Commitment means to duty or pledge to something or someone. This refers to personal commitment. We say it is personal because, the interaction is dominated by obligations. This obligation may not be mutual or self imposed, or explicitly stated or may not. In an organization, commitment is the basic philosophy, spirit and drive. Have lot more to do with its relative achievements than to do theological or economic resources, organizational structure, innovation and timing. All these things weigh heavily in success. But is transcended by how people in the organization believed in its basic precepts and how faithfully carry them out.

We practice commitment to a set of values principles or beliefs. It leads to a common vision and purpose with in the organizations. The same is true on one self. The way you act as a leader. The combination of these two serve as foundation to effectively maintain the other practice for commitment. I encounter this deepness of commitment when I commit myself to be a head of an institution. It is suicidal in nature after retiring my self to mind nothing but my six children. I think, there is nothing more challenging than rearing the later. But when I accept the challenge as a head, I have asked ALLAH (s.w.t) to lose everything except my family and my carrier. My carrier inter into a dilemma when intrigues are energized by jealousy and the absence of exposures. I was a plain housewife whose exposure is to materialize the needs of my family. I, being a stranger to an academic school was totally blind on leadership and management. Though I know that my Bachelors degree and two majors in College may materialize but I still have a second thought of handling the job.

I run a newly legislated secondary school in a nearby municipality. On the first day of my service, it comes on my mind that an existence of this school primarily, is population. With exception on classrooms because we are temporarily house in an elementary school, we start by knocking at every household door. We tried to convince them on related importance of having a school nearby. Besides, the financial problems will be minimized. To evaluate how far they understand the mission of the school and the management has no proof. A sound judgment has no power. As we turn our way back to station, murmur is louder than thunder…that school is faked. Some believed on us, as few observed. We tried on the few who listen and honor our invitations.

This is just the beginning of our agony. We survey on those jobless College graduates, regardless of age, who may qualify for teaching. This stage is not a hindrance. There are many who hand on their document that may qualify them. Of course, we select for the qualified one. Without screening them on their area of specialization, we have selected six. With my very limited knowledge on managing this area, I failed to accommodate equally on subject area. After series of meeting with the new teachers, we found out that none of them is qualified in handling mathematics. An initial complication within me, arise. The question of who might be the mathematic teacher was erased. It must be me instead. I cannot insist that I am the head, and I must not be one is fruitless, for this is part of my commitment.

On the very hour of my service as math teacher, the four corners of the classroom become smaller that I felt every bit of my heart. But, what else can I do, if that must be the deepness of commitment. I am just extra careful not to expose my whole being. I must be thankful with the Phoenix Company for their Elementary Algebra. It is in this   that I gain a reason to continue my teaching to this date, even with the coming of my two qualified one. I start liking this profession with out hazard. Teaching and management go together while running school. Financial shortage in mobilizing follows next.

ALLAH (s.w.t.) listened to my prayer. I survived with those intrigued of genuineness but I become a pauper. I have to utilize all my resources, just to run the school smoothly. One morning, I found out I am nobody but a mere volunteer teacher. I want to cry but my tears had dried. I cannot turned back, the shadow of my co-teachers follow me. I am reminded of my commitment that keeping forward is the only command that I must attend to. The students need me and the entire community entrust this legacy so that the entire populace will be provided. No one dare to support me. I might be insane, why did I go with this most congested situation. The usual I change, unlike before, walking like Christmas tree. Not to mention them, they all gone to jewelry store just to grasp the chances that benefited the school.

It was just a while, we say because, on the fourth year of our operations, we are blessed and so, we are now all permanent teachers looking forward for another endeavor. Though we succeed but the deepness of commitment is still there. It is the combination of both supporting and improving behaviors that makeup the practice of commitment. Separately neither action is capable of sustaining commitment. Promoting alone can come across a shallow and Pollyannaish. Continuous improvement can be seen as “good is not enough”. Together they provide a needed balance. Both are essential to commitment.

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We parents and educators long for somebody that can answer their quest on Education. As a mother, we feel contented with the simple toga he wore. A teacher may take in the other way, but was humble that another legacy was extracted out of her profession. Generally, both parents and teachers tried to reach the most for their children and students. They motivate, guide and managed to minimized failures.

