Philippine Muslim Today

Lessons from Philippine Presidents

“It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times”

Homobono A. Adaza | A8

Mehol K. Sadain | A7

Will the extension of BTA‟s term ipso facto extend the term of its officials?

Bayan G. Balt | A8

Appointment of Arabic-speaking teachers proves moral governance

Abdul Hannan M. Tago | A5

Muslim today PHILIPPINE

Save the Earth (Page B5)

The Muslim National Digital Newspaper | Bearer of Glad Tidings.

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442) | 2 Sections | 16 Pages

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Sulu braces lockdown amid threats of new Coronavirus strain

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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AMBOANGA CITY: The province of Sulu is bracing for a lockdown from January 4 to 17 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and residents based abroad or elsewhere in the country who want to go home or those who plan to leave the province have less than a week to finalize their decisions before local officials start closing the province borders, military officials said.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said they have deployed troops to guard the borders of Sulu including Tawi-Tawi in the southernmost part of the Philippines to protect the areas against the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus reported in Sabah, Malaysia.

“This is upon the request of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan amid the threats of new strain of Coronavirus that started in the United Kingdom and there was a report of this new variant of Coronavirus in Malaysia,” said Vinluan.

Vinluan said they are maximizing their capabilities to keep the contagion offshore.

“The command supports the decision of the provincial government of Sulu and we already deployed additional troops to secure the border and to disallow entry of passenger vessels from Sabah,” he added.

“The navy vessels of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao will conduct patrol in the maritime borders of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the Zamboanga Peninsula to prevent the entry of inflicted individuals to our area of operation,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. added. JIJ

Big chunks of P75.6-B BARMM’s 2021 budget set for infra, education, health concerns

By ALI G. MACABALANG

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim, right, handed the 2021 BARMM budget bill to Regional Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong.

(Photo suppplied) COTABATO CITY: In its bid to squarely address high illiteracy rate and dismal infrastructure facilities alongside rising

demands for health and medical services in the autonomous region, the Bangsamoro interim government has allocat-

ed big chunks of its P75.6-billion budget in 2021 for the education, public works and health sectors.

As Congress regularly appropriates the biggest portion of national budgets for education, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament in its budgeting outputs for 2020 and 2021 did the same on even higher degree since its own domain is known for having the highest rate of illiteracy across the nation.

BUDGET | A3

Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan.

GenSan unit carves MSU spot in global education map

By ALI G. MACABALANG

Dr. Anshari P. Ali during his investiture as 6th Chancellor of MSU-GenSan Campus in 2019, GENERAL SANTOS CITY: The Mindanao State University (MSU) system after years of existence has gradually gained a notable spot in the global education map, courtesy of the trailblazing operations of its satellite campus here.

Full Story on Page A3

63 BARMM -absorbed villages to continue getting IRA from North Cotabato COTABATO CITY: North Cotabato’s 63 barangays (villages), which the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) absorbed after the plebiscites on January 21 and February 6, 2019, will continue to receive their regular internal revenue allotments (IRAs) from their municipal and provincial mother– units.

Full Story on Page A2

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The Bangsamoro

Cotabato City DepEd, schools in 63 NortCot towns now under BARMM

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

63 BARMM-absorbed villages to continue receiving IRA from North Cotabato

By ALI G. MACABALANG

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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OTABATO CITY: North Cotabato‟s 63 barangays (villages), which the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) absorbed after the plebiscites on January 21 and February 6, 2019, will continue to receive their regular internal revenue allotments (IRAs) from their municipal and provincial mother–units.

DepEd-XII Regional Director Allan Farnazo, left, represented DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones for the formal signing of the instrument of turnover between the DepEd-National and MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal, right. (Contributed Photo) COTABATO CITY: The Department of Education (DepEd-National) has now officially completed the transfer since Monday the management and integration of the DepEd Cotabato City Division, along with schools from 63 barangays in North Cotabato, to the Bangsamoro Government‟s Education Ministry, the Education Minister said.

Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) told the Philippine Muslim Today that Schools Division Office (SDO) of DepEdCotabato City turned over a total of 83 schools of which 43 are public, 39 private, and 1-State University/secondary school.

Meanwhile, North Cotabato turned over 103 schools which comprised of 85 elementary and 18 secondary schools, Iqbal said.

Of these schools, 2,195 teaching personnel are from Cotabato City division and 2,380 are from North Cotabato Province.

Regional Director Allan Farnazo of DepEdXII handed over the turnover documents to Education Minister Iqbal during a ceremony held at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Bangsamoro Government Center in the city recently.

Farnazo represented DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones for the formal signing of the instrument of turnover between the DepEdNational and MBHTE Minister Iqbal.

“I have no doubt that we [MBHTE and DepEd] will have a rich and fruitful partnership.

We will be working together and be considering the national interest as well as the historical, cultural, and distinct identity of BARMM expressed in its system of education,” Briones said via a video message.

Briones also stressed that the educational environment of the BARMM is going to be a subsystem of national government‟s educational system characterized by synergy and interconnection.

“This is indeed a very happy day. Today‟s ceremony is a day not just of a transition but also of integration, unity, and peace,” Briones added.

Meanwhile, MBHTE Minister Iqbal ensured in his acceptance speech that the ministry will observe the principles of moral governance towards improving public performance, delivery of education services, and reducing gaps in the Bangsamoro education sector.

COTABATO | A7

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM spokesman, made this clarification after the national government through Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año formally turned over to the autonomous bureaucracy the supervision authority over the 63 barangays alongside this city last Dec. 15.

Sinarimbo, serving mainly as BARMM’s Interior and Local Government Minister, said he and North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Alaan Catamco had talked over the phone on Dec. 28, and the latter told him that Manila will still be coursing the IRAs of the 63 villages through the provincial government and the local government units of the mother towns.

He corroborated the governor’s explanation.

He said that while the supervision authority has been delegated to the BARM bureaucracy, particularly his ministry, the matter of IRA releases for the 63 villages has yet to be properly sorted out by the Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB).

The IGRB, cochaired by Finance

MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, left, and North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco.

Secretary Sonny Dominguez for the national government and Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal for the BARMM, was created

by President Duterte to facilitate the devolution of powers, functions and assets of the national line agencies to their counterpart entities in the BARMM bureaucracy.

Its creation was meant to do away with past sad experiences exemplified in the incomplete devolution of national line agencies’ functions to their regional counterparts in the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Some line agencies, including the Department of Environment of Environment and Natu-

ral Resources, the Department of Education and the DILG, have already devolved corresponding authorities and assets to the regional government.

The national government and the BARMM bureaucracy, through the IGRB, have yet to iron out the eventual transfer of authorities and assets from other national line agencies, it was learned.

Understandably, the component barangays of this city will also continue to receive their regular IRAs through the city hall until the national and BARMM governments shall have fully ironed out the related processes.

At a media party hosted by the BARMM’s Bangsamoro Infor-

mation here on Dec. 23, Sinarimbo revealed challenges facing the regional government, citing as example the ―circuitous flow‖ of releases of funds for the autonomous entity that purportedly involves the role even of Koronadal City-based agencies in Region XII. Sinarimbo said the IGRB has yet to straighten out the fiscal processes.

The regional parliament has a role to play and solve the issue of ―circuitous flow‖ of funds, by passing laws creating regional counterpart agency for the Department of Budget and Management, MP Khadafeh Mangudadatu told the Philippine Muslim Today earlier. AGM

Challenges, gains in BARMM transition cited

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angsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officials are optimistic of bright prospects in the future as they reported out some gains their transitional governance has achieved amid challenges that hinge mainly on temporal limits.

At the Chief Minister‟s Hour, a sort of year-end report, on Dec. 23, BARMM chieftain Ahod “Al-Haj Murad” Ebrahim cited

By ALI G. MACABALANG

BARMM Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

challenges facing the interim government throughout its transition period, which he said prompted the call for an extension in the interim governance from 2022 to 2025.

“The transitional environment sets some limitations in instituting changes and reforms in the BARMM,” Ebrahim said, referring to a provision in R.A. 11054 (Bangsamoro organic Law) that sets the end of the BangCHALLENGES | C2

Mindanao

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

BUDGET | from Page A1

GenSan unit carves MSU spot in global education map

Big chunks of P75.6-B...

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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ENERAL SANTOS CITY: The Mindanao State University (MSU) system after years of existence has gradually gained a notable spot in the global education map, courtesy of the trailblazing operations of its satellite campus here.

The feat has been exemplified in the receipt of local, national and international accolades and citations by the current leadership of the MSU-General Santos (GenSan) campus.

Foremost of the citations was received by Dr. Anshari Ali, the 6th chancellor of the MSUGenSan Campus, from the prestigious 2019 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Club’s Outstanding Peace Educator Award.

UNESCO officials handed the plaque to Chancellor Ali at a formal ceremony in San Fernando City, Pampanga on Dec. 7, 2019, according to published narratives.

Dr. Ali, excelling academically against the setbacks of being orphan at young age, has since continued to be cited by various entities, including the city government here, the South Cotabato Sanngguniang Panlalawigan, the Office of Senator Manny Pacquiao, and some members of Congress, among many others.

Awarding entities cited Ali for his innovative leadership feats as well as his authorship of a book titled ―The Evolution of Islamic Law in the Philippines: History Texts and Analysis‖ published by the MSU-GenSan campus in 2009, alongside three internationally articles on Philippine Islamic Family Law, Secularism in the Application of Islamic Family Law in the Philippines, and Legal Impediments of the Application of Islamic Family Law in the Philippines.

Ali wrote the book and the three articles while he was administering in 1992 as assistant dean the College of Law extension of the MSU field campus here, which he served first as faculty members. The college extension has since produced more

Dr. Anshari P. Ali during his investiture as 6th Chancellor of MSU-GenSan Campus in 2019, left; and in a casual dress, right. than 150 practicing lawyers nowadays.

Rise to Chancellorship Impressed of his ―honest and diligent‖ works in the College of Law extension unit, organized deans, faculty members and administrative officials succeeded in nominating Dr. Ali to the MSU system’s Board of Regents in its screening of candidates for MSU-GenSan campus chancellorship, according to audit unit chief Lorraine Sarigala.

The Board chaired by the Commission on Higher Education approved the appointment of Dr. Ali as the 6th chancellor of the MSU field unit on Dec. 16, 2018, after a recordsetting selection process done for the ―first time without political influence,‖ Sarigala said.

Thousands of campus constituents swarmed the MSUGenSan gym here to witness the formal investiture of Ali by dignitaries led by CHED officials on April 8, 2019, she said.

