Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Nat'l search for 12 great Filipino Muslims on By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
TO PROMOTE the importance of peace and unity nationwide, the Sultan Moh'd Amin Baab Torres Foundation is spearheading a national search for the 12 most outstanding Filipino Muslims.
The national search is anchored upon the notion that the government, in the exercise of its fiduciary authority over a state, is expected to ensure equal protection and recognition of its citizenry, regardless of affiliation, race, creed and color.
"Based on this basic premise and encouraged by the national call for peace, unity and reconciliation of no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, we are spearheading this national search as a gesture of sympathy and compassion to our Muslim brothers and sisters in the language of one people and one country," said Baab Torres, chairman of the foundation.
Torres said awardees in the search will be conferred the title of ambassador of goodwill to Islamic communities and countries and will receive prizes in cash, life and accident insurance policy coverage, healthcare programs, trophies and citations.
Nominees in the contest will be judged on the basis of having good moral character and integrity beyond reproach; must have been involved in the promotion, preservation and development of the Muslim culture and Islamic heritage; must have also earned respect in the community; must have the personification of an exemplary deed of performance or accomplishment; must have selflessly offered his or her time, skills and resources in a collective or personal capacity to engage in community service and other beneficial activities; will be required to submit a clearance certificate attesting to the fact that the subject nominee has no pending criminal case or record; must have no pending questionable labor case and culpable tax obligation or violation, either local or national; and if possible, must have engaged in a labor intensive undertaking.
If employed, a nominee must submit a clearance certificate from his or her employer attesting that they have no pending administrative case and must have good rapport with his or her officers and peers.
If a student, a nominee must have good scholastic records and actively involved in school activities and social programs.
The search aims to raise the level of community awareness, fostering goodwill and appreciation to Muslims for their praiseworthy and important contributions to the good of the community and country; to erase the level of misconception and perception that they are being humiliated and discriminated; to erase the level of impression that they are being treated as a second-class citizen of their own country and the rest of the world; and to encourage them to aspire for excellence and be a model of perfection.
"In every nook and corner of progress and development, many of our Muslim brothers and sisters stand out as one of our greatest resource, turning the wheels of industry, managing the networks of global commerce, giving pride and economic stability for the good of our country. However, over the years, many great men and women in organized Muslim communities, who have contributed outstandingly for the good of our community and country have been taken for granted, have been ignored and uncelebrated," said Torres.
"There are critical impressions and misconceptions about the personality and reputation of a Muslim. Alluded to by public perceptions as a fundamentalist, extremist and worst a terrorist, by and large, many of us feel humiliated and discriminated. This kind of hostile perceptions makes us tend to believe that we are being treated as second-class citizens of our own country. In the language of one people and one country, this culture of unfair condemnation will only create a dilemma of hatred and adversarial hazards of divisiveness that may lead to the danger of catastrophic misunderstanding," he added.
"However, as a Moslem conservative, paradoxically, all of these hypothetical animosities are against the heritage and fundamental teaching of Islam, which best exemplifies love, harmony and unity, a gift of God which constitute wisdom of greatest favors. As it is our desire to draw as much involvement and participation from different civic minded personalities and benevolent business sectors, we feel that this rare kind of recognition will have more impact and significance to the Islamic community with everybody's participation and support," Torres said.
For more information and to avail of official nomination forms, interested persons may go to 5-A Upper Mabini Street, Baguio City.