We cannot deny that majority of the Maranaw belong to the lower income level. What we gain is just enough to finance our daily needs. We prioritized them according to our queuing lines of priorities. Sometimes, we put Educations on top of them, but we failed because of scarcity in resources. Luckily, Mindanao State University bloom right in the heart of Lanao. Both Educators and parents maximize their effort so that able students may finish secondary education. They have valid reasons. MSU is here, with open arms, willing to answers our quest for education.

Everything we ponder turns into nightmare, when President de Leon reigned in power, followed by the Standardization Policy. Thousands of students cried in front of the Administration Building to consider their appeal. The classical song of the University, serving the minority vanished from the memory of both the parents and the mentors. There was a sudden change that the concerned students cannot tackle. They knocked on every door of concerned offices and residence, but they were turned down by the approval of the Board of Regents. Every effort became impossible. Knowing that their only dream was to sit under the shade of this University, they failed to negotiate.

Though we understand that the approval of the standardization was done, a new Hope has shine at the door of every School. YA ALLAH, ALHAMDULILLAH! President Muslim has come to rescues us! Pres. Muslim might open another door for us Maranaw. Mindanao State University is so near, yet its so far that we cannot reach. We are hindered by oceans of reasons. No one is to be blame with. Maranaw cannot climb into the ladder of this University because they lack the exact tools for it. But if they are provided, they can catch!

Now that we were hear, we will be knocking again into the doorstep of this University. Those thousands students who remained out of school youth may come and sing the unsung mission of this University…That is for the minority Muslim. The incoming graduates for this year will surely come and cheers.
 

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Asif Khan
Saudi Arabia 

When Momin' will enter into Jannah, it will be announced

(1) You will remain healthy forever, disease will never come.
(2) You will remain alive for ever, death will never come.
(3) You will remain in bounties which will never be finished.

Jannat is made with bricks of gold and silver, Its cement is of perfumed musk. Its chips are pearls and Yaqoot. Its sand is Zafraan.

There are eight doors of Jannah. these are eight grades of Jannat:-

i) Jannatul Mava
ii) Darul Maqaam
iii) Darul Salaam
iv) Darul Khuld
v) Jannat-ul-Adan
vi) Jannat-ul-Naeem
vii) Jannat-ul-Kasif
viii) Jannat-ul-Firdous

Food of Jannah

They will eat foods and fruits continuously up to 40 years.
Every bowl will have a new taste.
They will take eructation which will digest the food and there will be perfumed sweating for the digestion of water.There will be no urine and stool.

Place Name

There will be gardens inJannah.
Every garden will have the length of about 100 years journey.
The shadow of these gardens will be very dense.
Their plants will be free of thorns.
The size of their leaves will be equal to ears of elephants.
Their fruits will be hanging in rows.

Jannatul Mava is in the lowest, Jannat-ul-Adan is the middle and

Jannat-ul- Firdous is on the highest.

Those who love each other for the sake of Allah, will get a pillar of Yaqoot, on which there
will be seventy thousand (70,000) rooms.
These will shine for the residents of Jannah as the sun shines for the residents of Duniya.

There will be rooms in Jannah insuch a way that every room will have seventy thousand (70,000)
dinning sheets. On every dinning sheet 70,000 types of foods will be served.
For their service 80,000 young boys will be moving around looking like beautiful scattered pearls.

One bunch of dates will be equal to the length of 12 arms.
The size of a date will be equal to the big pitcher.
These will be whiter than milk, sweeter than honey and softer than butter and free
of seeds.
The stem of these plants will be made up of gold and silver.

There will also be gardens of grapes. The bunches of grapes will
be very big. The size of a single grape will be equal to a big
pitcher

Someone asked, Ya Rasulullah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam):
will it be sufficient for me and my family. It was answered, it will be
sufficient for you and your whole tribe.

The Dresses of Jannat

The dress of Jannah will be very beautiful. One will wear 70
dresses at a time. These will be very fine, delicate, weightless, having
different colors. These dresses will be so fine that the body even the
heart will be visible. And the waves of love in the hearts will also
be visible. These dresses will never become old, never be dirty
and will never tear.


There will be four canals in every Jannah. They are
of water, milk, honey and Sharabun Tahoora.

