For almost five years, the Center for Moderate Muslim (CMM) has been preoccupied with extending various services to the different sectors of the Muslim communities, ranging from the basic necessities of the individual Muslim to his spiritual preparation for the hereafter.  The effort became so interesting and intense that the deeply engrossed staff of the CMM did not realize that they were actually treading on pioneering ventures.

     This only shows that, generally, many services, however basic, have yet to reach the Muslim communities.  And this explains why all Government Agencies agree that the Muslim provinces composing the Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao continue to belong to the poorest Provinces in the country and consistently wallow in poverty due to the insufficient, or absence of, facilities and services ought to be delivered by concerned institutions or offices.  In short, the Muslim communities need the care and attention of good leaders and committed organizations - both government and non-government - to surmount the problems they have been encountering since time immemorial and “immoral.”

     Among the CMM Programs which can be considered as pioneering in the Muslim Communities are the following:

A.     Free Computer Literacy Program – started more than four (4) years ago with 60 computers donated by Cord-aid of Belgium, Sandiwaan and other interfaith groups, the Program has graduated more than four thousand (4,000) Muslim (90%) and non-Muslim (10%) out-of-school youth. There is a strong clamor to replicate this program, which is based in Taguig, Metro Manila, in the Muslim communities in Mindanao where many pupils/students have not even seen a real computer.

B.     TOMY Awards – launched in 2005, the Ten Outstanding Muslim Youth Awards discovered the hidden and amazing talents of the Muslim Youth which can compare the best of their counterparts in other communities. For instance, the Program has recognized a world-class Muslim pianist (Najib Ismail), World Karate Champion (Revie Sani), Number 1 Board Topnotcher (A. Marohomsalic), World- Champion Equestrian (Toni “Kalida” Leviste), Topnotch Student Leader (Shahana Abdulwahid), Most Honest Policeman (A. Guiani), Internationally-acclaimed Academic Scholar (Rezza Sinsuat),  Indefatigable Community Worker (Tim Ijiran), Asian Marathoner (Daud Mama) and a host of top caliber Young Muslim Achievers.  The long list of Model Muslim Youth gets longer every year with this Program.  With the slogan, “Excellence, not Violence”, this program has attracted so many successful young Muslims to compete for the awards.

C.    Scholarship Program – started is 2006, the Program has encouraged talented Muslim students to pursue excellence early in life because all levels are covered by the scholarship – Elementary, High school, and College.  For the first time, an NGO (non-government organization) has become an active partner of the parents in supporting the studies of the Muslim youth from grade school to the university.  This November 2008, Insha Allah, the sixty  (60) scholarship slots will be increased to two hundred (200) due to the assistance of well-meaning institutions and individuals who care for the well-being of the Mindanao Muslims.  The requirement to maintain the grade of at least 85% has encouraged the CMM scholars to vie for the top honors in their respective classes.  CMM expects more cum laude graduates with this program.

D.    Day Care Program – initiated with the donation of Muslims from the local and international communities in 2006, this Program provides free school fees, free uniforms, free school supplies, free school bags, and free grocery items, during special occasions, to its more than 300 pupils.  This is a one-of-a-kind Day Care Program for Muslim kids, where Arabic Language and Islamic Values are taught alongside the regular subjects recognized by the Department of Education.  This is pioneering because everything is offered free to the Muslim beneficiaries.  Thanks to our generous donors.

E.     Qur’an Reading by the Champions – this program is a complete departure from the usual competitions on Qur’an Reading witnessed by the Muslims during special occasions.  This time, CMM invites only the experts – Qur’an Reading Champions in both International and National Competitions – to show how they perform in a jampacked hall of very enthusiastic Filipino Muslims during the last ten (10) days of Ramadhan.  Several requests have been received by CMM to hold such program in different Muslim communities nationwide.  So far, this unique Program was held in the Golden Mosque, Quiapo (twice), Greenhills, San Juan (once), and Marawi City (once).  CMM plans to bring this to other parts of Mindanao to encourage young Muslims, especially, to read and interpret the Qur’an very well.

F.     Imam Training Program – the scarcity of competent, knowledgeable, accessible, diplomatic, and community-based Imams is a long-felt need of several mosques in the Philippines.  The plan of any Muslim organizations to fill up the gap remained a dream for so many years. This prompted CMM to launch in Metro Manila the training of Imams in 2004.  An avalanche of requests from several mosques nationwide led CMM to bring the Program to the provinces, and more requests are received by the staff to conduct the training in the big mosques in Mindanao.  Even the muftis of the ARMM Provinces (Basilan, Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Maguindanao, and Lanao Del Sur) started to coordinate with CMM, for the sponsorship of the Imam training in their respective localities.  CMM, therefore, helped many Muslim communities to have “better and well-trained” Imams in their mosques with this Program.

     CMM has la long list of Programs for the young and the old, male and female, and for everybody in the community.  In sports, CMM has supported tournaments in Tennis, Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, Marathon, Chess, Scrabble, and even local/parlor games (“patintero”, tug-of-war, sack race, etc.)  Other Programs include the Sunday Women’s Seminar, Livelihood Training with TESDA, Madrasah for the youth, Radio and Cable TV Programs, and International networking with Muslim organizations such as Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (Indonesia), Sheikul Islam (Thailand), and Majlis Ugama islam Singapura (MUIS).

     With its partner, Philippine Islamic Council, the group actually started early in Interfaith activities, dating back to 1992, together with the CBCP, UCCP, PCEC, INK, Buddhists and Hindus in the National Peace and Order Council.  In 1995, this writer and Sister Roseanne Mallillin of CBCP–NASSA conceptualized an Interfaith Council composed of Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant Leaders, invited Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Bishop Hilario Gomez, and the late Dr. Mahid Mutilan to a dinner meeting at the Barbara’s Restaurant in Intramuros for the purpose.  The meeting led to the organization of the now widely-recognized Bishop-Ulama Forum (BUF).  This writer and Sister Roseanne Mallillin helped organize and attend the first meeting of the BUF in MSU Marawi City in 1996, and the rest is history. Alhmdullilah!            

September 2008