Marawi youths raise fund for war victims in Aleppo

More than a thousand Muslim youths coming from the cities of Marawi City, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro joined in the Aleppo fund-raising and awareness campaign activity held in Dimaporo Gymnasium in Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi Campus on December 18.

The fund-raising activity was sparked by one single chat via Facebook last week after tweets from Aleppo trended in social media that civilians trapped in the eastern part of the Syrian city were indiscriminately murdered by the Assad regime, said organizer Mohammad Aiman Langlang.

The youths collected cash donations and held garage sale. Similar activities were held in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Zamboanga.

Youth leader Mohammad Jamal Batugan said that the proceeds will go to One Solid Ummah which is a non-profit organization that gives humanitarian aid to Syrian war victims and refugees. One solid Umma neither supports the rebels nor the Assad regime, he said.

The organizers have already collected P46,000 in cash from Marawi and P60,000 from Davao city.

The gathering also featured discussions from Sheik Abu Annas Angni on the conflict in Syria and Dr. Hamid Barra, who provided an in-depth analysis on the situation and how it affects the world at large.

The gathering concluded with a prayer for the safety and well-being of the civilians in Aleppo.​ (Sittie Ayeesha Dicali/PIA Lanao del Sur)

ARMM holds five-day food festival

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is holding a five-day food festival this week to showcase the different Moro delicacies as part of the region’s 27th founding anniversary celebration in Marawi city.

The food festival opened Monday with foods and delicacies unique to the province of Maguindanao taking center stage. The array of authentic Maguindanaon delicacies included the baling, tinapayan, palapa, pastil, fried katipa, tapudi,  lininggil, inasekan a layagan, blua, kumukunsi,  tinadtag, and panganansising.

Two of the most prominent Maguindanaon delicacies are the pastil and sininang kambing.

Pastil is cooked rice topped with sauteed chicken or fish meat flakes, known as ‘kagikit’, that is wrapped in banana leaves. A modern take on this unique Maguindanaon dish features toasted fish meat, chicken or beef as kagikit, and hot and spicy flavored kagikit.

The sininang kambing, on the other hand, is tenderized goat meat cut into chunks cooked with with palapa, coconut milk, spices, garlic, onion, ginger, chives, chili and soy sauce. The spices and coconut milk bring a unique and contrasting flavor to the meat.

According to ARMM Tourism Sec. Ayesha Mangudadatu-Dilangalen, these foods are usually served during thanksgivings that Maguindanaon refer to as “kanduli”.

“It reflects their culture and traditions,” she said.

The food festival was made even more cheerful with live kulintang music from a traditional Maguindanaon ensemble, and with the Sagayan, a traditional dance in Maguindanao.

Sec. Dilangalen said the delicacies unique to the different provinces of the ARMM form part of the culture of peoples therein and holding a festival to showcase these foods spice up the celebration of the founding anniversary of the region.

The ARMM is composed of five provinces namely, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The delicacies in the four other provinces will be featured in the following schedule this week: Lanao del Sur on November 15; Basilan on November 16; Sulu on November 17; and Tawi-Tawi on November 18.

Sec. Dilangalen said the 27th Pakaradjaan sa ARMM will highlight the rich culture of the Moro people as well as the variety of local products from the region’s different provinces.

"It's a great opportunity for the tourists to discover the rich culture of the region," Sec. Dilangalen said.

Since 2014, the ARMM has held Food Festivals to showcase an astounding range of foods distinct to each province.

The food festival marks the celebration of the region’s diverse flavors reflecting its culture, and a celebration of cuisine and culinary talents of the Moro people. (BPI/PIA-10)

200 indigent PWDs, senior citizens in Lanao del Sur receive free wheelchairs

Some 200 persons with disability (PWDs) and senior citizens  in the province  were given free wheelchairs on November 3, 2016.

The distribution,  led by Lanao del Sur First District Representative Ansaruddin Adiong and Provincial Governor Soraya Adiong, was held at the Provincial Capitol Compound, Marawi City.

Salma Jayne Tamano, Provincial Information Officer, said  additional 400 wheelchairs are set to be distributed by Congressman Adiong and Governor Adiong in far flung municipalities and district hospitals in the province in the coming weeks.

The beneficiaries are initially recommended by the municipal mayors and have undergone assessment by the Provincial HealthOffice.

