillar of Islam. The Quran states, “Oh you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed on those who came before you so that you may

Ramadhān Poem! SUARA FROM THE GULF By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano

attain GodConsciousness.” Fasting, in other words, has been the way of prophets and nations before us and is specifically intended to make us more conscious of our Lord. When we become mindful of our physical intake of blessings we otherwise mindlessly consume, we become more mindful of the one who bestowed those blessings upon us. This has numerous intended benefits. The physical discipline of fasting also helps us to be more mindful of our spiritual consumption as well: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught, for in-

stance, that God has no use for the one who refrains from food but not from false speech, or lying and gossip. Besides denying ourselves what is prohibited spiritually, fasting helps us live positively as well. Since sin is born out of ingratitude, fasting makes us more aware of our blessings, hence more grateful and driven to good. The end result of Ramadan mentioned in the Quran is that you “complete the term of fasting and glorify your Lord for what He has guided you to, and so that you may be amongst the grateful.” RAMADAN | A10

Unto Him endlessly beseech for what’s in your heart He certainly hears and sees Remember something important, never be envious nor jealous! Safeguard your heart from distraction lest you end in destruction!

A10

News

English and Arabic fluency: A Hidden Treasure (2)

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

ASG member surrenders in Basilan BRINGING TO A TOTAL OF 11 SURRENDERED TO THE MILITARY SINCE JANUARY

IMADODIN DIMAO Tenured Bilingual (English & Arabic) CSR

By Julmunir I. Jannaral

Coursera

However, the economy was still crippling, that I regularly saw my peers leaving for their respective countries in 2017. That was the time I started to think of voluntary parting ways with my employer too before I was asked to go for Psychological reasons since it’s always better to go yourself than to be asked to do so – I know how it was full of uncertainties back home, but that was the option left for me, meaning that I had nothing to decide on but to leave. Then I was finally back in Manila before 2017 ended. This time, everything has changed financially, socially, and psychologically, because the recession in the Middle East was even worse here in the Philippines. I tried Qatar, UAE, and other Gulf regions but only got nothing. Yet, I remained positive because I’m a believer until I received a call from the recruitment team of my prospective employer then, asking if I would be interested in Bilingual Customer Service Representative CSR, and I said I would be more than glad to try it – because I was not sure and had little idea about BPO that time. The best part of the initial interview was I spent nothing; she just called me and asked about my experiences – that’s it; I thought it ended there no luck. The following day, I received a call anew, informing me that the first call was a screening for the next level, and to my surprise, I was shortlisted for English and Arabic language assessment and other basics: Grammar, Typing Speed Test, and IQ test. In this case, I needed to go personally to their office, so I did. To cut it short, the assessment and interview was categorized in seven levels; each level is prerequisite, and we did reach the final level with few that turned out to be my cobilingual agents when we started. It took two weeks to wait for an update from them, no call after this period meant SORRY, it’s that simple. But the feeling was rather mixed: I was not afraid however the result simply because it’s not my priority. Yet, afraid somehow since I survived until the final interview, meaning that there was a 70/100 chance. Since I was not quite sure about the result, I started to forget and ignore it the day after the final interview, so it became normal for me after one week had passed – as if nothing was expected until I totally forgot it. One day, I received a call asking if I had checked my email address, and I said I’m sorry ma’am, but I didn’t actually. The email was one-day already untouched, enclosing the offer along with the requirements for the onboarding process – it was new for me because, while comparing, the process for deployment abroad I knew was costly and time-consuming; this time, it seems simple and not that expensive. The email also required my initial acknowledgement via email, and that’s why they followed it up. The first thing I checked upon opening my inbox was the offer, of course. I was surprised and overwhelmed when I saw it: it was basic coupled with language premium that was 3 times of the basic. The offer was rarely given even for administrative positions abroad. To further encourage my fellow Asa’tidz, the total package for Arabic bilingual here usually plays 50-80 thousand gross depending on the experience and the Line of Business LOB. And so, I passionately consider it as a Hidden Treasure. In conclusion, I would like to remind you, my dear friends that everything happens for a reason. And one of the lessons we could all learn from this Pandemic is to be more strategic and creative in life. Indeed, in learning Arabic coupled with emerging skills is a decent livelihood for us and for our loved ones, not to mention the immeasurable happiness felt while sailing the deep oceans of the old classical Arabic books. Always remember that though Tawakkul and Tawa’kul (both Arabic) are of the same root-word but have the East and the West distance: The former connotes Trust in the Almighty One after one’s doing its part, whereas the latter merely denotes one’s skepticism in the shadow of trust in the Almighty. ID

