JEDDAH, 14 October 2004 — There is no better way to remind Muslims the sacredness of the Holy Qur’an than to read from it — especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Filipino Muslims will have the chance to read verses from the sacred writing and be rewarded depending on their excellence during the 8th Annual Qur’an Reading Contest slated at the Philippine Consulate on Oct. 28.
“The contest will affirm the solidarity of the Filipino Muslim community in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the rest of the Muslims all over the world during the holy month of Ramadan. It will also awaken the Muslims’ spiritual awareness and understanding of the value and essence of Quranic teachings,” Consul General Dino Lomondot told Arab News.
The Philippine Consulate organized the event in cooperation with the United Maguindanao Expatriates Association (UMEA).
Preparations are now under way to make this year’s contest even more inspiring says “Rams” Gunao, president of UMEA. He, however, insisted that the event would not only be a show of reading ability. “This is to encourage Muslims to read and understand the holy message of Qur’an,” Gunao told Arab News.
Contestants are required to submit their bio-data and 1” x 1” picture to the consulate on or before Oct. 21. From a pool of contestants, 10 finalists will be chosen. These finalists will then battle it out for three major prizes on Oct. 28. The board of judges composed of Saudi and Egyptian imams will evaluate the contestants on their intonation (tajweed), eloquence (tartel), melody (tarannum), and voice (shawt).
Cash prizes await the winners.
Like in the previous years, the participation of Filipino Muslims, especially those taking special Islamic studies in the Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, will add prestige to the event.
Taha Guinomla, the consulate’s administrative officer, said: “The Qur’an reading contest has been institutionalized as an annual event during the holy month of Ramadan. It demonstrates, in one way, the welcoming of the holy month of Ramadan.”
Guinomla also said that the event is “symbolic because the prophet Mohammad received the first revelation during the holy month of Ramadan.”
Meanwhile, Lomondot said that the consulate’s working hours during the month of Ramadan would be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday to Wednesday.
The consulate will be temporarily closed on Thursdays for the duration of the month of Ramadan.
Those who are interested to join the Qur’an Reading Contest may contact the following: Camansa “Rams” Gunao at 050-106-9661, 662-1500 extension 465; Ustadz Montasser Pasandalan at 660-0348, 663-0354, 667-0925 extension 324 and 312; Rose Justiniano 660-0348, 663-0354, and 667-0925 extension 218.