Qurbani project for Ed’l Adha a resounding success in Marawi

RIC CLET

MARAWI CITY – A Qurbani Project was launched at the Basman Auditorium here from November 16 to 18 this year in celebration of Ed’l Adha, an important Muslim holiday.

The celebration of Ed’l Adha was spearheaded by the Islamic Community of Milli Gurus ( IGMG ) Hiffs-und Socialveren, CARE Association, Turkish-Filipino Friendship Solidarity Association (TUFIFSA) in cooperation with the Mindanao Muslim Teachers College (PMTC), the Mindanao Institute of Healthcare Professionals (MIHP)and the Commission on Higher Education-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CHED-ARMM).

Ed’l Adha celebration activities include distribution of cow meat, cooking competition, parlor games, quiz show, musical presentation of live band, martial arts exhibition among students, and sharing of  school supplies with school children.  Some five thousand (5,000) local community members graced the Ed’l Adha affair.

In an interview with mediamen, IGMG spokesman Mesut Erbash from Australia said that Qurban means “Closer to Allah”.  He said the project had been launched 25 years ago worldwide and it is the 4^th year that the project had been launched in the Philippines.  He said some 200 heads of cows were slaughtered for distribution to poor families in the city. He said similar meat distribution had been made in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Madalum and Tamparan in Lanao del Sur and Davao City and Manila.  He added that the Qurdani Project will be a yearly undertaking of the IGMG and expressed optimism that a bigger blessings can be share by the group next year.

Spokesman Erbash was with Hasan Sula of Australia, Fatih Kara of Germany, and Enes Poyraz of the United Kingdom during the media interview.

Riza Dalkilic , president of Rizali who hails from Turkey express his gratitude for the support and cooperation of the officials and community members in the successful celebration of the Ed’l Adha.  He said, “It is time to recognize and remember the importance of being closer to Allah.  He said the more important consideration is the life or the world hereafter.  He said while  we are in this world we have to share our blessings with the less fortunate brothers and sisters in Islam.

On the other hand Dr. Norma Sharief, chairperson of the CHED-ARMM  said the she is elated by the overwhelming support and cooperation showed by the community members in contributing to the resounding success of the Ed’l Adha celebration in the city. Sharief is also the over-all coordinator of the Qurbani project  Philippines 2010.

Aga Khan “Binladen” Sharief, organizer and chairman of the Ed’l Adha Fiesta Celebration under the Qurbani Project thanked the multi-sectoral groups in making the ed’l Adha Celebration a resounding success with more than 5,000 people attended the said program.

 Sharief also noted that over 300 civilians who participated in the cooking competition were given certificates of participation by the Philippine Muslim Teachers College (PMTC), one of the project cooperating organizations. The first prize was awarded to the group of Habibati Frequency  radio forum.