amboanga City — An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member surrendered to the military in Basilan on Sunday bringing to a total of Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), on Monday said the intensified non-combat operations of the military units in Basilan led to the surrender of Abdul Asnulan Akil, a.k.a. Abz, a resident of Barangay Kamamburingan, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan Province. “Akil is a member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group under Radzmil Jannatul, a.k.a. Khubayb. He has a standing warrant of arrest for murder,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. The surrendered ASG member handed over one M1 Garand rifle with magazine and 18 rounds of ammunition. “Akil was involved in a massacre in Kamamburingan last April 22, 2018, wherein four civilians were beheaded,” said Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan.

11 of the dreaded group who have surrendered to the government since January.

SURRENDER TOWARDS PEACEFUL LIFE: Abdul Asnulan Akil, an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member aiming to attain a peaceful life has surrendered to the military in Basilan by turning over his service firearm an M1 Garand rifle to the military during the surrender. Akil is resident of Barangay Kamamburingan, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan Province. (Contributed Photo) “His surrender is attributed to our peace efforts facilitated by the different intelligence units here in Basilan,” Brig. Gen. Gobway added. Akil is currently undergoing custodial debriefing at the Headquarters of 101st Infantry Brigade/JTF Basilan in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City, the same

province. He will subsequently be turned over to PNP-Basilan for proper disposition. During the initial debriefing, Akil said he is starving while evading the government forces. He is happy that he now has a chance to start anew and live in peace. “We hope that those who remain in hiding

RAMADAN | from Page A9

Ramadan fasting not about Hunger This is what makes us more conscious of God: We become more conscious of his blessings. When we become more conscious of His blessings upon us, we become more conscious of how we use those blessings ourselves. We in turn become more conscious of those who don’t have regular access to those blessings that we are voluntarily refraining from. We become more

intentional about channeling those blessings to those we may have otherwise forgotten. The great Muslim scholar and sage Imam Ibn Rajab once said, “Some of the pious predecessors were asked, “Why has fasting been instituted? They responded, ‘So that the rich will taste hunger and thus will not forget the hungry.’” So what may be lost

on many of us regarding the fasting of Ramadan is that it’s just as much about filling our souls and transforming our society with goodness as it is about restraining our bodies from food and drink. We live our best selves in Ramadan; we fall in love with it despite its restrictions. What may surprise some is that most Muslims actually enjoy Ramadan so much that they grieve

will follow the footsteps of Akil. Rest assured that we will give our full support during their reintegration process,” said Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. Since January 2021, a total of 11 ASG members have surrendered to the military in Basilan. JIJ

when the month comes to an end. We miss reading the Quran throughout the day and in long nights of prayer, and pushing ourselves to be charitable through it all: charitable with our wealth, with our words and with our spirits to everyone around us. We come to the realization that true happiness is in feeding the soul and being satisfied with your sustenance, that prayer is better than sleep and that charity is better than consumption. The Salt Lake Tribune

SPDA | from Page A7

SPDA marks 46th Founding Anniversary sans fanfare Early this year, there would have been significant projects of SPDA that were set to be launched had it not been for the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) in Davao City. Among these pro-

jects included the development of the agricultural lands within the 25,000-hectare proclaimed SPDA property in the municipalities of Wao and Amai Manabilang (formerly Bumbaran), Lanao del Sur. KENNEMER Foods International, a Dutch Company, had commit-

ted to develop the 500 hectares for its cacao production; Asia Pacific Precision Agriculture Group (ASPAC AG), an American company, also vowed to develop 2,000 hectares in the area for its corn production, and Dole Philippines, Inc., also promised to cultivate 3,000

hectares planned business.

for the pineapple

Other projects that were set to be launched this year included SPDA’s poultry project in Sulop, Davao del Sur, as well as the construction of the Authority’s business center in Zamboanga City. PR