Commitments and mission In his published investiture speech, Ali vowed to exemplify a regime anchored on three principles: ―Reliance to the divine guidance for leadership; Sincerity in fulfilling duties; and Commitment for academic excellence,‖ assuring to expand linkages to other universities and research agencies in Southeast Asia and international community.

Sarigala said Chancellor Ali spent his first week in office with the revitalization of the cam-

pus’ Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM), resulting to the establishment of collaborative links on peace and integration programs with national government agencies, international organizations and nongovernment entities such as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, the local government units in Region XII, and agencies of the United Nations.

Dr. Ali created the Office of International and External Affairs (OIEA), leading him to ink formal partnership pacts with academes in Asia, Middle East and USA like the Institute Agama Islam Negara, Pekalongan of Indonesia, Al-Suhri Institute of Higher Learning of Singapore, Sultan Sharif Ali University of Brunie Darussalam, Politeknic Piksi Ganesha of Indonesia, Sharjah University of the United Arab Emirates, International Islamic University College of Selangor, Malaysia, University Technology Mara (UTM), Malysia, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He also put up the University Press and Communication Office (UPCO) to promote the GenSan campus as a premier institution of higher education with special mandate to ―provide excellent quality education for our young generation including the marginalized peoples among the Muslims and indigenous communities.‖ ―Through the UPCO, we have significantly increased the presence and visibility of the uni-

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versity in social media by sharing news items and information on recent events in the university and through posting of state-of theart infographics and digital contents,‖ Ali said.

The UPCO takes the lead in the development of the contents of MSU official website to showcase the university’s investments toward internationalization and the promotion of peace and integration in Mindanao, he said.

Yearend Report In his recent yearend report, Chancellor Ali enumerated the ―fruits of good performance‖ of the MSUunit, such as the production of 17 topnotch alumni from the College of Education in the 2019 Licensure Examination for Teachers, the College of Fisheries’ gain of 3rd place among the 2019 best Philippine Schools on fisheries technology, the College of Agriculture’s 5th place in the 2019 best Philippine schools to study Agriculture, the College of Engineering as top 7th among the 2019 best Philippine Schools to study engineering.

He cited successful rehabilitation works on the campus dormitories, its infirmary, and other administrative edifices , as well as the construction of a pre-school building for children of campus personnel facing difficulties in attending classes outside the MSU-GenSan campus compound.

Ali described as a major feat cum challenge the ongoing conMSU | B3

But local education authorities assert that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM’s) lowest literacy rate is premised by the national government on its conventional or regular curriculum assessments.

In Arabic, which is also a universal language, BARMM has the highest literacy rate all-over the country, according to members of the Ulama (Islamic scholars) Council of the Philippines.

They said the provision of biggest budget for education is imperative since the BARMM bureaucracy integrates not only Arabic education with regular (English and Pilipino) instructions but has also fused functions of three agencies – Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education Skills Development Authority, and Education Department – through the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE).

The BTA Parliament passed on Dec. 23 the ₱75.6-billion 2021 budget of the BARMM government, with interim Chief Minister Ahod ―Hadji Murad‖ Ebrahim signing the enabling bill into law instantly.

Under the 2021 regional budget, the MBHTE is appropriated with M ₱23.5 share, which constitutes largely salaries for close to 13,000 regular curriculum teachers and hundreds of Arabic mentors, it was learned.

The Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) got the second largest appropriation at ₱10.2 billion, followed by the Ministry of Public Works’ ₱15.7 billion budget.

The Ministry of Health is allocated with ₱5.1 billion share, while the Ministry of Social Services and Development is appropriated with ₱3.3 billion.

The Bangsamoro Information Office (formerly Bureau of Public Information) said the 2021 budget, with ₱11.2 billion allocated for Special Purpose Fund, is broken down as follows: Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) – ₱10.2 billion Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management (MFBM) – ₱389.6 million Ministry of Social, Services, and Development (MSSD) – ₱3.3 billion Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT) – ₱323.5 million Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) – ₱274.1 million Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) – ₱623.2 million Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) – ₱23.5 billion Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) – ₱105.2 million Ministry of Health (MOH) – ₱5.1 billion Ministry of Public Works (MPW) – ₱15.7 billion Ministry of Interior Local Government (MILG) – ₱1.05 billion Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) – ₱553.7 million Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD) – ₱811 million Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) – ₱197.2 million Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reforms (MAFAR) – ₱1.5 billion Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) – ₱108.8 million Office of the Wali – ₱33 million Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) – ₱85 million Bangsamoro Attorney General Office (BAGO) – ₱41 million Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) – ₱97.4 million Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) – ₱71.6 million Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) – ₱76.7 million BUDHET | C2

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The Nation

PTFoMS marks landmark conviction of Ampatuan massacre suspects

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

MinDA backs bamboo growing for environmental, eco gains

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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IDAPAWAN CITY: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is now endorsing giant bamboo growing as a potential measure for community environmental preservation and lucrative economic profits among farmers at the same time.

AMPATUAN MASSACRE VERDICT. The legal counsels (foreground) and the accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case await the verdict at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Dec. 19, 2019. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security on Saturday (Dec. 19, 2020), commemorated the landmark decision of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes who found 197 accused guilty, including eight members of the Ampatuan clan, for the gruesome murder of 58 people, including 32 media workers, on Nov. 29, 2009 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. (Screengrab from PTV-4) MALACANANG, Manila: The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) commemorated the 1st anniversary of the guilty verdict handed down by Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn SolisReyes on the Ampatuan Massacre case that was handed over in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on December 19 last year.

In a statement furnished to the Philippine Muslim Today, the PTFoMS also called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to heed the cries for justice of the victims’ real families and colleagues by classifying the case as resolved.

The task force also vowed to remain steadfast and relentless in its efforts to arrest the remaining suspects.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), a member of PTFoMS, released an order to intensify the manhunt for the suspects who remain at large and placed a bounty for the capture of suspects Datu Bahnarin A. Ampatuan and Datu Saudi Ampatuan Jr. at PhP 300,000 each. The reward for the arrest of the remaining suspects was set at Php250,000 each.

PTFoMS made these statements to commemorate the landmark decision that found 197 accused guilty, including eight (8) members of the Ampatuan clan, for the gruesome murder of 58 people that took place on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Among the victims were 32 media workers. ―More than a decade has passed since this horrifying crime against free speech and humanity has happened. Many, in fact, doubted that justice will be obtained in our lifetime. It took the political will of the Duterte administration to finally convict the suspects. Once more, I have nothing but praises for Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for her sacrifice, tenacity, and strong-will resolving this convoluted case,‖ PTFoMS Co-Chair and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin M. Andanar said.

PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco explained that ―legal experts have acknowledged the decision as a milestone in Philippine judicial history. This horrendous attack against media workers that marred the country’s image has finally been resolved. Justice has been achieved.‖ ―Unfortunately, some organizations misrepresenting themselves as families and friends of the victims have irresponsibly influenced UNESCO to rescind its original decision to classify the case as resolved to serve their selfish ends,‖ Egco revealed.

It should be recalled that on July 31, 2020, owing to the guilty verdict, UNESCO has classified the case as resolved. However, UNESCO later on flip-flopped on its commitment and decided to retain the status of the case as still on-going or unresolved.

PTFOMS | B3

Giant bamboo can ―earn as much as ₱200,000 per hectare‖ every harvest,‖ MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol said in his Facebook post Monday, citing a prospectus released by the Bukidnon Giant Bamboo Resources Corp.(BGBRC), first bamboo processing facility in Mindanao.

The MinDA corroborates empirical findings that growing bamboo, apart from its potential for water impounding, is an effective step in environmental preservation, notably in quelling floods in lowland communities.

Three years ago or so, the late Gina Lopez, then secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, had awarded the Rajah Buayan municipality with more than ₱2-million worth bamboo growing project in river banks. Rajah Buayan is one of towns in Maguindanao susceptible to destructive floods during heavy downpours.

In his post, Sec. Piñol echoed BGBRC president Rod Bioco’s assertion that ―every board foot of engineered bamboo is a board foot of tree not being cut.‖ Bamboo growing can be an added income-generating avenue in underdeveloped communities in Mindanao, notably Lanao del Sur, a component of the Bangsamoro autonomous region, where giant bamboos were naturally growing decades ago, according to sources including MinDA communications and public affairs Director Adrian Tamayo.

Meranao elders once narrated that the historical raising of ―pandi-a-ranao‖ (flag of Lanao) involved a straight bamboo pole measuring someforty (40) meters.

BAMBOOS FOR ENVIRONMENT. Company workers haul uniformly-cut bamboo poles for processing at the Bukidnon Giant Bamboo Resources Corp. (BGBRC), first bamboo processing facility in Mindanao. (MinDA Photo) Poona-Bayabao, a town in the first district of Lanao del Sur, was once known for being abundant with giant bamboos of such length and quality. The giant bamboo species had gradually vanished because residents had no knowledge of the technical process and its economic profits then, Meranao sources said.

Sec. Pinol, in his continuing countryside exploratory visits, has discovered the gainful operations of the BGBRC and contemplated to replicate the technical processes in other parts of Mindanao to help transform the island region from perennial ―Land of Promise‖ to a ―Zone of Productive Realities,‖ Director Tamayo said.

The BGBRC is growing and processing giant bamboo species (Dendrocalamus Asper), which has a high regenerative trait.

Several shoots of the specie grow to replace a harvested pole, according to the firm’s prospectus, copy furnished to the MinDA..

The processing company’s ―end products are: treated and dried bamboo slats (intermediate raw mate-

rial), laminated bamboo lumber/beams and boards, and finished products (doors, jambs, mouldings and furnitures),‖ the prospectus showed. ―Most of these materials are now manufactured in China and imported by construction supply companies,‖ Sec. Pinol quoted the company management as saying.

The MinDA chief provided the following details of the Bamboo Farming prospectus released by BGB Resources: – Plantation: Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus Asper) 100-150clumps/ha, Php50,000/ha development cost up to 3 years of rearing. Initial harvest can be started after 56years, but commercial harvest starting 7th year (100mt/ha).

Poles should be 3-5years old.

– Farming revenue: owner gets net Php90120/pole. Yield 120150poles/ha/year (70110kg/pole) or around 120-150mt/ha/year.

Some farms are getting 1500-2000 poles/ha/ year (15-20poles/ clump). Farmers can make profit Php200,000/ year, year after year with minimal maintenance cost (no replant-

ing, fertilizer, etc). Harvesting crew get P5080/pole depending on terrain, generating income of >P8,000/16mt truck-load per 4-5days per crew of 6-7pax.

