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THE Office on Muslim Affairs will hold the 34th National Qur’an
Reading Competition from July 15 to 17 at the University of the
Philippines Film Institute located at the UP Campus in Diliman,
Quezon City.
Muslim affairs Executive Director Datu Ali
Sangki, who is the chairman of the 2008 executive committee of the
competitions, told The Manila Times Sunday that for the first in the
history of the national Qur’an reading competition in Metro
Manila, the competition can be heard in a live radio broadcast in
some parts of the country, like the Muslim provinces and the
Zamboanga peninsula, as well as in Palawan through the facilities of
the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp.
He said the Qur’an readers from the
Philippines are always at par with contestants from the Islamic
countries, because Filipinos are consistent winners in the
international Qur’an reading competition abroad.
He cited the case of Ustadz Abdul Bashit Imam
who already gave honor to the country by being a three-time world
champion.
“Most of our Qur’an readers have already the
full mastery of the art of reading the Qur’an in a precise and
artistic manner to suit the criteria of the reading competition,”
the Muslim affairs executive director added.
Simultaneous live coverage will be heard over
radio stations also belonging to Notre Dame broadcasting such as
dxGD-AM in Tawi-Tawi, dxSM-AM in Marawi City, dxMM-AM in Sulu and
dxOL-FM in Cotabato City.
Lawyer Metalicop Domado, director of the Muslim
affair’s Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs and the competition’s
national coordinator, said some 25 contestants who have won in the
regional Qur’an reading competition will vie for the much-coveted
national grand championship trophy in the male and female
categories.
Domado said Abdul Latip Daud, the 2007 male
grand champion will defend his title.
Domado also said Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
will deliver the welcome address to the participants and guests
because Quezon City is the host city of the national competition.
This will be followed by the speech of the guest speaker, Malaysian
Ambassador Dato Ahmad Rashidi Hazizi.
-- Julmunir I. Jannaral
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