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

A11

VACCINE | from Page A5

Vaccination of ‘general populace’ might start in August with comorbidities have been vaccinated since the government’s vaccine rollout started on March 1. Galvez said beginning August, the country is slated to receive a stable supply of around 15 to 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from various pharmaceutical firms -- Sinovac -Biotech, Gamaleya Research Institute, Moderna, Novavax, Johnson&Johnson, AstraZeneca, PfizerBioNtech and from the COVAX Facility. He said the government will also conduct a symbolic vaccination in time of the observance of Labor Day on May 1. Malacañang earlier said around 5,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been re-

served for minimum wage earners and OFWs included in the A4 vaccination group in time for the observance of Labor Day. 3-year long-haul plan Galvez bared the government's threeyear long-haul plan to boost the country's healthcare system capability and resilience to respond to the public health crisis in the future. Among the government's long-term plan objectives include pandemic containment strategy for 2021, eliminating Covid-19 stigma in 2022, and achieve health self-sufficiency or preparation for future pandemic and disaster by 2023. This year, the gov-

ernment targets to boost the PreventDetect-IsolateTreatmentReintegration strategy to further halt the Covid -19 transmission within communities. More intensive care units (ICUs) and hospital beds dedicated to Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms will be put up, Galvez said. He called on the local government units to intensify their respective barangay Covid-19 responses as the national government will mobilize more health human resources. "And also, we will establish an economic resilience in terms of strengthening minimum health standards and quarantine policies," he added.

In 2022, Galvez said the government aims to entirely eliminate the Covid-19 virus for the county's full economic recovery. The government will also push for the active participation of the country's private pharmaceutical companies and Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP) for vaccine security in the future. "We will also hold a social healing program to negate the stigma of Covid-19," Galvez said. In 2023, the government will push for the modernization of the Philippine Health Care System, he added. Address social stigma Galvez cited the importance of addressing the social stigma

associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. He said it is part of the government's national action plan to establish an "after-care and social healing program" for Covid-19 survivors and others affected by the pandemic. "Kasi nakita po talaga natin yung stigma sa Covid19 napakataas, marami pong tumatawag sakin, pami-pamilya na nagbre-breakdown (We have seen the increasing cases of Covid-19 stigma, many are contacting me, even families are having breakdowns)," he said. Galvez disclosed that there are also cases of suicide due to the pandemic.

"This is a very serious problem. After we undertake or eliminated the disease, we will elaborate the social healing and mental care program in our national action plan," he said. The government will further push for reconstitution of the country's mental care system, which was greatly affected by the stigma brought by the Covid19 pandemic, he added. "We have talked to the experts so that we can explore the socalled further mental care and social healing after this pandemic," Galvez said. PNA

mand of the local market which imports P500M worth of Jackfruit from Vietnam and Thailand every year,” the MinDA secretary advised. He said the production of Hass Avocado seedlings is also hampered by the lack of grafting materials prompting some nursery operators to import mother trees from California. In Mindanao, Dole

Philippines started planting Hass Avocados many years ago and the company is now exporting to China. “I have gained access to four mother trees planted by Dole Philippines in Talakag, Bukidnon allowing us to graft about 4,000 seedlings,” he said. For this year, Pinol said, “I will go full blast in my production of both Abuyog Sweet and Hass Avocado

seedlings and I will ask the region's nursery operators to unite and set seedlings production targets.” Pinol who was a former mayor of Mlang municipality and governor of North Cotabato said “I will convince Mindanao local government units (LGUs) to allocate funds for the procurement of seedlings which they could distribute to their farmers under a "Plant-Now

-Pay-Later" program.” Government Financing Institutions will also be asked to create a loaning window for high value fruit trees production. Alone, we would be selling fruits in makeshift shacks along the highway but together, Mindanao's fruit farmers could build a competitive Jackfruit and Hass Avocado industry which could lift up rural families from poverty. JIJ

MINDA | from Page A6

Green Mindanao Project Pinol added that “what stands in the way of this program is the availability of planting materials owing mainly to very limited grafting materials and the ugly habit of many plant propagators of keeping their scions to themselves.” He said one of the major plant propagators of Mindanao, Dr. Pablito Pamplona, came to his Braveheart Farm and Nursery to

ask if he could buy scions of the Abuyog Sweet Jackfruit which he grows. “I told Dr. Pamplona that I am sharing the scions for free adding that Mindanao will not be able to develop a viable Abuyog Sweet Jackfruit industry if the farmers only plant a few trees,” he revealed. “To develop a viable Jackfruit Industry, Mindanao must produce volume and fill the de-

POPCOM | from Page A6

POPCOM-inspired short film adjudged best int’l documentary in Ireland Members of the film’s production team commented that: “Joining POPCOM’s film festival was a good opportunity for young adults like us to be exposed to the realities of today’s alarming issues.