– Supply: ideally within 30km radius to control trucking cost <P50/pole or P0.50/kg.

Plant capacity to do 60,000mt/year (2shifts) or 600,000poles/year, which can be supplied from just 600hectares of giant bamboo.

– Buying price: P2.50/kg delivered/ unloaded basis.

– Production capacity (when finished): 200mt/day or 2,000 of fresh poles (3-5 years old at 40%mc) yielding 24,000 boardfeet/day.

Investment Php150M. – Cost: Php55/BF, dried, treated slats, which we export at Php65/BF, or we laminate costing another P20/BF, and sell as engineered bamboo lumber or beams for P100/ bf and panel boards for P120/bf (ex-plant Bukidnon)… If we process further into mouldings, floor panels, doors or jambs we can sell P180 -250/bf, while furniture can fetch P300-500/bf.

– Products: treated and dried bamboo slats (intermediate raw material), laminated bamboo lumber/beams and boards, and finished products (doors, jambs, mouldings and furnitures). AGM

Across the Nation

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

POPCOM: Filipinos in 2021 estimated at 110.8 million T

he Number of Filipinos will continue to grow in 2021, although at a slower pace, and is projected to reach 110,881,756 next year, according to the Commission on Despite the rise in absolute numbers, the population grew gradually to 1.31% by the start of 2021 — an increase from the previous 109,480,590 at the onset of 2020. From a 1.68% population growth rate in 2016, it was at 1.45% between 2019 and 2020.

With effects of the COVID-19 pandemic such as service delivery disruptions on family planning factored-in, the figure is estimated to swell at 111.1 million, affecting mainly the under-1 age group due to increased unplanned pregnancies.

Among population groups, the most notable increase was observed within the working-age or Filipinos between 15 to 64 years old, which will increase by just over 1 million from 2020 and will reach 71,278,520 by next year, making up 64.15% of the entire Philippine population.

Broken down by sex, there will be more males in this group at 36,139,866 than females at 35,138,630. This implies the need for the country to create at least a half a million new jobs next year, posing a huge challenge for the labor sector in the midst of the pandemic.

The changing age structure of the country’s population due to the increase in the workingage population indicates a demographic precondition for greater productivity, given its potential to support the dependent population. However, Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH explained: ―The increasing working age population presents a prospect for economic gain because of potentially greater income and productivity it can generate. This is what we call an opportunity for demographic dividend.‖ However, Perez cautioned: ―There is a need to ensure that members of the labor force are healthy, educated, skilled and gainfully em-

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Arabic-speaking teachers appointment proves moral governance

Population and Development (POPCOM). At least, 1.4 million will be added to the population in 2021, it added.

By ABDUL HANNAN MAGARANG TAGO

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POPCOM photo of a mother giving birth assisted by midwives. (Benjie Espartero) ployed. This is what we need to work on to attain the demographic dividend and reap its economic benefits in the next five years; otherwise, they can also potentially become dependents on the income of the family and on government services.― Meanwhile, individuals belonging to the ―dependent‖ population, consisting of those within 0-14 years old, as well as those 60 years of age and older (29.83% and 9.07% of the population, respectively), will increase by 475,543, and total 43,136,259. It is significant to note that senior citizens in the country will exceed 10 million for the first time, with implications for increased cost for their health care and vulnerability to COVID-19. Perez, who is the undersecretary for population and development (POPDEV) noted, ―We also need to focus on the needs of this vulnerable part of the population, as it is also an often -neglected sector.‖ Interestingly, women of reproductive age 15 to 49 years old are estimated to have the greatest potential growth in numbers—an increase of about 337,193. This, said Perez, will drive population momentum, as more women are expected to give birth. ―With the increasing proportion of Filipino women of childbearing age, there is a need to

intensify actions to ensure their access to family planning information and services to prevent unplanned pregnancies, especially within the context of the pandemic,‖ emphasized the POPCOM chief.

Given this scenario, the University of the Philippines Population Institute and the United Nations Population Fund* revealed that the number of expected unintended pregnancies for this age group is at 2,560,000—a surge of 751,000 due to community quarantineinduced family planning service reductions. ―This aspect also needs attention, as Filipino women need to have healthy and safe pregnancies given the risks from COVID19,‖ Perez added. ―We also need to ensure that Filipinos’ aspirations on having two children on average** are attained, amid service reductions in family planning due to the pandemic.‖ The number of adolescents belonging to the 10 to 19 age group will only see an increase of 38,224 in 2021. Despite these low figures, unintended pregnancies from this age group will reflect a 21.04% rise and are expected to reach 102,000, also as an after-effect by community quarantine-induced service reductions on

family planning*.

Perez however tempered expectations that may lead to complacency among POPDEV stakeholders and policy makers: ―Our country still has one of the highest population growth rates in ASEAN. There are still lingering issues we all have to address as we usher in a new decade: management of limited resources in the face of climate change, unrestrained internal migration leading to congestion in urban areas, as well as the disturbing rise of adolescent and teenage pregnancy nationwide, among many others.‖ ―We still have a lot of work ahead of us with regard to population management and family planning,‖ the undersecretary exhorted. ―It would still take a comprehensive approach that links government efforts to nongovernment organizations and the private sector—one that allows population programs like family planning to reach every community in all 42,000 barangays nationwide. We also enjoin our countrymen to do their part, as their decisions on family planning will affect our communities.‖ POPCOM’s estimates for 2021 are based on geometric-method projections using the last population census in 2015 by the Philippine Statistics Authority. With POPCOM

lhamdulillah, after several years of tireless efforts, the Bangsamoro Federal Business Council Inc. BFBCI managed to ink cooperation with major business entities in the country including Makati Business Club, Filipino Chinese Federation and Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.

Fifty years ago the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was formed by then Islamic and Arabic students based in Cairo, Egypt led by Salamat Hashim, Abdulaziz Mimbantas and several others.

The young Moro aimed to establish a moral government and regain the Bangsamoro’s legitimate rights; including power sharing and job opportunities among others.

Recently, Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTEBARMM) Mohagher Iqbal appointed a big number of colleges Minister Iqbal and the augraduates from the Ara- thor at the former’s office in Cotabato taken last Janbic and Islamic educa- uary 8. tional institutions both local and foreign universities.

The ministry has the largest budget proportion in 2021 that would help it to discharge its mandate and plan for the much needed education to meet the market needs while maintaining God-fearing workforce.

Nearly 2500 Arabic-speaking or ―Asatijah‖ in Jolo, Basilan and Tawi Tawi have benefited from the massive appointment with a considerable monthly retainer of P12,000.

The move was followed by similar number of qualified beneficiaries in Maguindanao and Lanao Del Sur. This indicated and brought about the good tidings for the thousands graduates in these institutions landBangsamoro Education ing in a decent job opMinister Mohagher Iqbal with the writer at ABS-CBN portunities for the benheadquarters in Manila efit of their families and during the BOL campaign. the new generation.

(AHM Tago photo) According to a source from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Ragion in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) the move is unprecedented. It never happened in the Bangsamoro history and the Philippines as whole.

The source said, there was only 1100 Asatijah being appointed during the time of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

I do remember when I was teaching while studying in 1984 for only 100 pesos a month.

So far, many Arabic-speaking teachers are still in a surviving status performing their duties mainly for the sake of Islam and its teachings, discipline, peace and healthy community.

TAGO | B3

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Editorial

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

„Peace and Order‟ stability is an urgent priority of the Bangsamoro government DATU YUSOPH B. MAMA Chairman, Board of Trustees 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

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Editor-In-Chief and Publisher JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor Bureau Chief for National Capital Region ALI G. MACABALANG News Editor Bureau Chief for Bangsamoro & Central Mindanao Regions ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Bureau Chief for Northern Mindanao Region 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 COLUMNISTS | WRITERS: ATTY. HOMOBONO A. ADAZA DR. BENJ BANGAHAN ATTY. JUAN PONCE ENRILE DR. JOHNNY R. LEE ATTY. NASSER A. MAROHOMSALIC DR. FILEMON G. ROMERO ATTY. MEHOL K. SADAIN DR. ABDUL HANNAN M. TAGO DISCLAIMER: Opinion of the writer expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today nor of its management.

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ourist spots and eco-tourism in the Bangsamoro region if developed can be world-class, and if managed properly can generate income the region has never had. We know this as a fact. Even observers living outside the Bangsamoro, really know it as a fact.

But the only thing that hinders tourism growth is the absence of stable peace and order in the area. And yes, volatile peace does not only obstructs a boom of the tourism industry but also hinders almost practically all socio-economic development.

How many millions of dollars have been poured into the region from both national and international agencies, governmental and non-governmental, with corresponding training to educate for good governance and administration to help it alleviate from poverty? The answer is countless. Yet, it did not help Muslim Mindanao to take off from being poor or less developed.

The creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was meant to herald an era of peace and much needed economic development in the Philippines’ troubled southern region. Yet, despite a huge budget, the transitional government installed in February 2019 will not be able to meet its reform timetable.

In an exclusive interview, the late Ghazali Jaafar, Number 2 MILF man who prominently played a role in the negotiating table with the government, said in order to attain peace in Mindanao, the national government must agree with the demand of the Moro Islamic liberation Front (MILF) so that there will be peace and stability in the trouble region.

Now the deal was closed but the promised peace is still subtle. As peace is elusive, and so is development. Without peace, there will be no outside investors in the real sense of the word, no tourism, and there will be no economic boom. That is the reality. That is still the truth: No peace, no development.

The Bangsamoro government should not only keep itself busy in promoting relief assistance extended to various sectors within and without the autonomous region, bills being enacted into law, and propagating other not so significant things flagshipped by its ’moral governance’ slogan but also prioritize something for the realization of the long-dreamt peace to reign in this part of the world.

For, all dreams for development and prosperity depend upon the stability of peace. So that if investors are convinced that peace truly reigns in our region and it is safe for them to do their businesses here, or tourists to spend leisure and business times here, the Bangsamoro economy will boom and people can start to enjoy a peaceful life. PMT

Punchline ALI G. MACABALANG

Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

MY WISHES IN 2021

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hrough this column, I convey my personal and family’s sincere greetings and best wishes to all the patrons and readers of the Philippine Muslim Today as we bade goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021.

