JEDDAH — Aquil Saro Guinar of Jeddah has been declared champion in the First International Filipino Muslim Qur’an Reading and Memorization Competition, its organizers announced yesterday.

Guinar bested several others in the contest, which was held at the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) on Oct. 28.

Named runners-up were Absamin Radia Arig of Madinah, Ahmad Mohammad Nader Azgar, also from Madinah, as well as Ameen Mohammad Imam, Omar Mohammad Singano and Yamani Sainodden.

Abdul Malik Sangcopan topped the memorization category, while Ali Rasol Dimasa was the first runner-up.

Arab News editor-in-chief Khaled Al-Maeena was the guest of honor at the event, which was held simultaneously with the Qur’an Reading Competition at the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah.

A press statement by the secretariat of the IPSJ contest said the event was organized by the United Bangsaranao Council (UBC), representing several Maranao cultural organizations, including the Shakba International.

Also participating were the Basilan group BOMWA, the Bangsa Sug, the Davao-Kalagan Expatriate Association and the Filipino Muslim League.

Sitting as board of judges were local missionaries who are on umrah as guests of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (Rabita).

“The event was the culmination of a community effort aimed at bringing about awareness among today’s Muslims of the important role that the Book of Allah (swt) plays in the lives of the ordinary Muslims,” said the UBC in a press statement.

In his speech, Ustad Al-Maeena cited the organizers for the activity and urged the Filipino community members to be united in undertaking endeavors for their common welfare. He later announced the winners and gave Muslim converts in the audience copies of the Holy Qur’an.

Mitchell Hadji Omar, one of the organizers, said the event was made possible with the support of community groups and leaders, as well as to engineer Hussein A. Dabbagh of the Dabbagh group of Companies, the Saudi Business Insight Group of Companies, the Arcoma Company, the Technical Agency and the Al-Injazat Trading Corp. (Nivea), which handed gifts to the contestants and some give-away items to the audience.