Muslim youths spend 21st night of Ramadan 2014 in an annual lecture series

COTABATO CITY – Around a thousand of Muslim youths graced the annual Grand Qiyamul Layl Symposium 2014 last July 19-20, 2014 at CCSPC Gymnasium, Cotabato City with a theme “Self-Reformation: A Gateway to Peace and Progress”. Spearheaded by the United Voices for Peace Network (UVPN) through the chairmanship of UVPN Minister of Religious Affairs Engr. Zubair A. Guiaman, the activity was conducted in collaboration with the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College or CCSPC’s Supreme Student Government (SSG) led by SSG President Nasserudin D. Dunding, and CCSPC Muslim Student Association (MSA) led by its founder Amenodin M. Samporna.

CCSPC Vice President Dr. Mohamma Taha S. Pendaliday led the formal opening of the program. In his inspirational message, he expressed his support for this kind of collaborative initiative. Correspondingly, the UVPN Prime Minister Hamodi L. Tiboron, CPA, gave an overview of UVPN tackling its vision, mission, goals and philosophy to aware the participants about the basic tenets of the Association.

“One of the goals of UVPN is to motivate the Muslim people to practice the true teachings of Islam for them to be able to engage into a sincere and genuine peace dialogue with the people of other beliefs and cultures” said by Mr. Tiboron relating the conduct of the activity.

During the one night activity, series of lecture in line with the theme were highlighted by nationally recognized Islamic scholars in Cotabato City.

Mufti Abu Hurairah Udasan of well-known Darul Ifta rendered a discussion on the “Absolute Practice of Islam: Solution to the Problems of the Muslim Ummah” emphasizing the importance of revisiting, studying and following the Qur’an and the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in solving the political and social problems encountered by Muslim Ummah at the present time.

On the topic, “Preparing the youth as Future Muslim Leader”, Ustadz Nasrudin Musa of the Hayatul Ulama – Philippines stressed the importance of formation or affiliation to youth organizations as a good venue in molding the youth to become future catalysts. For this reason, education is an important tool in equipping them as already obliged by Islam at the outset.

Boardmember of the GINAKIT Philippine Foudation Incorporated, Ustadz Ismael Andil Tuanadatu, then discussed the “Importance of Self-Reformation in the Present Society”. Tawbah, Arabic for self-reformation, was underlined as one of the steps leading to societal stability and harmony as it encourages positive change from oneself, within the family, then eventually, to the community.

Furthermore, as a month of mercy and blessings, the “Significant Teachings of Ramadan” was rendered by Ustadz Faisal Dacungan Director of Mahad Alil Amir. Accordingly, various forms of worship are being taught by Ramadan including acts of worship, reading Qur’an, remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) and ectetera. Ust. Dacungan also shared the Do-s and Don’t-s in fasting.

Lastly, Ustadz Marhan Mohamad Burhan from Bangsamoro Transition Commission rendered a lecture on the “Attributes of Ideal Muslim and Muslima”. In this lecture, the Muslims duty in observing Salah was given emphasis and the importance of having unconditional love for humanity.

To answer the questions of the participants in line with the topics, the program included rounds of open forum between the aforementioned lectures.

Literally, Qiyamul Layl means spending the night or part of it in any acts of worship. Since its foundation in 2005, the UVPN, in collaboration partner organizations and with support from local and international donors, conducts the Grand Qiyamul Layl Symposium year after year within the last ten odd nights of Ramadan in an aim for Muslims to seek and witness the blessed night of Laylatul Qadr.

“The Night of Al-Qadr is better than thousand nights. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh (Angel Jibreel) by Allah’s permission with all Decrees. All that night, there is peace until the appearance of dawn”, as the Almighty Allah said in the Qur’an 97: 3-5. 

- Mohamad Abdulfarid Delna, UVPN Minister of Records and Documentations

UVPN Holds 4th Shuura to Activate 2014 Activities’ Take-Off

 

Steered every quarter of the fiscal year, the United Voices for Peace Network held its 4^th Shuura on Muslim Youth Enlightenment, Empowerment and Development last June 5-7, 2014 at Masjidus Salam, Sanggilangan Village, Maa, Davao City, with a theme “Muslim Youth Leaders as Agents for Positive Change”.

The said  meeting was attended by members of the Board of Trustees (BOT), chief ministers and area and school representatives, who constitute the Association’s Parliament – a governing body responsible for running the over-all affairs. Intensive discussion on agenda focusing on projected activities for the fiscal year 2014 filled the conduct of the three-day meeting. It covered BOT report on action-plans, updates from existing UVPN chapters and identification of next steps for upcoming activities.

