RIYADH, 29 October 2005 — A teacher who topped a Qur’an reading contest 12 years ago added another feather to his cap when he was adjudged champion in the 4th Qur’an Reading Contest held at the Philippine Embassy on Thursday night.
Amerudin Romandong Yusoph, who is from Tugaya town of Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines, scored 95 percent to win the top prize and went home with a cash prize of SR4000 from Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers Co.
In addition, he was given a laptop computer with a printer and web camera donated by the Al-Suwaidi Group plus gift items from Daimoumah Recruitment.
In 1993, Yusoph topped the National Capital Region Qur’an Reading Contest in the Philippines, a victory that encouraged him to teach Qur’an reading in Brunei for more than seven years.
Abdulkarim Noh Salioban, who scored 94.67 percent, took the 2nd prize and won SR2,500 plus a laptop from Saudi Oger Ltd. and gift items.
Mustapha Disalungan secured the 3rd place with a 94.66 percent score and won a cash prize of SR2,000 plus a laptop from Delta Ltd. and gift items.
Adjudged 4th prize winner was Ahmad Abdulaziz, who scored 94.33 percent to win SR1,000 plus a laptop from Moh’d Al-Khathlan Establishment and gift items.
Fifth placer Alimudin Guiameel got SR500 plus a laptop from Building Cont. Co. and gift items.
Organizers said all the cash prizes were from Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers Co. and the gift items from Daimoumah and other donors.
The contest also witnessed exhibition readings from Indonesian and Pakistani guests and was judged by prominent ulema from the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY): Sheikh AlKhalil Mohamad Al-Mokhtar, Sheikh Abdulaziz Abdulgane Al-Shalafe and Sheikh Mohamad Alameen Weldyahdeen.
Also witnessing the contest were the ambassadors of Egypt, Pakistan and Brunei.
In his speech, Philippine Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla explained that the contest was aimed at promoting awareness of Islam and its teachings and to strengthen the bond of friendship and brotherhood among Filipinos and their friends in the Kingdom.
He said he hoped that this awareness would contribute to the initiative of the Philippine government on inter-faith dialogue for peace and development.
“At no other time perhaps than today when many parts of the world are wracked by violent extremism that we most need the central message of Islam of peace and understanding” Guinomla told the gathering.
“They also help to cushion the longing for country and sweet home. More significantly, they reflect the cultural pluralism that characterizes our nation of 7,000 islands and 84 million Filipino people” he added.
The major sponsors include the Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Co., the Al Suwaidi Group of Companies, Saudi Oger Co., Building Construction Co. Ltd., Delta Limited, Al-Khathlan Contracting Est., Al-Humaidi Group — SACO, Al-Hamoud Recruitment Office, Asmara Int’l Manpower Recruitment Office, Sami Al-Musharraf Recruitment Office, Waleed Al-Musharraf Recruitment Office, Saudi Placement Co., Daimoumah Recruitment Office, Telemoney of Arab National Bank, Four Winds Co., Pag-IBIG Fund, Metro Star Express, and Bateel Sweets.