There will also be three fountains in Jannah:

(i) Kafoor.
(ii) Zanjabeel.
(iii) Tasneem

Qualities of People of Jannah


In Jannah, height of every Mo 'min, will be equal to the
height of

Hazrat Adam (Alaihissalaam) 60 arms (90 feet).

Beauty will be like that of Hazrat Yousuf (Alaihissalaam)

Age of youth will be like that of Hazrat Esa (Alaihissalaam) 30-33 years).

Sweetness of voice will be like that of Hazrat Dawud (Alaihissalaam).

Tolerance will be like that of Hazrat Yaqoob (Alaihissalaam)

Patience will be like that of Hazrat Ayyub (Alaihissalaam.)

Habits will be like that of Sayyaduna Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam.)

If a person makes Du 'a for Jannah three times,
Jannah requests Allah that O, Allah; make his entry into Jannah.
And if a person makes Du'a for safety from Jahannum three times,
the Jahannnum requests Allah that, O, Allah; save him from Jahannum.

Please pass on and may Allah grant the entire Ummah of Nabi sallalahu alayhi wasallam Jannat ul Firdous Ameen!
Every good act is charity

JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIR-
May Allah Forgive our sins...Ameen
Remember the Prophet PBUH said if u have knowledge pass it on
even if it is jus one verse. So Forward this message and help us in our
mission to keep the Muslim Youth on the right path, ISLAM.

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Source: Moro Times

After round table meetings in Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, efforts to build closer cooperation between and among Muslim leaders and Muslim communities of Asean came full circle.

The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy [PCID] played host to the First Southeast Asian Forum on Islam and Democracy (SEAFID) held at the Manila Hotel on December 10 to 12, 2007. The delegation of 44 experts and leaders representing various think tanks, universities, religious, and civil society groups came from of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

The 2007 Manila conference gathered Muslim advocates of democracy, human rights, and peace in what could be the first platform that could represent the multifaceted voices of the Muslims in Southeast Asia—the region that is home to the largest Muslim community in the world with more than 200 million adherents of Islam.

Welcome Banquet

Gracing the forum’s welcome dinner was former President Fidel V. Ramos. In his keynote speech, Ramos congratulated the participants for the regional forum which he felt was a vital step toward addressing concerns on issues such as security, human rights and democracy in the Southeast Asian region. According to Ramos, regional efforts such as SEAFID are necessary to stress the fact that “Southeast Asia is not a hotbed of terrorism nor is the region teetering on the brink of anarchy and sectarian violence as is sometimes suggested.” He adds that political will, democratization, and regional strategies would be the most effective strategies in addressing the problems in the region. Ramos noted that the rich experiences of South East Asian Muslim communities in democracy should be shared with the Islamic world.

Organized by the PCID with support from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Australian Embassy, The Asia Foundation, and the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc., the forum is actually the fifth in a series that has been organized for the region, according to the PCID’s lead convenor and chair of the Manila conference, Amina Rasul. “The first roundtable discussion was held in September 2005 in the Philippines, and then subsequently held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and finally in Bangkok, Thailand in September of 2006. We hope this will evolve into an effective forum that contributes to democratization in Muslim coimmunities.”

Regional platform for cooperation

“This is a strong commitment of Southeast Asian Muslims to enhance democracy, pluralism, human rights and justice” says Dr. Syafi’i Anwar from the Jakarta-based International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP). Haji Maarof Bin Haji Salleh from Singapore’s Center for Contemporary Islamic Studies expressed their happiness to participate as it gave them “an opportunity to share success stories of how the minority Muslim community in Singapore has contributed to nation-building in the context of their multiracial and multireligious society.”

According to Dr. Abdul Rahman Bin Awang of the International Islamic University of Malaysia, the forum is “an excellent platform for the Muslims in the region to exchange views and share experiences on Islam and Democracy,” with Dr. Sukree Langputeh of the Thailand Center for Muslim and Democratic Development states that this exchange of experiences and success stories is an important part in spurring the democratization process in each country in Southeast Asia.

Islam, democracy and peace

“Islam is often associated today with terrorism or violence. This is not a true reflection of Islamic values. Muslims, particularly Muslims in Southeast Asia, firmly believe in human rights, tolerance, and equality, as do the majority of Muslims in the world. We want a mechanism by which we can systematically engage and educate the world to the true tenets of the Islamic faith,” said former Senator Santanina Rasul, one of the co-organizers of the event.

