By Ahmad Musahari

MARAWI CITY—  “THIS is an opportunity for us that should have been implemented years ago.” Prominent Meranao historian Dr. Abdullah Madale, General Secretary of Mindanao Movement for Good Governance (MMGG) said as he formally opened the “Forum on Muslim Leadership Concerns: The Right Leaders for Mindanao” on March 11, 2010 at the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Mindanao State University (MSU. “A chance for us Muslim leaders to discuss vital issues concerning Mindanao and lobby for solutions as the upcoming May 10 election draws near, ” he added.

The one-day forum was organized by the National Statistics Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (NSO-ARMM) headed by Regional Director Hji. Commando P. Pilimpinas and the MMGG headed by Dr. Madale., supported by the Civil Service Commission Eligibility Board (CSCEB). It aimed to gather different Moro Intellectual Leaders and Young Professionals from around Mindanao to share ideas and present their proposed solutions to the problems faced by the Bangsamoro community for the past years and what should be done in the next administration.

Calling the forum "historic", Department of Transporation and Communication (DOTC) Regional  Director Region 10 Dhimnatang Radia said this was the first time that civil service eligibility was a major topic of a Muslim Leader's Forum. Radia said tradition and cultural constraints are some of the reasons for impeding the promotion of many Moro professionals in the bureaucracy.

The Maranao Online and mindanaoforum.com would like to inform its valued readers all over the world that effective from Saturday it will serialize the forthcoming book, “Climbing the ladder of success”, by Alim Abdul Hannan Magarang Tago.

In the book, the first for Alim Abdul Hannan, the author takes his readers down the memory lane and explains what life had taught him through his trials and tribulations. He provides a flashback into his past as a simple “murit” Arabic student from Mindanao. From an Alim in Arabic to becoming a Reporter for a leading English newspaper in the Middle East, the transition is not easy.

But Abdul Hannan has proved that where there is a will, there is a way. And that proverb sums up the theme of his book and, indeed, the story of his life. In that sense it is a tonic for the Muslims of Mindanao, a morale-booster that tracks his journey up the hill by surmounting the challenges along the way. It is a story of grit and determination, of a thirst for knowledge, of single-minded devotion to one’s mission in life—all knit together with his strong Islamic bond that acts like a shock-absorber as he forges ahead. 

The books traces his actual experience as a journalist in Arab News and spells out the advantages of acquiring multi-lingual skills. In Abdul Hannan’s case, his proficiency in Arabic opened the doors to newsmakers and other prominent Saudi personalities who welcomed an opportunity to interact with a Filipino Muslim fluent in both English and Arabic.

Vote for Mother Earth; The Sad ARMM Statistics
By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (01-07-Feb-2010) 

Long time, no hear. I have had to involve writers from networks such as the Mindanao Varsitarian of Mindanao State University (MSU) to help me revive my beloved Moro Notes (of 10 years or so now). Any volunteers who want to help and email tidbits about Moros and Muslims around the world can email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

March 18, Bangsamoro Day, is an invitation to ALL to join rites to mark the heroic death of Jabidah soldier recruits in Corregidor on that fateful day of March 18, 1968. This event galvanized the national consciousness on the issue of Moro right to self-determination (RSD). Check www.anakmindanao.org for for announcements on how to ride a TRANSPORT to reach Corregidor .

Kudos to Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW) in convening KAMINDAWAN in Davao City!