Neo Catalyst

Advantages for Muslim expatriate working in Muslim countries  By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano For a Muslim Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) like me to be working in a Muslim country like Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and State of Qatar is gratifying and a great blessing from Allāh. Simply because these are Muslim countries and I’m a Muslim. In these countries, I find it so convenient to practice my way of life as a believer of the Islamic faith. Al-Fanar Islamic Cultural Center is one of the most widely known architectural landmarks in Doha, Qatar. In this wedding-cake shaped building, non-Muslim visitors are offered extended as well as crash-courses on the Islamic faith. It also offers a variety of educational, yet unforgettable, activities, such as exhibitions, tours of the cultural center, visits to the mosque, Arabic language courses and the unique opportunity to attend the khutbah (Friday sermon) in English. — Adriana Paramo, AFAR Local Expert, Doha, Qatar. Photo by Gamson Jr Mawa...

MONA, one of the greatest women, succumbs to COVID-19 By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano Families, loved ones, students, and colleagues both local and abroad of Ustaza Taiba "Mona" Sakaluran Aiyub, one of the renowned Tausug-Banguingui Islamic teachers in Zamboanga City, are flabbergasted and saddened by her unexpected demise on May 19, 2021. His brother, Professor Alih Sakaluran Aiyub, Secretary General of the Ulama Council of the Philippines, announced on his Facebook account that his beloved sister had died. She was 62.  Accordingly, on May 14, 2021, Friday, just a day after Eid’l Fitr 1442H, she was admitted to a hospital in Zamboanga City. On May 19, 2021, Wednesday, she succumbed to COVID-19. Alhamdu Lillāhi, she was still able to reach and fast the blessed month of Ramadhān 1442H, the last and final Ramadhān of her life.  His brother Alih narrated that Ka’ Dayang was still able to pray Eid at home. However, because she already had experienced some of the symptoms of COVID-1...

    Khawtar in red with her two siblings, Amier and Nashrum Inspirational Speech of Khawtar Tan Hassan during her Black Belting Ceremony held in Dammam, KSA.  Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahiim... Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu….. Honorable guests….fellow taekwondo colleagues, ladies, and gentlemen….. GOOD AFTERNOON! On this momentous occasion, I express my pride and joy to give salute and honor to our beloved parents who struggle and sacrifice for the sake of our dreams despite their extremely hectic schedules as OFWs. They tirelessly nurtured us to become responsible children of society. You are indeed our inspiration in every step that we shall take in our lives. As an innocent kid, our room is our play area with my brother, Anya Amier. He's my elder brother, my first playmate and my best friend.  When my precious parents admitted my Anya Amier to Taekwondo school, I always accompanied them to send off my brother to the Taekwondo center.  I witnes...

This article was published on www.mindanews.com:  https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2021/03/tausug-in-doha-tomorrow-is-never-a-promise/ Tomorrow is never a promise!  By   GAMSON JR MAWALLIL QUIJANO  - MARCH 21, 2021 4:30 PM Let someone you love know how grateful you are for having him/her in your life and how indispensable they are to you. When you are able, pamper someone valuable to you with material things which would make him/her overjoyed. When someone precious to you becomes ill and requires medical treatment, find a good way to do it. Value and compliment each effort by someone just to make you feel priceless. Tell someone who is valuable to you, like your parents, the most endearing words they would have heard from you. Forgive people who sincerely ask for an apology; likewise, those who didn’t ask. Remember to do these promptly because tomorrow will never be a promise! As times go by, everything gradually changes. The complete company ...

This article was published on www.mindanews.com: https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2021/01/tausug-in-doha-the-greatest-fear-of-an-ofw/ The greatest fear of an OFW By   GAMSON JR MAWALLIL QUIJANO  - JANUARY 16, 2021 4:00 PM Being physically and distantly apart from your beloved family and those who are dear to you is one of the saddest things in life. What more if this separation is not only temporary, but forever? Isn’t that excruciating? One of the greatest fears of an OFW is to be forever separated from members of the family and loved ones by death. This is inevitable and everyone has to be ready because it could happen anytime. However, isn’t it more excruciating when this happens when you are miles away and oceans apart from them as in the case of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)? You cannot immediately go home and be with your family during your bereavement. “I was so devastated, depressed, and frustrated when my youngest brother from the Philippines informed me ...

This article was posted on www.mindanews.com:  https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2020/11/tausug-in-doha-qatars-ofws-promote-health-and-friendship-by-cycling/ Qatar’s OFWs promote health and friendship by cycling  By   GAMSON JR MAWALLIL QUIJANO  - NOVEMBER 16, 2020 3:50 PM DOHA, Qatar (MindaNews / 16 November) — Cycling has now become a common hobby of many foreign workers including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Qatar to stay fit and healthy, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening. There are also people whose homes are right next to the workplace using bicycles for transportation when they go to work. There are many groups of OFW cyclists in Qatar that whenever they are free or off from duty, they take a ride as a group in many places across Qatar. One of the OFW cycling groups here in Qatar is the Gagandilan Bikers. Most of the members of this group are OFWs from ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi). As a group, they go biki...

Heavy downpour in Sulu By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano The heavy downpour in Sulu last Friday, October 23, 2020 caused high floodwater in many areas downtown and hugely affected the businesses of people. The floodwater outside reached almost one's waistline and has also entered many houses and business establishments. I believe it has damaged many foods, drinks, gadgets, furniture, household items and commercial products, too. I hope not.  Photo and caption from the FB page of Barangay San Raymundo:  BDRRM/ Emergency Response Team Ng Barangay San Raymundo agarang rumusponde sa mga pamilyang na trap ng baha sa Sitio Lubbak at Hassan Bridge. Certainly the aftermath of this heavy downpour would make everyone extremely exhausted because of immense general cleaning of the huge filthy muds and garbages that flowed along with the floodwater.  Sulu Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office works intensively to respond quickly to help the affected communities and families o...