In an unprecedented move, after only two days of discussions, the participants approved a draft charter. A work in progress, the draft charter would guide the process of institutionalizing the forum as a platform from which Muslims in the region would promote, among others, peace, tolerance, mutual understanding, economic opportunity, good governance, sustainable development, human security and human rights.

Rasul, praised the efforts of the participants in not allowing their political, historical and social diversities to get in the way of organizing the historic forum. She described the forging of the charter, despite debates and contestations, as proof of the possibility of democracy in Muslim communities.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, who delivered the closing speech on December 12, congratulated the group for their landmark act, highlighting the need for interfaith initiatives and strengthening pluralism in the region. Manalo stressed the need for collaboration bridge the gulf of misunderstanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. The Philippines is a leader in UN led global inter­faith dialogues.

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Marawi  City was a municipality named Dansalan, capital of the defunct undivided Lanao province in the Philippines from 1907 to 1940, first under the government of the Moro  Province, the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes, the Commonwealth, and finally the Republic.

According to one of the late well-known Meranao scholar Dr. Mamitua Saber, “ Marawi  City got its charter in 1940.  The granting of a charter to the old Dansalan  Municipality was jointly conceived by Commonwealth President, Manuel L. Quezon and Assemblyman, later Senator Tomas L. Cabili.  The changing of the official name from Dansalan to Marawi was through Congressional amendment of the Charter in 1956 sponsored by Senator Domocao Alonto.”  This is embodied in Republic Act No. 1552 dated June 16,1956. Under the impact of Islamic awareness and consciousness,  the renaming of Marawi  City into Islamic City of Marawi was proposed in Parliamentary Bill No. 261 by former Assemblyman Dianalan, brother of former late Mayor Omar Dianalan. 

Professor Talib Benito in his thesis work entitled:, “the Renaming of Marawi City into Islamic City of Marawi: An Attitudinal Study Among City Residents in 1983,” revealed that the bill was read before the Batasan floor during its second session on July 24,1979 and was transmitted to and received by the Committee on Local Government and Community Development on August 2,1979. 

Republic Act No. 6734- “An Act Providing for an Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” as amended by Republic Act No. 9054 “An Act to strengthen and expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” and the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Acts. 

During the 1990 plebescite, the people of Marawi  City voted against the inclusion of the City in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.  Therefore, Executive Order No. 429 dated October 12,1990 provides the transfer of the City to Region 1X. 

Another  plebiscite was scheduled toward the end of 2002.  Despite government campaigning for a yes vote in many provinces in Southern Mindanao, only one more province (Basilan) and one city (Marawi) voted to be included in the expanded ARMM. 

Marawi  City could be one of the progressive city in the Philippines. Its geography and socio-educational and political setting will surely be presented in another article.

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Maugan Buat Mosaid, Ph.D. 

Again, the New Year tradition of predictions and fortune-telling comes to the fore as people expect some changes for the better in their lives and career. Some express them in the form of new year resolutions which are mostly stern promises of leaving bad habits behind with the outgoing year . Others want to be guided by the more conventional art of knowing the things and events that are yet to come, i.e. through feng shui, astrology, tarot cards, etc. (I would still refer to these media of predicting the future as more of an ‘art’ than scientific as there is yet no means for an empirical inquiry to prove them through and through). Still others, the more pious ones, resort to prayers as it is still the best means to shape up the future the way it should be through Divine intercession. 

Equally interesting and worth mentioning are the thoughts posted by two unassuming intellectuals who hid their identities under the following: Toyskie: “More interesting than predictions for 2008 is the list of predictions for 2007 that came true and another list for those that did not. I wonder which list is longer. Perhaps another little research on feng shui’s batting average is called for at this time”; and Maxim: “Feng shui, astrology, tarot cards, etc. have become interesting media for predictions, though I consider them as more of an art than scientific. As an art it has drawn many enthusiasts and adherents for the intrinsic means by which it is undertaken and for the value attached to it. For its unique system, procedures and technique, the art of prediction or fortune-telling has even develop its own culture that not too many have mastered. Interestingly, it is appreciated more for its ‘hits’ than its ‘misses’. So, regardless of which list is longer, the art will continue to grow in popularity and may even generate more downstream opportunities.” 

