Neo Catalyst

By: Neocatalyst Late UZ President and CEO who succinctly declared that  “UZ HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITING NIQAB” Via email message dated May 27, 2010, Thursday in response to our lobby on Right to Education as well as Right to Freedom of Religion within the university, the late President and CEO of Universidad de Zamboanga Sir ARTURO "Ammar" EUSTAQUIO III , positively responded thru a succinct declaration that he has made:     “UZ HAS NO POLICY PROHIBITING NIQAB”.   Thus, it is both ironic and unreasonable that a certain niqaabi who was supposed to enroll at Universidad de Zamboanga (UZ) WAS ALLOWED to take the entrance examinations thereat WITHOUT being asked to take off her niqaab; yet, when she passed said exams with highest scores, she was allegedly IMPEDED TO ENROLL by the Pharmacy Department just because she wears niqaab. The said incident transpired today 14 May 2012, Monday at UZ. “One of our sisters named Sitti Ridzka Muktader call...

Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakatuhu!! Every concerned Muslims (Muslimat) in the Philippines  “MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND”   all LAWS, MEMORANDA, ISSUANCES, DEPARTMENT ORDERS IN RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT TO WEAR HIJAB-NIQAAB in our country.  Among the many legal documents: 1.) DOH Department Memorandum entitled "Addendum to the DOH Department Memorandum 2009-0107-A: Strengthening the Protection of R eligious Rights of Muslim Workers, including but not limited to Students and Trainees in Health Facilities." ISSUED by ROMULO A. BUSUEGO, MD, MHA, DPBS, FPCS, PSGS, Assistant Secretary dated December 12, 2012: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=524169087629813&set=oa.500500206665085&type=1&theater   2. ) PRC Memorandum No. 2012-02 Re: Wearing of Veils of Muslim Womens Taking the Licensure Examinations dated January 24, 2012 issued by Commissioner Alfredo Y. Po, OIC PRC: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.297790223602752&...

By: Neocatalyst “There is no dearth of laws, but there is death of laws,” commented Warina Sushil A. Jukuy, Coordinator for Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA-WESMIN) . She said that there is no dearth of laws, memoranda, issuances, department orders and yet disrespect for the right to wear hijab as a sign of piety prevails. I personally resonate with her observation that strict compliance of hijab legal guidance is actually met with outright defiance by personnel of the very agencies that issued them. Could this non-compliance be due to unprofessionalism, discrimination or mere ignorance? Recent reported cases of disallowing the right to hijab are happening not only in hospitals, schools, universities, colleges, but are also either fully violated (mandatory removal of hijab) or partially violated (requiring ears exposure) as photo requirements in government agencies such as the Civil Service Commission (CSC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) a...

THE GREAT CHALLENGE TO THE MSA-UZ By: MSA-UZ Member I have Allah to thank for, because He guided me to find a group which really changed my life into something valuable, and that group was the Muslim Students Association- a group which is very beloved to my heart. Foremost, we expressed our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the academe for giving us the freedom of assembly in order that we may grow into well-rounded individuals who can be an asset in peace building regardless of faith, creed, race, color or gender. Through the years, the MSA serves as a crucial instrument in upholding the well being especially the spiritual aspect of not only the students but also the faculty and staff of this University. Just recently on March 21, 2009, the association held its Prayer Gathering Program along with a Special Stage Play Presentation on the history of MSA with the theme of “YOUTH: THE SOUL OF THE NATION”. The said affair was attended by plenty students, some faculty and sta...

THE UNFORGETTABLE YOUTH CAMP By MSA-UZ Member The youth camp is one of the most effective methods for the Islamic training of young potential leaders. Thus, as an official youth organization in our most beloved academe, we wish to contribute more to the welfare of the university in pursuit for peace and development even just in our humble capacity despite the hectic schedule as college students. We apprehended that in order to gain the aforementioned matters, we must first discipline ourselves along with our co-MSA-UZ fellows in an Islamic arena. Consequently, after a long patient and persistent preparation on the proposed plan for the mini Youth Camp, finally, the MSA-UZ held its 1st time ever youth camp with the THEME of “ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD: HOW TO ATTAIN IT” at Puerto Villa Beach Resort, Patalon, Zamboanga City last April 10-11, 2009. The activity was peacefully opened by the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by the former MSA-UZ President Alhusin Muhammad. It continu...