COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Private Muslim higher education institutions have undertaken the empowerment of Muslim minorities in their struggle for justice, peace, and development.

Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, executive director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, and Dr. Camar Umpa, former president of the Mindanao State University System and current president of the RC Al-Khwarizmi International College Foundation, Inc., presented a joint paper on the topic, “Empowering Muslim Higher Education in the Philippines in Pursuit of Societal Peace and Justice” during an international conference on Islam and Higher Education in Kuantan, Pahang, Indonesia recently. (Joseph Jubelag)

Davao lechon 

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – New events will be added to the traditional Pasko Fiesta celebra-tion in this city this year. City Council chairman on tourism Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said an additional attraction is the “Lechonan sa Chavez,” although he did not elaborate as to the details. Alejandre said lechon will always be a part of the celebration of Filipinos during fiestas.

Lechon in this city is served from morning until evening in over a dozen restaurants along Chavez Street. Meanwhile, the Pasko Fiesta 2011 will be jointly undertaken by the city government and the private sector.

Peace activity 

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (PIA) – The city government here expressed its all-out support for this year’s observance of the Mindanao Week of Peace.

“This is a chance for us to show to the world that we, here, are united against violence and other issues besetting our beautiful city,” said Mayor Fahad Salic during a recent meeting with the representatives from the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade to discuss plans and activities for the weeklong celebration.

Spearheaded by the Bishops- Ulama Conference, this year’s celebration that will start today up to November 30 is anchored on the theme “Common Word between us and you: Love of God, Love of Neighbor.”

Free review 

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (PIA) – More than 1,000 teachers from the 2nd District of Maguindanao availed of the free review on Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) held at a re-sort in Tacurong City.

The free review is sponsored by Maguindanao Governor Esmael Man-gundadatu, which is aimed to enhance and upgrade the skills and competency of teachers to improve the quality of education in the area.

The governor said, this is one of the activities lined up for the three-day celebration of Maguindanao’s 38th foundation. Lecturers from Manila have been invited to conduct the LET review classes.

Inventions cited 

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (PIA) – A study on the development of a line disconnection system by college students here emerged as the first place winner during a recently held invention contest and exhibits.

Besting other ten creative research-entries, the said research won the Sibol Award or the Outstanding Student Creative Research for college category in the first Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) spearheaded by the Regiuon-11 office of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST-11) here.

The DoST-11 said the development of a line disconnection system research was the work of Kris Logie Mallorca, John Mark Coloma, Rae Reyes, and Edezon Virtudazo of the University of Mindanao in this city.