On the national scene, the following are some of the scenarios foretold by the ‘experts’ in the aspect of predicting/fortune-telling: 

On the economy:

On politics:

Sex scandal:

Accidents:

On sports:

However, on the other side of the euphora for brighter things to come, is the fact that not one of the corrupt, oppressors, and tramplers of human rights (and minority rights) has come to the fore to say their piece for the new year , which means, that the oppressed has nothing much to expect about in the year 2008. These people, whose fate rests in the hands of the few rich and powerful, are not in a position to try to shape up the future or improve their lot. 

There is no need to mention a lot of them but the more prominent ones are: 1) the case of the Sumilao farmers in Bukidnon, who marched to Manila from mid-October 2007 and arrived in early December, or more or less two months of hiking to dramatize their claim to a portion of the 400-hectare farm estate formerly owned by the prominent Quisumbing family then sold to the more powerful San Miguel Corporation; and 2) the case of the Bangsamoro people who are claiming a small portion of Mindanao (once dominated by them) under an established right for ancestral domain which they can call ‘homeland’. Their other wish is that this ‘homeland’ shall be govern by an indigenous system called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) under an established right to self-determination and self-actualization.  

The Bangsamoro people have more than dramatize their cause in terms of lives lost and properties damaged when they decided to claim these rights through armed struggle. Now they are anchoring hopes on peaceful means, i.e. the on-going negotiations between the GRP and the MILF but nothing seems to be certain yet as of now. 

What is certain is that the GRP-MILF Talk has bumped into another impasse as the GRP panel allegedly reneged in its commitment in the peace process by inserting the phrase: “in accordance with constitutional processes” in its copy of the draft Memorandum of Agreement. This was vehemently opposed by the MILF panel. And when the GRP panel failed to cleanse its copy of the MOA, the MILF panel decided that it is no longer feasible to face the other party in the negotiating table. This was supposed to be the 15^th exploratory talks had it pushed through in Kuala Lumpur last December 15-17, 2007. 

Thus said, the oppressed Bangsamoro people cannot wish for something better in the New Year or probably in the entire duration of 2008. But the ball is still in the hands of the GRP panel. If it has the political will to return to the unadulterated original draft of the MOA, the MILF panel is more than willing to go back to the negotiating table (Mr. Mohager Iqbal, in an interview with local station DXMS, Cotabato City; Jan. 3, 2008). 

For our part, the lowly Bangsamoro masses, we can only wish that people high up in government, who ‘call the shots’, shall be Divinely inspired to see the wisdom of continuing on with the peace talks. If and when they see the ‘light’, there is still chance for a happy new year, so to speak. 

Any agreement between the two parties will not directly bring food to the lowly Bangsamoro’s dining table, but, seeing the talks proceeding through unhampered is enough reason to be happy for the new year because that would mean that peace is still certain even if it is not too soon. Peace is a window to development!

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By Samira Ali Gutoc
Chevening fellow, Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, 2002
Founding member, Young Moro Professionals Network Inc.

Terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna warns of fresh attacks by the Abu Sayyaf and entry of new Jemaah Islamiya (JI) operatives in our porous borders. I wonder if this would justify security authorities' interest to forward the Anti-Terror Bill. While security alerts are reupped, I am dismayed by the often simplified media treatment of the so-called war on terror as the war of We versus They, without any reporting on the context of what brought about terrorism. 9-11 and London bombings called 7-7 were the wake-up call to study more. What was the hatred about or was it the exception to the rule? What could the West, with its large Muslim immigrant populations, do?

A nuanced understanding of Islam in Southeast Asia was the topic of a forum in Singapore among British diplomats and academics across the region. Seeking to reach out to Muslim communities through an “Engaging the Islamic World” theme, the United Kingdom's Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) acknowledges the need for dialogue and multi-stakeholder partnership, especially from the Muslim world.

Islam in Southeast Asia came about through commercial and cultural contact. Islam here is characterized as promoting openness, tolerance, respect and a shared social life.  Extremist influences were merely by-products of internal and external factors – ideology, relative deprivation, education which created a religious, urbanized and wealthy middle class, group-think and (perceived) persecution and injustice. Fundamentalism is a product of imported Bedouin mentality (from the Middle East), its adherents made more emotional rather than analytical, imposing their views on others, notes Singapore-based Kumar Ramakrishna of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.