I fervently pray and wish that:  I will be able to fast in the upcoming return of Ramadan Kareem and observe all obligations prescribed in Islam during the blessed month and beyond;  My children will follow suit in living up to the ideals of Islam and will not die outside true Islamic faith;  In my decades of media practice, people I might have offended in my acts and words will forgive me truly;  I will be able to see the Duterte administration having delivered substantially in its commitment to correct ―historical injustices‖ among the Bangsamoro, particularly the Muslim Filipinos;  The bureaucracy of the infant Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be able to prove true its byword for ―moral governance‖ and make the difference in the age-old dream for meaningful peace, equitable development and inclusive justice in Mindanao;  Current public officials I admire for their personal and career traits in serving the people will have long life to fulfill unselfish missions for the poor and underprivileged sectors of our society;  There will be no more Jonel Nuezca in the ranks and file of the Philippine National Police;  Appointing authorities will translate their vows for ideal recruitment processes into action by putting the right people to the right positions for their institutions to deliver efficacious goods and services to the public; and  I will be able to realize other visions and missions I have for the ummah.

Allahhumma Ameen!

Opinion

Ijtihad MEHOL K. SADAIN

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hus, begin the immortalized lines by Charles Dickens in his novel of London and Paris, and continue with, ―it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.‖ These lines aptly describe the year 2020, the main event of which, the global covid19 pandemic, brought out the best of peoples, as well as the worst of them, globally. The medical personnel served as the frontline of defense as countries battled the killer virus, and ordinary people were called upon to follow protocols and contribute their share in the struggle against the disease. It was indeed the best of times for people to show the heroic stuff they were

made of.

But it was also the worst of times, as the pandemic raged, claiming millions of victims, many of them fatally; and as leaders and governments stumbled and at times, bungled, their attempts to deal with the pandemic. The golden-haired leader of the socalled democratic world, showed the entire world the supreme idiocy of arrogance as he shunned disease prevention masks and notoriously gave his country the highest statistics of pandemic victims on a per country basis. It was indeed the worst of times for people to lack common sense and empathy, and inflict these faults on others who either threw caution to the wind and refused to follow health protocols, or were just overwhelmed by events and failed to protect themselves.

The year also marked the rise of wisdom over foolish-

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

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“IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES” ness, as people woke up to the reality of basic living over the unnecessary excesses of the past, of the value of family that serves as one’s shelter in times of distress and the importance of caring for each other during their transient lives, as people witnessed beloved relatives and friends fall ill and die. The foolishness of invincibility crumbled in the midst of a death that did not distinguish status and rank.

And while some felt the despair of being abandoned, many revved up their faith in the mercy of a Creator who created everything, including the disease that now serves as a trial to mankind. Depending on how one is treating this pandemic, people either stressed themselves to death or renewed their faith in a God that wills everything. One living in the world, by the world and of the world, naturally felt the anxiety of a world being eroded by disease and economic travails. However, one living in the world and

beyond it, reached out for the Divine Mind to understand his difficulty, and the Divine Hand to pull him out of that difficulty.

Such can only happen with either the weakening or the strengthening of faith and belief.

Finally, where there is darkness, there is light; and where there is the coldness of winter (or the rainy season), there is the warmth of sheltering hope. This is precisely the plea and prayer of everybody in the dawning of 2021. In the midst of the still raging pandemic, the discovery of mutating viruses, and illnesses and deaths that continue to plague the world, people have put their hopes on the emerging vaccines, and the judiciousness of their leaders and health officials.

People, and that includes us in this country, are hoping that our governments will finally put their act together and act as one in the immunization campaign, anticipating every difficulty rather than creating

the difficulties themselves.

We know the burden is heavy, and battles are yet to be won to be triumphant in the bigger war, but we have no other choice but to fight on.

As the Noble Qur’an says: ―Blessed is He in whose Hand is the dominion of the universe and who has power over everything, who created death and life to test which of you is better in deeds. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Forgiving.‖ [67:1-2] And in another verse, ―We will certainly test you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and earnings; but give glad tidings to the patient.‖ [2:155] In the end, therefore, it is all about being patient and penitent, persevering and repenting, before a God that removes all our ills because He is Al-Aziz and Al-Ghafur, the Mightiest and the Most Forgiving. Charles Dickens may not be aware of it, but this is the meaning of his above-quoted opening lines in A Tale of Two Cities. MKS

NEW YEAR, DO WE NEED TO BE HAPPY?

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Y

es I am happy with this January 1, 2021 because the start of my Column under Issue No. 29 is by a stroke of fate falls in an inclusive week of January 1-7, 2021.

Hence, January 1 starts the 1st day of the month. In like manner in our Hijrah lunar calendar it is the Muharram and as you all know is equivalent to January.

It can be noted that our Muslim Hijrah lunar calendar started when Muslims transferred or immigrated from Makkah to Madina in the year 622 AD.

We have our Amun Jadid the Muslim New Year. Some Muslim brothers are asking if we Muslims are mandated to celebrate New Year commencing with January.

In the Middle East, Egypt celebrates this New Year’s Day of January 1, but not in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to an alumnus of AlAzhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

I asked for the religious opinion of a learned man in Islam regarding the celebration of New Year under the Gregorian Calendar. I am referring to Aleem Said Ahmad

Basher, who is a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

At the same time he is the Religious Adviser of the Philippine Muslim Today.

While Aleem Basher did not categorically say it is against the teachings of Islam, but made an emphasis that Islam recognized both solar and lunar calendar.

He recalled from the Islamic history about Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who was asked how many years did the 7 brothers tried to hide in the cave.

Aleem Basher said this was mentioned in Surah 18 Al-Khafh (Cave) Verse 25, which says, ―And they stayed

in their Cave three hundred (solar) years and add nine (for lunar years).‖ He revealed that it is quite a long story that happened during the time of Roman Empire. He said the 7 brothers hid in the cave to escape from the tyrant king who wanted to kill them so they slept inside the cave for 300 years in a solar calendar that is equivalent to 309 years in lunar calendar. (Surah AlKhahf Verse 25).

Apparently this was the answer of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) when asked with the question asked of him earlier.

Finally, Aleem Basher

said both solar and lunar calendar are recognized by Allah as evidenced by Surah 9 (AtTawbah-The Repentance) Verse 36, ―Verily the number of months (in a year), so was ordained by Allah on the Day when he created the heaven and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12 months of Islamic calendar).‖ Aside from greeting everyone with Happy New Year we would like to say wishing you with good health throughout the year.

For your comments and suggestions please send an E-mail to: munir1845media@gmail.com

COTABATO | from Page A2

Cotabato City DepEd, schools in 63 NortCot towns now under BARMM “It is timely that this turnover is occurring while we are finalizing the Bangsamoro Education Code,” Iqbal emphasized, adding that the code is one of the priority legislations the Bangsamoro Transition

Authority needs to pass during the transition period.

“As long as we set aside our narrow interests and prioritize the welfare of the Bangsamoro education community and the general

public, I am confident we will make significant and positive changes to the BARMM education system,” Iqbal added.

On the other hand, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad”

Ebrahim underscored that “there is nothing to be afraid of, and the strongest asset the people can get from this entire process is collaboration.”

“With MBHTE and DepEd standing side-by-side,

we are assured that this transition will not be difficult and I promise you that there will be no discrepancy on the part of our teachers, In Shaa Allah,” said Ebrahim.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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Opinion

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

Diliman Way Lessons from Philippine Presidents HOMOBONO A. ADAZA “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.”

President Manuel Luis Quezon “Those who have less in life should have more in law.”

– President Ramon Magsaysay

I

f we only visit the past, we are likely to have a better country. But just visiting the past is probably not enough. It is necessary to learn the lessons of the past.

As the Spanish philosopher has written, those who do not learn the lesson of the past are doomed to repeat it. And this is what is happening to us – we never learn the lesson of history, thus we keep on repeating the mistakes day after day, year after year and decade after decade.

It is disgusting but we never seem to notice. Thus this glimpse into what our Presidents have been doing and saying for about a century – hoping that we finally learn for our sake, our country and generations of Filipinos to come.

Manuel Luis Quezon: He is the first President of the Philippine Commonwealth when the country was still a colony of the United States of America. In his fight with the politicians of his party, he said, ―My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.‖ This statement is remember by those who study our past – whether in or out of school. This is also remembered by people listening to politicians who leave their parties for their own personal convenience.

As some people say, patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. And these scoundrels, as a rule, are political butterflies who champion the habitual practice in our country of balimbingism.

Of course, there are exceptions as there is in every rule. There are politicians who are genuine patriots who leave their party for reasons of principles. But they are hard to find these days. It’s like being Diogenes with a lamp at noon day searching for an honest man.

This is our problem. Most of our Presidents and public officials never learned this lesson from President Quezon. Instead they adopt the reverse policy that runs like this – My loyalty to my country ends where my loyalty to myself, my family, my friends, my stomach, my pocket, my bank account, my concubine or my paramour and my private part begins.

What an obvious scandal but hardly any in this country is scandalized because a great majority of our people, I am afraid, shares the same orientation as these politicians and public officials.

Quezon made another statement which is understandable during the fight for Philippine independence – ―I’d rather have a government

My Legal Point BAYAN G. BALT

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ne of the hot news in the coffeeshop today is the request of the Interim Bangsamoro Parliament to extend the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for another three more years from June 2022 to June 2025.

In passing Resolution No. 332, the Bangsamoro Parliament said that ―due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they did not have enough time to carry out the effective implementation of the transition, to include programs, projects, and services.‖ Malacañang said it will

review the BTA resolution urging Congress to extend the transition period from year 2022 to 2025. But the LGUS of Lanao Del Sur, Sulu and Basilan reportedly opposed the proposed extension.

There are likewise civil society organizations that opposed the proposed extension unless the present ―BTA‖ is revamped by appointing hard working officials dedicated to pass the Codes required of them by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Some NGOS criticized the present ―BTA‖ for passing only one Code (The Administrative

run like Hell by Filipinos than a government run like Heaven

by Americans.‖ However, considering that, for decades now, our country has been run like Hell by Filipinos, it may be worthwhile considering the Philippines run Heaven by Americans with the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Fitzgerald Kennedy but, most certainly, not an unhinged and incompetent like Donald J. Trump.

Moreover, if our country becomes a state of America and we become American citizens, anyone of us will have the opportunity to run for President of the United States. With a population of over a hundred million, we will then be one third of the population of America. We will be the state with the biggest number of popular and electoral votes overtaking those of California.

With the Filipino who is a better orator and communicator than most nationalities in this planet, not to speak of being brilliant and visionary, it is not far fetch to suppose a Filipino can become President of the American Union.