This documentary we produced reflected the actual experiences of our fellow students in their desire to help their families financially, while sustaining their own education. The film is our way of communi-

cating our story. It enabled us to understand the situation as an essential step in achieving social change.” Since its production in 2019, the film has been part of the official selections of various

international film festivals in 2020, such as the Newark International Film Festival in USA; International Children’s Rights Film Festival in Istanbul, Turkey; Festival Film Bahari in West Java, Indonesia; Gold-

en Tree International Documentary Festival in Hessen, Germany; and DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The documentary may be viewed in POP-

COM’s official YouTube channel through this link: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch? v=RIRmoXeYr8g . PR Muslimedia.PH

KORMA | from Page A5

Saudi-donated ‘korma’ for Muslims on Ramadan remain undistributed As this developed, Secretary Pangarungan had already requested the Office of Civil Defense in Camp Aguinaldo in transporting these dates to the recipients in Visayas

and Mindanao using the C-130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). However the NCMF officials are still waiting as of this writing on the availability of the PAF

cargo plane. Meanwhile, some people who are privy to the allocation of the distribution of dates said these are not well allocated. An NCMF employee seeking anonym-

ity said there is disparity in the distribution of boxes of dates wherein for a single box it has 20 small packages in all. He cited for example the Municipality of

Tubod in Lanao del Norte it is allocated with 20 boxes of dates. Whereas for the Provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan are allocated with 10 boxes each. But he asked how come

Tubod a single municipality is allocated with 20 boxes. Unlike these two mentioned provinces they have a total of 20 boxes. This is notwithstanding Basilan Province has two cities the Isabela City and Lamitan City. JIJ

Tourism

A12

SWEET CHILI CHICKEN

Vol. I, No. 46 | April 30-May 6, 2021 (Ramadan 18-24, 1442)

RAMADAN: A Season of Plenty By JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D.

BANGSAMORO HALAL DISH With Maria Fhebie Ortil

weet chili chicken is an easy recipe with crispy chicken and Thai sweet chili sauce. This chicken recipe is so good you will want to lick the plate! This is naturally a Halal recipe good for dinner especially in this time of Ramadan. INGREDIENTS 12 oz. (340 g) skinless boneless chicken breast/thigh, cut into small pieces oil, for deep-frying 1 tablespoon oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 tablespoons bottled Thai sweet chili sauce 1 teaspoon lime juice 1 pinch salt 1/2 teaspoon white sesame /2 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves FRYING BATTER: 1 egg white 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup water, ice cold 1 tablespoon cooking oil 1 pinch salt INSTRUCTIONS Mix all the ingredients for the Batter until well combine. Add the chicken into the batter. Heat up a wok/skillet with about two inches of oil. As soon as the oil is fully heated, deep-fry the chicken until golden brown. Transfer the chicken out to a dish lined with paper towels to sock up the excess oil. Clean the wok/skillet and heat it up on medium heat. Add the oil and stir-fry the garlic until aromatic. Transfer the fried chicken into the wok, follow by the sweet chili sauce, lime juice and salt. Stir to coat the chicken well with the sweet chili sauce. Dish out, garnish with the white sesame and cilantro leave. Serve immediately. MFO

he blessed month of Ramadan has reached its 17th or 18th day today (Friday, April 30, 2021). It’s already going downhill and in a few more days the grand celebration of ‘Eidl Fitr’ shall come. In Tawi-Tawi, especially in Bongao, the month of Ramadan is always a ‘season of plenty’. Plenty in the sense that people during this holy and blessed month could earn several benefits in several aspects - spiritually, economically and their physical well-being to name a few. During the month of Ramadan, devotees are encouraged to observe Islamic religious rites and rituals, recitation of verses in Quran, do more communal prayers and supplications, retreats and do charity works and many more which are aimed to enrich their spiritual wellbeing in this world and hereafter. The economic advantage goes with the fast exchanges of goods, foods and services - where almost everything is in demand ranging from agricultural and marine products. Small sellers of homemade products like native cakes, snacks items and drinks, fresh bounties from the sea like seashells, sea urchins, seaweeds and exotic seafoods become bestsellers for

‘iftars’ of fasting persons. The latter will almost and always swoop at these ‘offerings’ to whet their appetites after a day long fasting. A modest earnings for the small sellers could tide them up for the rest of the months after the fasting

season. Physically, it has been proven by science that fasting is beneficial to one's physical body. “The proven benefits include improved sleep and evidence of reduced risk of some cancers, in particular, breast can-

cer.” Experts have also found that restricting food intake during the day can help prevent health problems such as high cholesterol, heart disease and obesity, as well as improve mental health and wellbeing. JRL

Small vendors are beneficiaries of good earnings in the onth of Ramadan. (JRL)