NCMF-Region XII Provincial Office bet Said Saiduna (2nd, left), champion of the 47th and this year’s 48th NQRC is joined by NCMF-BMCA Officer-in-Charge Director Atty. Michael Mito-on Ali (left), NCMF-CARAGA (Region XIII) Regional Director Datu Mama S. Sinsuat (right) and NCMF-Region XII (SOCKSARGEN) Provincial Office Director-designate Ms. Aida Seddic (owner of photo).
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-qqh
By EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
MANILA (SDN) — The 48th National Qur’an Reading Competition (NQRC) defending champion Said Saiduna and Sabaha Salik, both of General Santos City, Region XII, won the 2023 edition of the Qur’anic event on February 23.
Champions Saiduna and Ms. Salik and the rest of the four runners up in the male and female categories are all of the Maguindanaon tribe, making it a sweep in the 48th year edition of the annual event. This marks, perhaps, the first time Maguindanaon readers won all the six honors in the long history of the Islamic competition.
NCMF Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr., CESO II, in a light mood with NCMF Secretary/CEO Guiling A. Mamondiong (left). They are awaiting the arrival at the 48th NQRC venue of Senator Robin ‘Abdul Aziz’ F. Padilla. (Photo: SDN — SciTech and Digital News)
With a donation from Senator Robinhood “Abdul Aziz” F. Padilla in the amount of Php100,000, the champions received a cash prize each of Php50,000 (including the yearly prize (a total of Php120,000) from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), provided as cash for the six winners.
NCMF Secretary/CEO Atty. Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong exhorted the participants to continue their striving as they promote the reading of the Muslim Noble Qur’an.
Male and female readers Saiduna and Salik represented the NCMF-Region XII Provincial Office headed by Director-designate Ms. Aida Seddic. She accompanied the duo at the event held at Bahay Alumni Building, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Campus, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
The male bet of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Sadhan Zacaria, emerged 3rd Runner Up, winning Php25,000 cash prize.
NCMF-Region XII Provincial Director Ms. Aida Seddic (right) and 48th NQRC champions Said Saiduna and Ms. Sabaha Salik, both representing NCMF-Region XII Provincial Office. Each won Php50,000 cash prize.
Here is the complete list of the winners of the 2023 NQRC and their cash prize:
Male Category
Champion
SAID SAIDUNA (Php50,000)
General Santos City
2nd Runner Up
Amid Pasandalan (Php35,000)
General Santos City
3rd Runner Up
Sadhan Zacaria (Php25,000),
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
Female Category
Champion
SABAHA SALIK (Php50,000)
General Santos City
2nd Runner Up
Rahana Ambangala (Php35,000)
SOCKSARGEN — Region XII
3rd Runner Up
Norolain Macasikang (Php25,000)
CARAGA (Region XIII)
SOCKSARGEN stands for South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos. On the other hand, CARAGA is Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
Champions in the NQRC are sent to compete in international Qur’an reading contests, among them in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brunei, and other countries.
Contestants in the international Qur’anic events represent their country and, thus, serve as ambassadors of good will. They get the opportunity to learn more about each other and affirm the strong brotherhood among members of the global Ummah (Islamic community.
In some instances when the champions are not available any of the runners up are sent instead to international competitions.
For the Philippines, it is also an occasion to strengthen cultural relations with hosts Muslim and Arab countries. (/)