I am not recommending the idea. I’m just exploring possibilities considering the dismal situation of our country and America.

Elpidio Quirino: Filipinos who still remember Quirino associate him with the controversial bed and golden urinola. They are really nothing in

comparison to billions stolen by other Presidents.

Marc Antony said in Julius Caesar – ―The evil that men do lives after them. The good are oft are oft entered with their bones.‖ It is not fair to President Quirino. Among Presidents, Quirino has given a lesson to Filipinos with especial emphasis on public officials – the austerity program. Most of the Presidents and public officials after him never observed austerity.They do the opposite – luxurious extravagance.

Considering poverty has always been stalking the land, there is always great reason for the country to observe an austerity program.

This Quirino legacy has even been installed in section 1, Article XI of our Constitution for public officers and employees to ―lead modest lives.‖ If only our public officials and employees as well as our people lead modest lives, there will be no graft and corruption and injustice in the country. There will be integrity, honesty and patriotism in the country as provided in the cited provision of the Constitution.

Inevitably, however, leading modest lives is a matter of values. Inability of politicians and our people to imbibe the appropriate values can be attributed to four major institutions – family, schools, churches and government. That everyone’s primary values are wealth, power, influence and sex can verily be attributed to these

institutions. If we are to move forward, we have got to have system changes. And if we have system changes, we will remember with deep gratitude the austerity program of President Elpidio Quirino.

Ramon Magsaysay: The well-remembered man from Zambales was Secretary of National Defense of Elplidio Quirino who belonged to the Liberal Party of President Manuel Acuña Roxas. Magsaysay was a very colorful, charismatic and an innovative Secretary with simple and humble conduct which endeared him to the Filipino masses. There were five major things one could well remember about what Magsaysay has said and done – devotion to constitutional democracy, passion for social justice and the Filipino masses, courage to defy the gods of Philippine society, appropriate approach to the insurgency and unending patience to listen to the people.

Magsaysay was a committed constitutional democrat as shown by his words and conduct. In his devotion to social justice and the downtrodden, he said, ―Those who have less in life should have more in law.‖ This is a moving invocation of social justice. The words are not original with him. It was furnished him by Justice Enrique Fernando, later to become Chief Justice, who took it from Professor Thomas Reed Powell of Yale University. But his passion and deep commitment is genuine and original.

ADAZA | B3

Will the extension of BTA’s term ipso facto extend the term of its officials?

Code) in a span of more than two years despite all the assistance and financial support of the Philippine government.

Public Office as distinguished from public officer Public office is an official governmental body empowered with the authority to direct and supervise the implementation of particular legislative acts. In the Philippines, it refers to any of the various units of the Government, including a department, bureau, office, instrumentality, or government-owned or controlled corporation, or a local government or a distinct unit therein, (E.O. 292).

Public officer on the other hand means any person holding any public office in the Government of the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of an appointment, election or contract.

Congressional extension of the BTA’s term does not cover extension of the term of its officials — crystal clear public office like the ―BTA‖ is an office or instrumentality of the government, it is distinct and separate from the members of the parliament and other officials holding said office. Otherwise, stated the powers of Congress to pass a law extending the term of the ―BTA‖ exclude the powers to extend the term or appoint-

ments of its members. Any law to the contrary will violate the principle of separation of powers; simply the power to appoint is an executive fiat and cannot be exercised by Congress which is simply passing a law. As enshrined in our Constitution, Congress can create public office but cannot appoint its officials.

For comments and reactions, email me at: bayanbalt@yahoo.com Atty. Bayan G. Balt is former President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Marawi City & Lanao del Sur chapter; former Cabinet Secretary of DOLE-ARMM and Chairman of the Ranao Federal State Movement (RFSM).

World News

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

50 journalists lost lives in 2020, says global NGO

By ANADOLU AGENCY

A

NKARA: At least 50 journalists were reported killed in 2020, more than one-third in the countries considered “at peace", according to Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) -- an international NGO that safeguards the right to freedom of information.

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Spain, Sweden confirm cases of new Covid-19 strain MADRID/ STOCKHOLM: Sweden and Spain on Saturday confirmed to have detected the first cases of a new strain of the deadly coronavirus.

In a statement, the Swedish Health General Directorate stated the mutated novel coronavirus strain was detected in a woman who arrived from the UK in the Sodermanland region. This is the first known case in Sweden.

The Swedish Health Directorate also reported that 39,648 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the country so far and 8,279 people died from the virus.

Meanwhile, Spain confirmed to have detected the first four cases of a new strain of the Covid-19 in a family in the capital Madrid.

―While the number of journalists killed in countries at war continues to fall, more get murdered in countries, not at war,‖ said the RSF in a statement. ―Of all the journalists killed in 2020, 84 percent were knowingly targeted and deliberately murdered, as compared to 63 percent in 2019. Some were mur-

dered particularly in a barbaric manner,‖ the statement added.

While seven journalists got killed while covering protests this year, 10 lost lives investigating local corruption or misuse of public funds.

Four got killed when they were investigating organized crime activities.

The number of wom-

en journalists arbitrarily detained this year increased by 35 percent.

And 14 journalists who ―were arrested in connection with their coverage of the pandemic are still being held.‖ ―Some may think that journalists are just the victims of the risks of their profession, but journalists are increasingly getting targeted

when they investigate or cover sensitive subjects. What is being attacked is the right to be informed, which is everyone’s right,‖ said Christophe Deloire, RSF secretary-general.

The RSF said as many as 937 journalists have lost lives over the past decade.

ANADOLU AGENCY

New virus variant: Japan bans entry of foreigners ANKARA – Japan on Monday suspended new entries of nonresident foreign nationals from ―most of the world‖ as a precaution against a new variant of the coronavirus.

The country has already reported eight cases of the new strain of the virus which was first reported in the UK. Ban on entry into the country by non-resident foreign nationals will continue until the end of January, NHK News reported.

Scientific analysis has shown the new strain of the infection spreads 70 percent faster than the earlier one.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said the new measure on travel of foreigners was ―a proactive measure to protect the people of Japan.‖ Urging people to spend a quiet New Year's holiday, Suga asked people ―to be sure to do such things as wash their hands and wear masks.‖ Under new condi-

tions, Japanese citizens and foreigners with Japanese resident permits returning from the countries where the new variant has been detected are asked to submit a negative virus test result within 72 hours of departure and also undergo a test upon arrival as of Wednesday through the end of January.

At least 20 countries have reported the new virus strain.

However, Japanese authorities said the new

rules do not apply to those ten Asian nations with which Tokyo has agreed to a special scheme to ease travel restrictions.

China, South Korea are among those nations.

Japan is witnessing record spike in new infections with 3,881 more coronavirus cases reported on Saturday.

The country has so far reported a total of 223,000 cases, including 3,213 deaths due to the Covid-19.

Anadolu

World still not fully prepared to tackle outbreaks: WHO GENEVA – A year after the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) became known worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that the world could face an even bigger pandemic in the future and that it is not "fully" prepared to deal with the existing outbreak, let alone the next one.

Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO Health Emergencies, said the world is in a

better place on behavioral science, vaccines, science, diagnostic science, and other areas.

However, Ryan warned the WHO's last press conference of the year, "we need to get ready for something that may even be more severe in the future."

He said the pandemic has been severe, spreading rapidly all over the world.

"This is not necessarily the big one. This virus is very transmissi-

ble, and kills people, and deprives so many people of loved ones," Ryan said. "But its current case fatality is reasonably low in comparison to other emerging diseases. This is a wake -up call."

He spoke as countries began shutting their borders to the United Kingdom due to anxieties stemming from a new Covid-19 variant said to be more contagious.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, a

senior WHO adviser, said, ―This virus is telling us we are not prepared.

We're now into second and third waves of this virus, and we're still not prepared to deal with and manage those.‖ ―We're prepared for flu better than we were in the past. We're now better prepared for coronaviruses. But are we better prepared for the next pandemic?‖ Aylward said. ―It would be folly to say that we're fully prepared.‖ AA

According to a statement issued by the Health Ministry, one of the family members had come from London on Tuesday.

Others in the family were in contact with the person, the statement said.

There were three suspicious cases related to the new strain of the deadly coronavirus, it added Moreover, the first part of the Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech reached Spain, while the first vaccine in Spain will be administered to the elderly and employees in an elderly nursing home on Sunday.

More than 40 countries, including Turkey and those from Europe, have suspended air traffic with the UK after the new strain of the virus was discovered in the country.

The newly discovered variant is reported to be spreading 70 percent faster.

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed more than 1.75 million lives in 191 countries and regions since last December.

Over 80 million cases have been worldwide, with more than 45.2 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US Johns Hopkins University.

The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst -hit countries in terms of the number of cases.

While new restrictions are imposed ahead of the holiday season, especially across Europe, countries are approving and procuring vaccines to combat the pandemic.

(Anadolu)

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Muslim World

DIPLOMATIC TRAVELOGUE

Amb. Sakkam travelogue

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EGINNING this year, the Philippine Muslim Today has begun its Page on Diplomatic Corps. We will be featuring the activities of our Filipino diplomat abroad.

Hence, we will start with the Philippine Embassy in Amman at the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Amman PE or Philippine Embassy is headed

by Ambassador Akmad A. Sakkam who hails from Indanan, Sulu. Incidentally, Ambassador Sakkam has many relatives in Panabuan, Indanan, according to Hadji Ahiyal Sappayani, a retired military officer who is the primemover of organizing the Tuboh Panabuan, an organization whose members originated from Panabuan.

Hadji Ahiyal said during the younger days of Ambassador Sakkam he was known as champion in marathon. Hence, he can run so fast but ended as a diplomat and not an Olympian.

To start his TRAVELOGUE Ambassador Sakkam visited recently Umm Qays, northern region of Irbid, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

In his Facebook Post, he said he was just taking advantage of the long holidays, and took the spiritual adventure of visiting the ''Cave of Prophet Issa.'' A.S ( Jesus Christ) about two hours drive to the north of the capital city of Amman, close to the Israeli and Syrian borders.

“What we discovered with help and kindness of the Director of the region's Directorate of Archaeology and Antiquity, Mr. Ziad M. Ghunimat and his dutiful and respectful security officers, acting as our honored guides, not just the CAVE, but the awesome and fantastic view in front of it, the Sea of Galilee or Lake Tiberius in Israel, the Golan Heights in Syria now occupied by Israel and foremost the famous Jordan Valley, known for its fertile soil and the kingdom's vital source of varied kind of fruits and vegetables. A wonder of Wonders.”