She said the mobility assistance was requested by Congressman Adiong from the Department of Health Central Office.

Despite its being a separate legislative district, Tamano said Congressman Adiong has also allocated wheelchairs to PWDs and senior citizens from the second district of the province who are needing mobility assistance. (APB/PIA-10)

Marawi exec bares top gains in first 100 days

Some say only magic will change the negative image of Marawi City. But the city mayor believes otherwise.

There is good news in Marawi each day and this is the new normal in the city, Mayor Majul Gandamra told constituents on October 17, as he boasted the great strides of his administration for the first 100 days.

Programs to support the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the national government, ease traffic congestion and address solid waste problems which brought back the trust of the people to the authorities and the government system are among the top accomplishments cited by the mayor.

“The city has been silenced by fear of criminalities and injustices which contributed to the loss of opportunities for economic growth and the involuntary migration of residents. Thus, we have strengthened our collaboration with the authorities and took the lead in the implementation of the program to end the narcotics syndicate in our communities,” Gandamra said.

He further reported that the city government has reconstituted a new Ecological Solid Waste Management Council, launched new strategies coupled with enhanced ordinances to address the solid waste problem, and provided the necessary logistical support such as procurement of trucks and equipment to facilitate timely collection of wastes.

Gandamra said he also ordered the regulation of public utility vehicles and the 8,000 tricycle operators as well as the demolition of illegal structures and terminals along key roads which caused heavy traffic congestion. ‘We are now finalizing our Road and Traffic Management Plan and will soon commence the training of our traffic champions,” he added. 

Other gains cited by the mayor include the revitalization of the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) council, the conduct of disaster preparedness drills and basic life-saving trainings, and repair of the drainage system. (APB/PIA-10)

DTI-Lanao del Sur conducts consumer forum on malnutrition

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office held a consumer forum on malnutrition awareness in Marawi City on October 12, to raise awareness on malnutrition among consumers in the province.

Spearheaded by DTI Provincial Director Mohammad Aquil Mamainte, the forum was attended by members of Marawi City and Lanao del Sur Consumer Group, teachers from Marawi City Division, members of Marawi Broadcasters Association, and representatives from different sectors.

Three speakers spoke in the forum. Hadja Shaima Sally Batabor, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist (STIDS), spoke about consumer rights and responsibilities and how to be a smart consumer while Registered Nutritionist-Dietician Chrisley Gonzales from Department of Health-ARMM gave an overview of malnutrition in the region and taught the participants how to eat well to prevent malnutrition.

Mautante Marohombsar, on the other hand, discussed halal advocacy and how Muslim consumers can make sure that what they are consumers are halal or permissible by Islamic standards.

The forum ended with an open forum and a message by Marawi City and Lanao del Sur Consumer Group President and acting station manager of DXSO Radyo ng Bayan Marawi Bae Soraida Sarigala who gave practical tips on buying wisely.

The forum was part of the celebration of Consumer Welfare Month with the theme "Consumer Protection: A Shared Responsibility." (SAMD/PIA-10)

Lanao del Sur town launches MASA MASID

In support to President Rodrigo Duterte's war against illegal drugs, the municipality of Bubong in the province launched the MASA MASID program with a walk for peace on October 5.

Led by Municipal Mayor Alfais Munder, the 36 barangay chairmen of Bubong, municipal employees and police went around the streets of the municipality bearing anti-narcotics placards.

Municipal Local Government Operation Officer Agakhan M. Rinandang said MASA MASID program is a community-based program for the prevention of criminality, corruption, illegal drugs in the villages.

"Bubong is the first municipality in Lanao del Sur to launch the program. As the DILG Officer of Bubong, I am very happy that all local officials support this program," Rinandang said.

MASA MASID is envisioned to unite different organizations in creating safer and drug-free communities. It encourages the involvement of local stakeholders to take a proactive stance in the fight against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

Under DILG Memorandum Circular 2016-116, the program has four main thrusts: information and education campaign in communities for government programs against corruption, illegal drugs and criminality; creation of a reporting mechanism on illegal drugs-related activities; formulation of community-based rehabilitation programs; and revive the spirit of volunteerism by creating a volunteer-friendly atmosphere for organizations that wishes to be partners for change. (SAMD/PIA-10)