NCMF Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim cites multiple winner Raihana G. Ambangala as a national pride for placing Philippines in the world of Qur’an Reading Competition
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QUEZON CITY (SDN) — Muslim Filipinos have been winning as champion, second place, and third place in various international Qur’an reading competitions.
In the process they have etched the Philippines in the annals and map of the Islamic competition winners even as representatives from the country also served as ambassadors of goodwill.
Participants in such international competitions, such as in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Muslim countries are able to meet and know each other, giving them an opportunity to introduce — even unwittingly — their respective cultures. Essentially, traveling and person-to-person contacts are learning experiences that can’t be replaced by just reading and watching cultural shows on TV, in smartphones, in YouTube and other social media platforms.
Comes now the 64th International Al-Qur’an Recital and Memorization Assembly (IAQRMA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, being conducted annually by the government of Malaysia, with national winners from many countries competing for honors and prestige.
Sheikh Sabuddin N. Abdurahim of Tawi-Tawi, the secretary and CEO of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), with NCMF Commissioner Atty. Michael M. Mamukid, among others, led the Philippine delegation to Malaysia for the Islamic event on October 5 to 12.
With them, of course, were Saidi Saiduna and Raihana G. Ambangala, the champions of the 2024 49th National Qur’an Reading Competition (NQRC) organized and hosted by the NCMF on April 18, this year at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Campus, Quezon City, Metro Manila. As champions they earned the honors to carry the name of and represent the Philippines in the Malaysian competition.
With the second place honors the 28 years old Ambangala of the Maguindanaon tribe brought home, the NCMF head has made a very important point that past heads of the Commission had missed noticing, or expressing.
Abdurahim, appointed to the NCMF by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. earlier this year, noted the significance of the Maguindanaon Qur’an reader’s second place achievement in a field of 13 female Qur’an readers from various countries.
The NCMF secretary said a total of 72 countries were present for the competition: 50 participants in the Recitation Category and 40 in the Memorization Category. Male and female participants have separate categories.
Host Malaysia’s contestant bagged the championship crown, and Indonesia in third place.
Ambangala of Pikit, North Cotabato, Abdurahim said, “is a national pride” for the honors she brought for the country from the international competition.
Ambangala takes home Php400,000 cash prize
“The NCMF is proud to share not only to the Filipino Muslim community but to the whole Philippine nation the triumph of (Raihana G.) Ambangala who bannered the Philippine flag in an international arena,” the NCMF head points out.
While at this, he suggested that Filipino winners who bring honors to the country in international competitions, regardless of the nature of the events, including cultural, should be bestowed national recognition, too.
“Just like how Filipino athletes bring home pride to the country, Filipinos who excel at a global arena — in a competition organized by reputable foreign governments like Malaysia, which hosts this annual competition since 1961 — should also be recognized. And so, the NCMF shares this good news to the Filipino people,” Abdurahim emphasizes.
Surely, the NCMF’s sentiments are shared by his fellow Philippine Muslims and, hopefully, Sen. Robin “Abdul Aziz” Padilla would take notice and lead the push for this national recognition.
For there have been many champions in international Qur’anic competitions but Malacanang has always been tone deaf and blind, some observers said.
NCMF Commissioner Michael M. Mamukid, a lawyer, backed the NCMF’s suggestion to give Filipino winners in international events be accorded recognition in whatever events, sports, academic, cultural, and others.
Mamukid also agreed that Ambangala has become a national pride for his achievement.
In 2018, Ambangala was fifth place in the same event, but a champion in the Southeast Asian Youth Qur’an Reading Competition in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, in 2015.
Malaysia gives a sizable cash prize for winners of the competition, which the Filipino second placer would invest. “I plan to start a small business with the prize money. Also, I hope to compete again next year,” the mother of two who performs out of SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) says.
Her cash prize as second place winner is 30,000 Malaysian ringgit, which is roughly Php402,000.
In relation with the competition, Abdurahim revealed that the NCMF will propose to the government the Philippines to host an International Qur’an Reading Competition (IQRC) in 2026, simultaneously when the country hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the same year.
“It’s been decades since the Philippines hosted an IQRC. More than a religious undertaking, it is in line with the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s state policy to promote indigenous culture within the framework of national unity and development,” the NCMF head says.
Adhering to Qur’an’s teachings lead to straight path
To accomplish this, Abdurahim said he 0will try to get the help of the National Organizing Council (NOC) for the Philippine hosting of the ASEAN Summit meetings next year. Marcos established the NOC Administrative Order No. 17, series of 2024.
The NOC was created to organize, manage, and supervise all major and ancillary programs, activities, and projects related to the hosting of ASEAN 2026 in the country.
It seems, fortunately, that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is one off the members of the ASEAN NOC as the NCMF is under the DILG’s supervision. The DILG will lead the NOC’s Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee.
“A Philippine hosting of an IQRC in 2026 to be participated in by ASEAN Plus Three (APT) — consisting of 10 ASEAN Member States and the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea – is timely and supportive of the APT’s socio-cultural cooperations,” the NCMF head says.
He adds: “The Qur’an is the Holy Book of Islam. It teaches peaceful living, coexistence, charity, and all other good things. Promoting awareness and knowledge of what Islam is in line with the government’s peacekeeping mission. A Philippine-hosted IQRC is also a celebration of Philippine diversity,” he said.
The Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (NCMF-BMCA) organizes the annual Regional and National Qur’an Reading competitions. Winners of the national edition receives the honors of representing the Philippines in international competitions.
At the 49th NQRC at Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, the NCMF headed cited the Qur’an’s importance in the life of Islam believers, saying it is “our guide as we navigate through our worldly affairs.”
“We will not go astray,” Abdurahim emphasizes, if “we only live by the words of the Qur’an.”
With Abdurahim, head of delegation, in the Philippine group were Atty. Michael Mito-on J. Ali as assistant head; BMCA Cultural Chief Sawia N. Punut as coordinator/focal person; Commissioner Michael M. Mamukid; Commissioner Datu Ras S. Lidasan, Jr.; Commissioner Dalisay Macadawan; Chief of Staff Atty. Hassanal Abdurahim; Director Adzhar Albani, Atty. Jehan Jehan Lepail; Director Masideng M. Salic; Director Haidee Ampatuan; and BMCA Staff as Secretariat. (♡)