Ambassador Sakkam also said his visit culminated with a lunch with the Director and his team at the famous Romero's Restaurant and having similar panoramic and breathtaking views of the places earlier mentioned.

“A very gratifying and enjoyable trip indeed.

Happy Holidays to all friends and everyone.! Peace be with you all.!!,” the Ambasdador added.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

Ambassador Akmad A. Sakkam near the signage pointing to location of Prophet Issa (Jesus Christ) Cave.

Accompanying him is his wife Atty. Ruby Sakkam.

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

Central Jersey Muslim volunteers hand out food on Christmas Day

By XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

T

he Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) held a community food event in the South Brunswick Senior Center parking lot on Christmas Day to feed those in need.

Mr. C’s Grease Truck, from Rutgers University’s Cook College campus, was on site making a warm boxed lunch that included bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, tater tots, fruit and hot chocolate.

In addition, the South Brunswick Dunkin Donuts, located in the strip mall near ShopRite, provided munchkins for the patrons.

Two dozen volunteers, young and old, socially distanced and masked, helped people maneuver the drive-through set up. Not only were meals provided to people who

The Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) held a community food event in the South Brunswick Senior Center parking lot on Christmas Day to feed those in need. PHOTO COURTESY OF AZRA BAIG came out to the Senior Center but meals were also distributed to the homeless and the needy in New Brunswick, Tren-

ton and at the Ozanam Homeless Shelter in Edison.

The ISCJ holds a drive-through food pantry from noon to 2 p.m.

every Saturday at 4145 Route 1 south in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

centraljersey.com/

Indon bans militant Islamic Defender’s Front JAKARTA: Indonesia has banned the hardline Islamic Defender‟s Front, according to an international media report quoting security officials.

Security Affairs Minister Mohammad Mahfud announced on Wednesday that the group, known by its Indonesian acronym FPI, was disbanded last year as a mass organization. “But it had continued to carry out activities that violate order and security,” he added.

The government also prohibited the use of the FPI symbols and attributes.

What is the Islamic Defender‟s Front?

The FPI was formed soon after fall of former Indonesia strongman Suharto in 1998.

They want Islamic Shariah law to apply to Indonesia‟s 230 million

Muslims. Indonesia is the world‟s largest Muslim-majority nation.

The FPI were notorious for raiding bars and brothels and intimidating religious minorities.

The group gained significant political and social influence in recent years through humanitarian and charity work.

It was a key organizer of massive street protests in 2016 and 2017 against the Christian governor of Jakarta, who was subsequently imprisoned for insulting Islam.

Why was it banned?

Deputy Justice Minister Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej said on Wednesday that the FPI was outlawed because nearly 30 of its leaders, members and former members had

Members of the Indonesian police hold up guns and a knife allegedly used by the FPI. (dw.com photo) been convicted on FPI follows the arrest of the group‟s spirituterrorism charges.

He said the group al figurehead, Islamic conflicted with Indo- cleric Rizieq Shihab nesia‟s state ideology, earlier this month.

Shihab turned himknown as Pancasila, which emphasizes self over to police after holding large unity and diversity. events to celebrate Six senior government officials, includ- his return from a three self-imposed ing the attorney gen- -year eral, police chief and exile in Saudi Arabia.

The events breached counter-terrorism agency head were in- coronavirus pandemic volved in the decision restrictions.

His return has to ban the group, Sefueled concerns withcurity Affairs Minister in government that he Mahfud said.

Ban follows Islamic could be angling to harness opposition cleric‟s arrest The move to ban forces. WITH DW.COM

News

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

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MSU | from Page A2

GenSan unit carves MSU spot in global education map struction of modern building for an independent College of Medicine and Training Hospital at MSU Gensan to meet the demand of the LGUs in this city, South Cotabato and other parts of Region XII, which has 4.5 million residents.

The MSU Board of Regents approved the establishment of an independent College of Medicine thru BOR Resolution 507 series of 2019 as amended by BOR Resolution No. 250 series of 2020, he said.

He said Reps. Shirlyn Banas Nograless and Congressman Ruel Pacqiuao had filied House Bill No. 7809 establishing the College of Medicine at MSU General Santos City, and providing regular appropriations thereof for other purposes. The bill already passed through the House Committee on Higher Education, and set for plenary deliberation. ―Inshaallah (God willing),

the offering of Doctor of Medicine program will be started this coming August 2021.

The construction of phase I of our College of Medicine building has been finished, with the phase II costing P500 million to be appropriated by the 18th Congress in the same year,‖ he said.

He said construction works for the expansion of their campus Infirmary building with the budget cost of P10 million will start in early 2021, in time with the construction of the biodiversity building worth P16 million incorporated in the 2021 General Appropriation Act. National Peace Center Dr. Ali said Senator Pacquiao has made initial investments in the MSUGenSan campus in pursuit of the lawmaker’s intent to make the field campus as a ―national peace center.‖ Sen. Pacquiao’s efforts have drawn supports from government institutions, in-

cluding the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the transitional governance of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

MinDA Chairman Manny Piñol, popularly known for his meticulous preference for serious partner-entities, had signed two research-related agreements with Chancellor Ali this year.

The BARMM leadership through Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal had also signed a similar research deal with Dr. Ali, it was learned.

Humble beginning Heads of partnering institutions like Sen. Pacquiao and Sec. Piñol have a similar history of ―humble beginning‖ with Dr. Ali, even as campus constituents assert that the latter has more ―hearttoughing‖ personal history.

The Philippine Muslim Today has obtained a narrative from friends, privy to the

ADAZA | from Page A8

Lessons from Philippine Presidents When Mayor Moises Padilla of one of the towns of Negros Occidental was gunned down by the storm troopers of Governor Rafael Lacson of the same province, without hesitation, Magsaysay who was still Defense Secretary flew to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and from there motored to the town of Padilla. There he held in his arms the bloodied dead body of Moises Padilla.

The Manila dailies captured the scene and the moment with the photo landing in the headlines and front pages.

This historic and dramatic photo became the theme of the song of the campaign of Magsaysay for President.

Written by Raul Manglapus, later to become senator, the famous lines run this way – ―Mambo, mambo Magsaysay, Mambo, mambo mabuhay.

Our democracy will die kung wala si Magsaysay.‖ This song was titled, Mambo Magsaysay. Mambo was a favorite song and dance from the Caribbean. The man and the song rode on a landslide victory in the presidential election – a memorable gesture of the adoration of our people. Magsaysay and the masses melded into one.

Coming from Zambales with nearby provinces of Bataan, Tarlac and Pampanga which were the hot beds of the Hukbalahap rebellion, Magsaysay knew the roots of the problem – poverty, oppression and injustice. Instead of pursuing an all out war policy against the insurgents, Magsaysay extended a helping hand to

the Huk rebels. He made a promise to deliver to them new homes and lands to cultivate in Mindanao – the Land of Promise and Opportunity.

He delivered on his promise and brought the insurgency to a minimum.

When Magsaysay initiated a new policy or a new move, he always consulted his advisers and asked them this question, ―Can we defend this in Plaza Miranda?‖ Plaza Miranda is that area just outside the Quiapo Church – the Church of the miraculous Black Nazarene. Political parties then – Nacionalista and Liberal – held their miting de avance which is their last rally before Election Day at this plaza.

When politicians and their political parties wanted to air or defend their views involving policies or a new course of action, they held rallies at Plaza Miranda.

These days, politicians and political parties don’t hold rallies anymore at Plaza Miranda, they just conduct press conferences or, worse, just issue press releases; they really don’t really care what the people think. They just buy their votes or intimidate them into voting for them. To borrow a joke of a punch line – it is a demo gone crazy or a democracy, not democracy.

That was Ramon Magsaysay – leader, democrat, charismatic, true believer, teacher, committed to God, people and country and an excellent doer. Those were the days when the beat was Mambo and the heartbeat and mindset was Mambo Magsaysay.

Carlos Polistico Garcia: He is a native of Bohol Province in the Visayas. In southern Philippines, he is endearingly called the Balak Beauty because of his fondness of waxing poems (balak) in his speeches, especially during political rallies. The poems are his own, created in the course of the speech – normally impromptu or extemporaneous.

Coming from Bohol, it is no surprise he initiated the Filipino First Policy – in words and action. He urged Filipinos to buy Philippine products first before anything foreign. He made Filipinos believe in themselves and be proud of our country and our race.

He did not allow anyone to slander the Filipino race and our country. As a demonstration of this – when James Bell, the Asian correspondent of TIME magazine unfairly criticized our country and the policies of the government, President Garcia prevented him from entering the Philippines again as lesson to everyone that not even a TIME journalist can be allowed to unjustly libel the country and the government.

President Garcia was also a man of action. When badgered to comment on virtually everything, Garcia responded with these memorable and interesting words, ―A leader should be deedless in words and wordless in deeds.‖ While he also believed in the proper use of words, he was more driven by performance to achieve results. He was very much unlike a President who floods the country with words

―true life story‖ of Dr. Ali. Chancellor Ali was born on the 10th Rabi al-Awwal of Hijra Islamic Calendar equivalent to November 26, 1963 in an island village (barangay Balt) of Bacolod-Kalawi, Lanao Del Sur, some five kilometers away from town proper, the narrative said.

The chancellor’s mother Jarulah Abdullah Ali died two years after his birth, the father Mahmud Pangaga Hadji Ali also died when he was five years old.

Dr. Ali was orphaned at a young age alongside three sisters – Karima, Samera and Sinaida. The four siblings were left behind ―without a property or house in the Island where there was also no regular school for them to enroll in.

The elder sisters stopped studying in distant elementary and secondary schools, and engaged in fishing to sell part of their meager daily catch to persuade and subsidize their young brother’s study of Ara-

bic and Islamic teachings at a small mosque cum madrasah at their island barangay, the narrative said.

One day, it said, an uncle brought Ali to Barangay Tuka along the coast of Lake Lanao, in Madamba, Lanao Del Sur where he started spending primary school study.

Ali’s subsequent years in elementary and secondary in different regular and Atrabic schools in Lanao del Sur were oft interrupted because his self-financing stance based on daily catch of fish from the lack could no longer suffice for the increasing schools requirements, according to friends.

After elementary school, Ali went to an uncle working as a teacher in the now defunct Pangarungan Islamic College in Marawi City. The uncle facilitated his free high school study, while enrolled at the same time at the Maahad Marawi Al-Islamie, also

and delivers failed promises and dismal and incompetent action.

