The Muslim community in the province has launched an Islamic college at Banale, this city last August 22. It is known as Mindanao Modern College System (MMCS) whose existence is aimed at achieving peace in Mindanao.

MMCS is born in collaboration of two big Muslim organizations in Zamboanga del Sur - the Association of Islamic Development (AID) and Southeast Asia Foundation (SAF).

Designed at fostering peace and understanding our culture and beliefs with the Christians, we, the school officials invited Governor Auring E. Cerilles, Allied Banking Corporation Manager Elvis R. Ong, Physician Crescencia Borbon and many others to grace the affair, MMCS president Abubakar Kumpa told the ZamPen News.

{sidebar id=9}Former Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Sukarno Tanggol who hails from a family of educators was the Keynote Speaker during the occasion.

Tanggol began his speech, saying: “Education is a very important tool for Islamic development.  It is also a long term medicine for conflict in Mindanao. Through education we can achieve peace in Mindanao.”

“We should understand that war will lead us nowhere.  It only marginalized the masses in Mindanao not only the Muslims but also the Christians,” he added.

Tanggol who claims that his heart belongs to Zamboanga del Sur for his wife is from Dumalinao town has commended his Muslim brothers in the province for coming up with a school for higher education.

Aside from Tanggol, MMCS invited Governor Cerilles as an honored guest. Cerilles congratulated the Muslim community for establishing the first Islamic college.  The existence of an Islamic college is another milestone of the education sector in the province, the lady governor remarked.

Kumpa, on the other hand, disclosed MMCS is established to harmonize Muslims and Christians through education.  “We don’t limit our students to Muslims only but we welcome Christians as we adopt the Philippine curriculum for higher education incorporating subjects, like: English, Filipino, Math, Science and Computer to Islam.”

{sidebar id=9}Of course Arabic is always taught to students as it is an Islamic institution, Kumpa emphasized.  MMCS was actually opened last June offering Information Technology courses.  It now has 38 pioneering students enrolled.

Very soon we will also offer Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM), Caregiver and Shariah Islamic Law, Kumpa added.

Last update : 25-09-2007 11:58

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