Friday, October 12, 2007 Muslims mark 'night of honor, dignity' By Malu Cadeliña Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Beneficiaries of the USAid-funded rural electrification project in Shariff Aguak, capital town of Maguindanao in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), will simultaneously switch their lights on Monday for the 2nd Light Festival in observance of the Lailatul Qad'r, an Arabic term which means, "Night of Honor and Dignity."
Lailatul Qad'r is one of the holiest and blessed nights among Muslims occurring in one of the odd nights on the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The Islamic faithful believe that it was this night in which the first divine revelation came to Prophet Mohammad when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira.
Tetchie Cruz-Capellan, chief of party for the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Program (Amore), said the festival would be another venue to foster awareness about the value of light to peace and development in Mindanao.
The Amore, a rural electrification program in off-grid villages of Armm, is an alliance of the United States Agency for International Development, Department of Energy, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Winrock International.
Capellan said that aside from observing the Lailatul Qadr, almost 12,000 households in 400 villages scattered in the provinces of Armm would switch on their solar-powered lighting to also commemorate their improved quality of life.
"This ceremonial switch-on, especially during Ramadan, aims to blend the importance of light not only to their well-being but also to their spirituality," Capellan said.
Since Amore started the light festival, Capellan said they noticed that people who benefited from the project have a deeper sense of ownership of their own venture.
Armm Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan will spearhead the ceremonial switch-on of lights generated from solar power, together with other partners of the Amore Program.