Garcia was also well read and a deep thinker. When I was given an audience in the Palace during the most controversial event involving my fight for academic freedom and freedom of expression in the University of the Philippines as Editor-in-Chief, of the PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN, the official student publication of the UP, I had this conversation with him which ran this way: President Garcia: ―Why does UP not allow you to march during the graduation ceremonies when you have already graduated? Is it true that you criticized Dr. Jose Rizal as the Number One hero of our country?‖ Me: ―That’s not the issue, Mr. President. I am one of the two student leaders who led the student demonstration in University campus in Diliman, Quezon City to elect a UP President as UP had problems without a permanent university president. The Rizal thing was never an issue.

UP authorities brought out this Rizal matter as they were losing the media war.‖ President Garcia: ―What did you write about Rizal?‖ Me: ―I just wrote that based on the story of their lives, Rizal should not be the Number One Filipino Hero. It should be Andres Bonifacio – the man who fought for liberation of our people from foreign colonizers and tirelessly worked for Philippine independence. Rizal wanted integration with Spain by requesting among others for Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes.

Rizal was illustrado, Bonifacio was descamisado. According to Professor Otley Beyer, it was the American organized Philippine Commission who decreed that Dr. Rizal should be the Number One Hero of our country and statues of him erected in public plazas throughout the archipelago. He was not the choice of our people.‖ President Garcia: ―There is nothing wrong with what you wrote. As a matter of fact, I agree with you that Andres Bonifacio should be the Number One Filipino Hero. But you cannot fight a dead hero.‖ Me: ―But I’m not fighting Rizal. I’m just saying that Bonifacio should be the Number One Filipino Hero.‖ President Garcia ―I understand that, but from now on, you and I should just keep our peace on the subject‖ That’s President Garcia for you – the excellent chess player who understood so well the significance of the use of appropriate strategy and tactics.

It is best to end this first part of the series with a Garcia flavor, accented by these lines from A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; “Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again.”

HAA

MSU | B4

Tourism

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

A Slice of Life of a Badjao Woman

Piaparan: A Maranao chicken dish

By JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D

"Bangsamoro Halal Dish"

I

n Tawi-Tawi, the Chinese are thought to be „the engine that generates‟ the wealth and continuing progress that transform the one‟s sleepy town of Bongao into a vibrant and center of trade and industry in the province.

In a rare conversation with a Badjao woman, this writer was able to extract some insights on the general characteristics of today’s Badjao people with respect to their unique culture, practices, community relations among their tribes and external relations with other tribal group like Sama TawiTawi, Tausugs and Christian brothers.

The woman, named Luiza Akmad, is 36 years old and has gone and finished a 2-year diploma in Fish Technology from the province’s premier university The Mindanao State University, Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography.

She is just one of those few Badjaos who earned a college degree in said school. Although, in a rare feat, a Badjao (also known as Sama Dilaut) named Roben Abdella graduated w/ honors (magna cum laude) of the same school from the College of Education. Abdella is now a faculty member at the College of Education handling English subjects.

For Luiza going to school and earning a

WITH MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL

I

degree was quite a tough task for a Badjao like her because of discrimination. People look down on them (Badjaos) as inferior, ignorant and illiterate. Besides her family could not afford to send her to college for lack of financial means to buy even her notebooks and pens. To overcome these financial constraints she should find ways and means to tidy her up to reach her goal of earn-

Ms. Luiza Akmad in her Badjao outfit getting ready to gather “seafoods” from the nearby coastal area of Kalang, Sanga-Sanga.

(Dr. Johnny R. Lee photo)

ing a degree.

Lucky enough she made it to the college’s volleyball varsity team with a modest cash allowance and free tuition fees. On weekends she accepts laundry work from her teachers just to earn a few hundred pesos to augment her meager allowance and their household needs because her parents are jobless and rely only from a few catches of fish on a daily basis.

(To be continued in the next issue…)

Tourists can now get P750 RT-PCR test at PCMC: DOT MANILA – Tourists can now apply for a PHP750 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test at the Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC), the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Monday.

During the signing of a memorandum agreement with PCMC, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

C1

said the DOT, through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), will earmark PHP8.7 million to finance the new subsidy program.

This cuts into half the PHP1,500 regular cost of RT-PCR test at PCMC for qualified locals or foreigners residing in the country as long as their purpose for travel is for tourism.

The program is on top of DOT and TPB's

PHP10 million allocation for a similar 50 percent RT-PCR subsidy at the Philippine General Hospital. ―The rolling out of the subsidized RT-PCR tests for qualified domestic tourists is just one of the tourism promotions’ recovery strategies as part of our Safe Bangon Turismo campaign to support the Philippine tourism industry which has

been adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic,‖ Romulo-Puyat said.

The tourism chief is also optimistic that this initiative would further encourage the traveling public to rediscover places that have been declared open and safe by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and local government units. PNA

f our readers can recall at the start of these series of cooked halal dishes, we will tackle all the rare and sumptuous main courses, dishes, and delicacies common to all provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

A Happy New Year to each and every one of you. The BARMM-Cooked Halal Dish is now moving on and the first in a series for our discussions is still now on the Maranao delicacy, a Maranao Piaparan, which is a delicious dish with the Palapa condiment that we discussed last year as the last topic too.

What is really a Piaparan to our Maranao brothers and sisters? Piaparan or Manok na Piaparan is a Maranao dish prepared with chicken cooked in a coconut milk-based broth with garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, spring onions, chilies, vegetables and spiced with Palapa.

Piaparan is a Maranao style of cooking where meats like chicken and seafood is cooked in a coconut milk-based broth with garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, spring onions, chillies, shredded coconut, vegetables and spiced with palapa. Piaparan also means ―shredded coconut‖ in Maranao and it is one of the main ingredients.

Manok na Piaparan has two components in the dish, like Beef Pares this dish is served with soup on its side but it’s not an ordinary soup, the soup that accompanies this dish is prepared with the stock where the chicken was poached or cooked in simmering liquid. The soup is then infused with coconut and studded with chayote chunks, red pepper and spring onions. The chicken on the other hand is tossed with a flavourful sapal (coconut strip residue) that is spiced with turmeric and palapa, a mix of pounded spring onions, ginger and chillies.

It’s a very tasty dish like most Maranao food, its spicy but pleasant, every bite is so addictive.

Ingredients Palapa 4 stalks spring onions, finely chopped 2 tbsp ginger paste 2 pcs chillies, finely chopped Soup 1 1/2 kg chicken legs 6 cloves garlic, minced 2 red onions, thinly sliced 1 cup coconut milk 6 cups water 1 chayote, sliced 3 stalks spring onions, chopped oil Salt Piaparan PIAPARAN | B5

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Save The Earth Environmental Sustainability in Islam

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

Last of 2 Parts

DOT backs expanded travel ban amid new Covid-19 variant

By Salman Zafar | EcoMENA

By PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

M

ANILA: The Department of Tourism (DOT) throws its full support for the implementation of more stringent entry protocols in view of the confirmed new Covid19 variant.

Hadiths and Environment Hadiths or the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) also deal extensively with various aspects of environment including resource conservation, land reclamation and environmental hygiene. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) discouraged overconsumption, luxury and lavishness and encouraged moderation in all walks of life. The most popular Hadith on environment states ―The earth is green and beautiful and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it‖ which reiterates Quran teaching that human beings have been given the responsibility of guardianship over the natural environment.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) clearly forbade destruction of trees and crops even during war times as long as their existence remains advantageous to the enemy.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) gave high degree of importance towards sustainable cultivation of land, waste minimization, humane treatment of animals, preservation of natural resources and protection of wildlife. Some of the sayings of Prophet bless and Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) on environmental sustainability are: “The world is beautiful and verdant, and verily God, be He exalted, has made you His stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.” (Muslim) “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him.” (Bukhari) “Whoever plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit is rewarded,” (Musnad) The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) recognized that natural resources should not be overexploited or abused. In order to protect land, forests and wildlife, the Prophet created inviolable zones, known as Haram and Hima, in which resources were to be left untouched. Haram areas were drawn up around wells and water sources to protect the groundwater from overpumping. Hima applied to wildlife and forestry and designated an area of land where grazing and woodcutting was restricted, or where certain animal species (such as camels) were protected.

Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) established a hima to the south of Madina and forbade hunting within a four mile radius and destruction of trees or plants within a twelve mile radius. The creation of inviolable zones shows the importance placed by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) on sustainable use of natural resources and protection of wildlife and agricultural land. EcoMENA

“While we favor the resumption of inbound travel to stimulate economic recovery, we value above all else the health and safety of our people. In this light, we ask for the understanding and cooperation of inbound travelers in adhering to the measures put in place to ensure the protection of both guests and local communities,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a news release on Wednesday.

Health and Safety

Guidelines have been prepared by the DOT for the following tourism enterprises to ensure the safe stay of visitors and protection of workers and host communities: attractions, restaurants, accommodation establishments, tourist land transport, travel and tour operations, tour guides, island and beach destinations, dive establishments, staycation hotels, spa, and meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE) facilities.

“We put our full trust in our front-liners at the international ports of entry as well as in our local government units (LGU) to strictly carry out these measures at borders and triage points," Romulo-Puyat said.

She also called for close cooperation among tourism destination managers, enterprises and host communities in reinforcing the minimum health and safety standards in their respective areas, including the 14-day quaran-

PIAPARAN | from Page B4

Piaparan: A Maranao chicken dish 2 cups shredded coconut 2 tsp turmeric 1/2 green capsicum, sliced 1/2 red capsicum or edible peppers being sliced Oil Instructions In a large mortar combine all palapa ingredients together, pound it with a pestle until its paste like in consistency.

Set it aside Prepare a pot, over stove top on medium

heat add oil then sauté garlic and onions.

Add a tablespoon of the palapa continue to sauté until fragrant.

Add chicken and salt, slightly brown it on all sides then pour water.

Bring it to a boil then simmer for 25 minutes.

Remove chicken from the pot then set aside.

Add chayote to the pot then cook for 5 minutes.

Add coconut milk then cook for another 5 minutes. Add spring on-

ions then turn heat off.

While soup is boiling, in a wok heat oil then sauté the remaining palapa.

Add turmeric, shredded coconut, red capsicum and green capsicum. Stir fry until the shredded coconut is coated with the turmeric evenly.

Add the chicken to the coconut mixture, mix well to coat chicken with the coconut. Cover the wok, continue to cook in low heat for 10 minutes.

tine in hotels that serve as quarantine facilities.

