JEDDAH, 1 October 2008 — Zamil Mamintal, a native of Marawi City in the southern Philippines, capped his quest to be a champion qari last weekend by bagging the top prize in the Qur’an recitation competition held each year at the Philippine Consulate.
A merchandiser at the Arabian Food Supplies since 2002, Mamintal said he first joined the annual competition two years ago, placing only sixth among several contestants.
“I placed 4th in my second try and I was not satisfied, so I vowed to keep joining until I win. Thank Allah, I have achieved my dream,” said the new champion, who won a cash prize and other gift items.
Norfaisal Paramihan of Masiu in Lanao Del Sur province and also of Marawi, took second place.
“It’s really a timely win because I’m leaving for the Philippines tonight,” said Paramihan, an electrician at the Saudi Bin Laden company, in a phone interview just before his flight yesterday.
Capturing the 3rd prize was Abubakar N. Usman of Talayan town in Maguindanao, a first year Shariah law student in Cairo, who came to the Kingdom to perform Umrah.
He was followed very closely by Marwan Mamaluba Langalan of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Like the champion, the other winners also won cash prizes and other items, but Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot refrained from mentioning the prizes so as not to deviate from the true meaning of the contest.
In his message during the contest last Thursday, he said “the competition aims to renew and strengthen the bond of brotherhood and oneness in faith and belief among Muslim Filipinos in the Kingdom...”
It was also meant “to recognize the God-given talents and mastery of the Qur’an of gifted brothers in the Muslim Filipino community so that others may be inspired to devote more time in studying and understanding of the Holy Qur’an and reflect on our daily quest to practice Islam more faithfully.”
Among the guests during the contest, the 11th to be held by the consulate, were the consuls general of Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka and other members of the diplomatic corps.
Shiekh Zaid Quaid Mohammed Ismail, representative of the Muslim World League Holy Qur’an Memorization International Organization, was one of the speakers.