Zamboanga City To Hold First-Ever Ramadhan Festival

Ramadhan Festival in Zamboanga City.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (PAZ / September 7, 2008) – A group of young Muslim entrepreneurs, academicians, and well-known artists and painters is staging the first-ever Ramadhan Festival in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Muhammad Abdul Raouf Ekong, one of the organizers of the event, said the festival will begin September 27 and run until October 4 at the Binalot de Zamboanga restaurant.

The event will include trade fairs, cultural shows, social activities, religious, arts and a food festival. The event aims to promote unity and foster interfaith advocacy, among others.

”To promote harmonious relationship with other religions, and to familiarize and be acquainted with the culture and traditions of the Zamboanguenos, Tausug, Yakan and Sama, through, inter-cultural shows, which will enable everyone to learn about each other cultures,” the festival’s paper said.

Nihma Karay, one of the proprietors of Binalot de Zamboanga, said the festival will serve as a bridge to understanding the cultures and traditions of both Muslims and non-Muslims, especially during Ramadhan, Islam’s holiest month.

The festival will be participated by various organizations and Muslim communities in Western Mindanao, including from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, said Shailinee Tan, co-owner of the Binalot de Zamboanga, also the organizer of the event.

“It will be a showcasing of talents of our young and dynamic Muslim brothers and sisters who are at the edge of exploring and discovering their artistic creation,” she said, referring to the art shows during the festival.

There will also be different booths in the fair and various games, Qur'an reading contest, independent filmmaking competition and nightly cultural shows from different chapters of Muslim students association in Zamboanga City.

Tausug artists led by Rameer Tawasil will also show their works during the festival and that seminar and workshops on Arabic calligraphy will also be held simultaneously.

Hja. Nurshiba Amil, one of Binalot de Zamboanga’s owners, and a member of the organizing committee, said a free medical mission by members of the Muslim Doctors Association in Zamboanga City will also be held from September 8 to 21.

“It will be a fun-filled event as we celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan,” Ekong said. (Darwin T. Wee)