Updates on the action-plans of Ministers commenced the agenda discussion. It highlighted the membership database, ID system, religious activities (such as weekly Halaqa), documentation format and procedures, monitoring and evaluation scheme (like monthly accomplishment reports), the formulation of UVPN Code of Conduct, communication flow, financial management system and the formal institutionalization of some activities like Hijab Campaign. These action-plans, accordingly, will provide the tools and guidelines for Ministers to discharge their respective functions. These will also be operationalized through the technical working group formed beforehand such as Training Team, Media Team, Da’wah Team and Finance Team.

The recent activities conducted by UVPN chapters were then presented. Signifying the gradual step towards formal establishment of chapters in the campuses, members attending in Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC) and Notre Dame University (NDU) highlighted the successful conduct of General Orientation Program last January. In addition, the Ranaw Chapter presented the activity highlights of the “Let’s Talk about Love” Forum conducted last February in Mindanao State University. A program report was also presented by Kutawato Community Chapter regarding the Re-echo Activity on Islamic Issues. The said activity was spearheaded by Khayria Malusay who attended the original round in Malaysia last April.

As a moving forward mechanism, the body identified sets of activities that are hoped to be conducted before the fiscal year ends. Aside from continuous recruitment of members through its chapters, the Association will gradually steer the conduct of its annually observed events. One of these is the Qiyamul Layl Symposium during the holy month of Ramadan. It will be spearheaded by the Kutawato Community Chapter in Cotabato City in the last ten nights of Ramadan and are hoped to be steered as well in Marawi City by Ranaw Chapter and in Taguig City by Manila Chapter (the conduct of which last year served as the first activity of the Association in Manila). Other Ramadan activities are Iftar programs, Weekly Islamic lectures and the Eidl Fitr Kanduli – Camaraderie-Building. These activities and all other upcoming activities in the fiscal year will be concluded by the annual UVPN General Consultative Convention, that will be on its third round in Sarangani Province on December last week.

These activities are anchored in the Association’s founding objective to enlighten, empower and develop the Muslims in Philippines, particularly in the South, and mission of fostering unity.

Qiyamul Layl in Taguig City: A first for UVPN

Bismillah.

For years, the United Voices for Peace Network (UVPN) had been conducting one of its major activities every Ramadhan which is very  well known as “Qiyamul Layl”. The program which is usually scheduled within the last ten days of Ramadhan, starts with a series of Islamic lectures after Tarawih prayer and ends with the participants praying tahajjud and eating shuhur together. This great event started in the Ramadhan of 2006 in Sultan Kudarat and was widely accepted and participated by many—from high school students to members of the community. Since then, every year UVPN have been working on and improving the Qiyamul Layl in Sultan Kudarat as a collaborative effort of the Muslim youth to anticipate and prepare for the greatest night in Ramadhan that may come only once every year: the Laylatul Qadr or the Night of Power.  

This year though, is different. For Alhamdulillah, UVPN had finally implemented two sets of Qiyamul Layl: one in Kutawato (Cotabato) and the other one, in Taguig City which is a first time for UVPN.

The UVPN Qiyamul Layl 2013, with the theme: “Self Reformation: a gateway to Peace and Progress” was held last August 2, 2013 (25^th day of Ramadhan) at the Green Mosque Compound, IRM Road, New Bicutan, Taguig City. It was well participated by more than 200 people from the nearby Muslim community. The four sets of lectures delivered by three great Islamic lecturers done during the program had a great impact on the audiences. The community was indeed grateful that such kind of activity started in their place, and they hope these kinds of activities initiated by the youths will continue.

The Qiyamul Layl in Taguig City made possible through the great blessings of Allah and the efforts of not just the few UVPN members in the area but also due to the efforts, support and contribution of many volunteers and Muslim brothers and sisters in the area. Without them, indeed the success of the program will remain as a dream. The UVPN in Taguig and Manila—and the UVPN family as a whole—is indeed grateful to the following people/groups: the Imam in Green Mosque, Imam Abdulhamid; the IRM Tambayan youth volunteers; the Abo Family; the the Ponga Sisters; Mr. and Mrs. Compania; the Basman Family for the LCD Projector; Dr. Abdullah from UPCM; our three lecturers namely Hasim Iskak, Ustadz Abdurrahim Masdal, and Ustadz Abdulhamid Pigkawlan; and all the participants from the community during the said event.

May Allah reward us all for all the efforts we did for His sake. May Allah continue to shower His blessings to the Muslim Ummah, especially the Muslim youths. Ameen.

MORE PHOTOS:

Qiyamul Layl Symposiums 2013

Bismillah.

