JEDDAH, 10 June 2003 — Filipino Muslims in Tabuk have formed an organization to assist compatriots who are in need and to “promote the image of Islam in the Philippines as well as intensify brotherhood among Muslims in the Kingdom.”
Organized recently through encouragement of Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop, the Tabuk Filipino Muslim Community (TFMC) has so far close to 40 members who are all “Balik-Islam” or “reverted Filipino Muslims.”
TFMC leaders said they are ready to assist any of their members “at any time in any difficulties they might encounter regarding personal or job related matters.”
The group first set of officers, who will serve for one year, were inducted into office recently at the Tabuk Community Guidance Center.
The officers are Ahmad “Ed” Espinosa, chairman; Osama “Rino” Sahan, vice chairman; Mohamed Ibrahim Ipol Bilang, secretary/treasurer; Abdulaziz Mamalang and Mohamed Nur Tolentino, auditors; Mohamed Yousuf del Rosario and Abdulrahman Galvan, business administrators; Jaber Canciller, Abdul Majeed Rebanal and Ismael Borja, public relations officers.
The area coordinators are: Mohamed Abdulrahman Iligan and Ibrahim Gangoso for the Tabuk Industrial Area; Dawud Puglay and Muhammad Galut, KAMC Area; Abdulaziz de Guzman and Muhammad Lino, Jordan Road Area; Khalid Campo and Abdullah Ramos, Madinah Road Area; Mohamed Nasser and Ibrahim Egay, Tabuk Proper Area; Issa Illustracion, Duhu Area; and Mauyag “Mike” Amerol and Abdullatif Shareef, Tribal Affairs.
The advisers are Ustad Sharif Sandangan, Ustad Abdul Satar Abdul Karim, Ibrahim Bongabong, Muhammad Domingo, Hazam Naniong, Abdul Gafur Marangit, and Sultan Macatanong.
Part of the group’s objective is to coordinate with the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah on matters pertaining to OFWs in Tabuk.
TFMC has lined up many “beneficial projects,” all of which are meant to “ lift economic, civic and social development of Filipino Muslims.”
Chairman Espinosa said they are encouraging other Balik-Islam members in the area to join and participate in the group’s activities.
Balik-Islam is a term used by non-Muslim Filipinos who have embraced Islam, “believing that it is the true religion and the religion of their forefathers.”
Thousands of non-Muslim Filipinos, many of them working in Saudi Arabia, have joined the Balik-Islam movement, saying that the “early inhabitants of the land (Philippines) were Muslims until the arrival of the Spaniards who converted them to Christianity, mostly by force.”
According to historians, including those written by Spanish missionaries, when the Spaniards first arrived in the northern Philippines in the late 16th century, Manila and surrounding towns were already settled by Muslims.
Most notable among the Muslim settlements then were the coastal areas around Manila Bay, from the present-day Tondo upward to Bulacan and Pampanga.
Rajahs Lakandula and Solaiman were among the leaders of the Manila Bay settlements who resisted the Spanish invaders.
Some historians have linked the pre-Spanish era Muslims of Luzon to the Sultanate of Brunei, which used to maintain an overseas outpost in the northern Philippines.