The Philippines on Tuesday banned “all foreign travelers” from the areas where the new coronavirus strain is detected.

These countries and areas include the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, and Spain. PNA

Place chicken and coconut in a serving platter then serve it with the soup on the side.

Notes Traditionally according to a Maranao sister from the Islamic City of Marawi this dish is not sautéed nor chicken is browned, so if you want to go traditional omit the sautéing and browning process just add the ingredients that was sautéed directly to the dish. Sautéing gives the dish a richer flavour, hence that process was added.

MFO

Vol. I, No. 29 | January 1-7, 2021 (Jumad ‘ul Awwal 16-22, 1442)

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MSU | from Page B3

GenSan unit carves MSU spot in global education map Fellow students at the MSU-KFCIAS found Ali diligence and eloquence in Arabic, and elected him vice president in their student organization in 1983-84 and president in 1985-1986, until he completed his B.S. International Relation degree in the same academic period.

After graduation in BSIR degree, Ali worked as teacher at the Mapandi Memorial Medical Center, also in Marawi City, while enrolled for his studies for Master in Muslim Personal Laws at KFCIAS. The late Alim (Islamic scholar) Dr. Mahid Mutilan invited Ali to join the provincial youth sector of the Ompia Party, a local political party that [propelled Mutilan to the mayoralty of Marawi and later to gubernatorial post in Lanao del Sur. Ali resigned from his position in the city government under Mayor Mutilan when his application for study grant

in Marawi City, to learn more Arabic and Islamic teachings.

Ali finished high school at the Pangarungan Islamic College in March 1980, completing also an equivalent Arabic study at the same Maahad Marawi al-Islamie, the narrative said.

He then pursued college at the Mindanao State University main campus in Marawi City as self-supporting student of Bachelor of Science in International Relations (BSIR) at the university’s King Faisal Centre for Islamic and Arabic Studies (KFCIAS), while continuing higher Islamic and Arabic studies at Ma’had Marawi al Islamie.

A relative-member of the Moro National Liberation Front included Ali among his dependents, who were awarded free tuition with meager stipends under a government program meant to bring MNLF rebels into the mainstream.

at the University of the Philippines to take Master of Arts In Islamic Studies at Institute of Islamic Studies was approved.

He transferred to Manila to study at the Institute of Islamic Studies at the University of the Philippines, and served as student assistant at the office of then U.P. Registrar Francisco Encabo Dumlao.

While writing his thesis for his Master’s Studies, Ali joined the Shariah training in preparation for the 1990 Shariah Bar Examination. He successfully passed such exam in later part of the year and then graduated with his Master Of Arts in Islamic Studies at the University of the Philippines in 1992.

From the UP campus, Ali went back to Mindanao and joined the workforce of the MSU-GenSan campus here to serve as professor with concurrent designation as secretary of the unit’s College

of Law Extension since June 2, 1992.

In 1997, Ali was accorded with a study grant to pursue doctoral studies at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University (IIU), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. While studying at ISTAC, he wrote two articles published in AL SAJARAH, a campus journal.

Ali finished his doctoral degree in ISTAC in 2002, and returned to the MSU campus here to continue his teaching position with concurrent administrative designations.

In 2007, Ali his third article titled: ―The Legal Impediments to the Application of Islamic Family Law in the Philippines,‖ which was published in the 2007 Volume 27 of the Journal on Muslim Minority Affairs in London, United Kingdom.

He subsequently wrote two books – ―The Evolution of Islamic Law in the Philippines:

by ₱1.1-B over the legislature’s ₱2.6-billion2020 budget owing to ―the approval of our improved and more robust organizational structure,‖ according to Parliament Member Anna Tarhata Basman, chair of Committee on Account and Audit.

In his message for the 2021 regional budget pas-

sage, Chief Minister Ebrahim said the new appropriation differed in focus from last year’s budgeting because of ―the inclusion of efforts‖ to address the COVID19 pandemic and push further the building of ―responsive and moral governance.‖ He said the Bangsamoro

History Text and Analysis‖ and ―The Muslim Educational Need: An Exposition on the Fundamental Elements and Objectives on Islamic Education.‖ His two books became parts of the textbooks in the campus’ Sharia Law studies and for the subject Education 213 (Muslim Educational Needs) at the graduate school of the MSU-GenSan unit.

On April 27, 2005, Ali was awarded as ―outstanding alumnus in academic‖ of the Institute of Islamic Studies, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

In 2012, Ali vied for the Chancellorship at MSUGenSan, but failed to make it in election. In 2018, he vied again and made it this time, with the MSU Board of Regents and the CHED approving his appointment as the 6th chancellor of the satellite campus here. AGM

BUDGET | from Page A3

Big chunks of P75.6-B...

The ₱75.6-billion budget is appropriated out of the annual block grant from the national government, share from the national taxes, fees and charges collected in the Bangsamoro territorial jurisdiction, and projected collections on regional taxes, fees

and charges for the operation of the BARMM government for entire 2021, the BIO said.

The regional parliament has appropriated P3.7-billion for its full operation in 2021, the information office said.

The parliament’s 2021 budget indicated an increase

government remains focused on priority initiatives mandated under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (R.A.11054) relative to health, education, and social services. ―We intend to broaden the scope of (our) existing programs and expand it down to the grassroots,‖ he said.

AGM

CHALLENGES | from Page A2

Challenges, gains in BARMM transition cited samoro Transition Authority‟s (BTA‟s) operations in 2022.

Debates over the extension call and lobby efforts had prompted some lawmakers to file bills postponing the 2022 election of regular parliament members and extending the BTA‟s lifespan to 2025, with President Duterte and his cabinet committing support.

Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, author of one of enabling bills, was that Congress will pass the measure, even as he believed that a Presidential certification of the proposal as “urgent” will hasten the process of legislation.

Chief Minister Ebrahim echoed a popular notion that the BOL provides a “short” period for the BARMM transition.

“Studies conducted on peace processes all-over the world recommended six to 10 years of transition period for a post-conflict gov-

ernment to be fully effective and operational,” Ebrahim said.

At a media party here on Dec. 23 also, BARMM spokesman and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said such “studies” also showed that 60 percent of peace agreements in the world had bogged down, with only 40 percent successful.

“We are hopeful that the Philippine government‟s peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILG) will fall under the 40percent category,” Sinarimbo told journalists at the year-end party.

For Ebrahim, the extension “is necessary, so that the BTA is afforded sufficient time within which to satisfactorily accomplish its tasks and commitments under the Bangsamoro Organic Law and for the National Government to deliver the pending programs under the normalization process.”.

Besides, he pointed that

the transition involves institutional and political changes that should take place in setting up a parliamentary form of government under Philippines‟ unitary system – something that takes time.

Delays in the implementation of some provisions of the BOL, irregular mode of transfer of annual block grant, and the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) have brought negative impacts in “carefully navigating the transition period,” he said.

The proposed transition extension in effect entails an amendment of the Section 13 Article XVI of R.A. 11054.

Apart from Rep. Mangudadatu‟s bill, Reps.

Loren Legarda, Martin Romualdez and Khalid Dimapro have also filed similar bills for the purpose.

Ebrahim expressed hope more representatives will do the same or coauthor the bills.

“With several bills filed

in Congress and the unwavering support of His Excellency President Rodrigo Road Duterte and his Cabinet, we are optimistic that we can push through this important goal. Not for the President. Not for the MILF. Not for the BTA,” Ebrahim stressed.

Transitional gains Despite the temporal challenge, Ebrahim said the interim Bangsamoro government has been able to accomplish fundamental objectives for its constituents.

Such gains included the adoption of the transition plan, enactment of priority legislations, gradual phase out of employees and provision of separation incentives, and merit-based personnel hiring, among others.

“Halfway through the transition period, I am proud to say that the BTA, as the interim Bangsamoro government, has made remarkable accomplishments as a

government for the Bangsamoro people,” Ebrahim said.

He also described the successful turnover of supervision authority over this city and the 63 villages in North Cotabato as part of their initial gains.

The Office of the Chief Minister and its line ministries have likewise started in putting in place unprecedented infra projects for local government units, and continuously health, medical and relief services and goods amid the COVID19 pandemic.

“My dear brothers and sisters, I thank you for joining us in this dream and for tirelessly representing our people and their hopes. We have come a long way, but the road is still a long way to go. We cannot and we must not stop until we build a government reflective of our sacrifices, history, and a proud future for those who will follow, In shaa Allah,” Ebrahim said.

(AGM)

2021 New Year Message of Datu Yusoph B. Mama Chairman Muslimedia.PH, Inc. (Publisher of Philippine Muslim Today) ‎ ‫السالم عليكن ورحمة هللا وبركاته‬ As-Salamu‎‘Alaikum‎wa‎Rahmatullahi‎wa‎Barakatuhu.

I

n behalf of the "Philippine Muslim Today" and in the spirit of the same tradition of international rapport from other Muslim leaders around the world, both traditional and even religious, we respectfully enjoin our fellow Muslims in the Philippines and in the Bangsamoro region, especially its leaders, to come together in solidarity and fellowship with our nonMuslim and Christian friends who are celebrating their holiday season and the upcoming 2021 New Year (of the Gregorian calendar). It is indeed fair to extend greetings and felicitations to our non-Muslim and Christian friends this season as they too joyfully say "Happy Eid'l Fitr" to us, at the conclusion of our fasting season, as their Muslim friends. In the Quran, it is written, "when greeted with a greeting, you shall respond with better greeting or at least an equal one. Surely Allah takes account of all things." (Holy Quran 8:46) While we affirm the universal principle in respecting each other's cultural traditions, as fellow human beings, may we also find the will and courage to unite further in the face of our unique circumstances and challenges in this time period. May the difficulties and challenges of the year that was (2020) serve as a signal for us to awaken that human cooperation and unity, not selfish dissensions and intolerant scheming, is what we need today to effectively martial our capabilities and means to fight the common enemy that is global hunger, illiteracy, poverty, and diseases as we choose to uphold genuine human freedom and dignity in our respective communities.

Let us, therefore, celebrate our common human heritage by coming together this 2021 and champion the greater well-being of the human race regardless of faith, belief, and culture.

May the Almighty Allah (SWT) bless and protect the Filipino Muslims and our leaders in the Bangsamoro as we join our non-Muslim brethren welcome a more hopeful, peaceful, and prosperous New Year.

Happy New Year and salaam (peace) to all Filipinos!!!

DATU YUSOPH B. MAMA Masirikampo sa Marawi (Traditional Royal Ruler of Marawi)