For years, United Voices for Peace had conducted Series of Qiyamul Layl Symposiums during one of the last 10 days Ramadhan where Laylatul Qadr (the night of Great Power) is usually sought after as from the authentic ahadith.

This year, there will be two Qiyamul Layl symposiums:
1. In SKIA, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; and
2. In Taguig City in Luzon

The second venue (in Taguig City) will be the first to be conducted in the northern part of the country, in sha Allah, as from the past years, UVPN's Qiyamul Layl program is usually held in SKIA.

May Allah grant the Muslim Ummah more strength in propagating the beautiful message of Islam throughout the world! Ameen!

UVPN attends 1st Bangsamoro Youth Summit

Written by Ahmad Musahari

Secretary General, UVPN-National Chapter

Bismillah. (This is a Quick post. Also published in Anak Iluh Blog)

Alhamdulillah, the 2-day Bangsamoro Youth Leaders Summit, with the theme "Transforming Potentials, Leadding the future", conducted last March 15-16, 2012 in the Office of the Regional Governor, Cotabato City was indeed a success. The activity was spearheaded by the Coordinating and Development Office-Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (CDO-BYA) and other partner organizations as AFADMin, C-CARE, YMPN and NYC. The author attended the Summit, representing the United Voices for Peace Network (UVPN).

The Regional Governor (third from right), the speakers, and the participants

Youth leaders from all over the region, representing the 5 provinces of ARMM: Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, were gathered in the event, to discuss important issues affecting the youths in the Muslim Region and how can these be addressed both by the regional government and the active youth leaders. Many prominent speakers from different stakeholders graced the event, and even the Acting Regional Governor himself, Hon. Mujiv Hataman, was present and interacted with the participants./
There were open-Forums with the RG, wherein discussions on issues and concerns afffecting the bangsamoro were tackled. The youth participants were also given the chance to voice out their sentiments and ideas on how the Regional and Local government can better improve their performances and services to the community for a better, reformed ARMM, In shaa Allah. In the end of the summit, the youth paticipants made commitments on making actions to help their local communities.

Quoting the paper presented during the summit, "The summmit will bee a multi-lateral platform for youth leaders to have better understanding of the issues that affects the Bangsamoro and develop an integrated, holistic and proactive approach in solving them. Moreover, it aims to form an alliance of network among them, thereby allowing broader and deeper perspectives.

2012 PEACE.TECH YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

National Youth Ambassadors for Peace Program 2012

Peace Tech, Inc. will be launching its National Youth Ambassadors for Peace Program with the theme "Kabataang Kumikilos para sa Kapayapaan" through holding a workshop for selected young leaders in Marawi, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Cebu and Manila.

The workshop for Mindanao and Cebu participants will be held in Cagayan de Oro City on May 8-13, 2012.

We are calling on college students in the aforementioned cities to apply in this program, attached are the details and requirements regarding the Peace Program and its application form.

Kindly pass. Thanks.



HONEY S. MABAYLAN
Youth Program Officer
Peace Tech Inc.
Unit 404, Emerald Place Bldg, 604 Shaw Blvd., Pasig City


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
DOWNLOAD FILES HERE:

2012 Application Form

Program

An Eye-Opening Experience

“The Other Plan”

An eye-Opening Experience
By Radzimar Endih

On the outset, everything was in place as planned. It felt right for me to go despite of fear of it turning to one of my travel dilemma (hilo/suka/self-pity). And it did. But beyond it all, something different was up for me there.

When we arrived at the affected place, I literally had vomited my entire breakfast. While trying to convince myself I was okay and everything’s going to be fine, other members in the van started to notice the devastating scene greeting us. It was worse than the saddest fiasco in catastrophic movies. At the wake of the flash flood and storm, houses and the roadways were left covered with bulks of mud. Logs and fallen trees lay all over the scene which seemed to come from somewhere far. The unfortunate residents were out trying to rebuild what was deemed to be unrecoverable. For quite a time, I thought I was in fact way far okay compared to these people who lost shelter and, worse, loved ones.

It has never been easy to feel being useless when you know you were supposed to do something bigger than to wait in the van and look after it. Your heart says, “You can do it.” But your brain hurdles you by telling you not to cause problem and stay inside. Nonetheless, as I reposed and look around, it was a view I saw through the windows.

Silence started to sink in as I watch the members carried two packaged relief goods on both hands and personally handing them to some needy families. I saw some of them not only gave food and material help but also offered a hug which meant more than anything else. I saw both sad and hopeful faces. I saw an old man sitting still in his small bungalow as if time had stopped over him. I saw children, despite of the trauma this disaster brought, still managed to wave smiles of gratitude.