The radical interpretation of Islam which promotes terrorism and not Islam itself is dangerous. One of the reasons for misinterpretation of religious text such as saying Jihad is the shortcut to being a Muslim, is the lack of religious scholarship. Sydney Jones of International Crisis Group (ICG)  identifies Saudi Arabia's Madinah University as one institution which produces fundamentalists. Some of those imprisoned hard-liners have translated their thoughts in uploadable literature, which advocate the overthrowing of secular governments. To my knowledge, Madinah university's alumni, who teach in Marawi City, have mainstreamed themselves in madaris (Islamic schools) and campuses. Many are apolitical and more of spiritual advocates.

To equate fundamentalism to terrorism is wrong. Violent Islam is marginal, said Johan Mueleman of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies. While the Al-Qaeda structure is wide-spread in terms of ideological impact, the JI is decapitated because of the arrests of its leaders. In my study of the Abu Sayyaf, I find that terror groups have local interests to advance and are primarily homegrown, than consciously part of an international network. The Tabligi movement for instance is reported to be infiltrated by terrorist elements. But the Tabligh by its nature is very apolitical and focused on spiritual growth.

But just like their counterparts in the United Kingdom, Muslim communities in the region have been rather silent in condemning terrorism. While most do not support extremism, there is no active condemnation, probably because Muslims perceive double standards by the West in handling Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq.

The good news is, there is a growing sense of civic participation from the Muslims themselves, who feel a need to explain Islam itself. Interfaith dialogue is promoted at an international and local level. Roadshows in the United Kingdom gather thousands in an audience who are willing to listen to young scholars talk about Islam.

Recommendations proposed to “Engage the Islamic World” in the short-term and long-term in the Singapore forum include:

- identifying future leaders and role models among Muslims
- support policies that support resolution of conflict
- systematic coordination of work ie Australia, UK
- sharing of information ie EU, academic network
- engagement at senior level, intergovernmental
- Shariah law implementation
- Feature successes in the Islamic world
- Young people’s involvement

I also feel the need to engage mainstream media such as MTV, CNN and BBC so that stereotypes and misconceptions that serve to divide peoples is debunked. Ain't it time to have veiled anchors and disc jockeys?

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By Nasser Sharief, The moro times

In 1992, I made my farewell circuit round the Ka’aba after working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 13 years. Last month, I received notice that I would be joining the supervisory team for the Filipino pilgrims this year. I immediately dusted off my jogging shoes and renew my membership at a gym. I know how rigorous the hajj can be. I was flabby and out of shape, a man past forty, and busy working to get his kids through college.

Immersed in the details of life in Manila, the Kingdom seemed to me a faraway world. So ill-prepared was I for the shock that awaited me.

Al-Haram: The old and the new

Entering the holy city of Mecca—barred from non-Muslims—is like getting through the cracks of an eggshell. I lost my bearing because the old markers I was counting on were gone. The good old zouqs (shops) surrounding the holy mosque Al-Haram, where expatriates and exiles used to hold congress in small cafes, had given way to high rise hotels and sleek shops. They have chipped off the mountain cliffs for more space. Famous hotels now ring the holy mosque—the Hilton, Sofitel, Sheraton, Intercontinental, Novotel, etc. Hobbit-type tunnels now worm their way in and out of Mecca going to and from the plains of Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa and the Rhub Al-Khali desert beyond.

“This can’t be Mecca!” voiced an elderly hajj veteran who sat besides me in the bus, which has Star Trek-like interior consoles.

From your stool at a McDonalds you can watch people emerging from the hastening ritual at the Safa and Marwa hill-mounds. Yes, you can have Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky fried chicken at a to-go counter just across the square. My feet were a bit sore from the hastening that commemorate Hagar’s plight looking for water for her baby Ishmael some thousands years back, so I went inside a Starbucks cafe and ordered mocha latte.

When the balls of my feet felt healed, I window-shopped. I went inside a GUESS shop and had to retreat just as quick when I saw the price of a low-ride jeans for Saudi riyal 1,697 (P18,000). There were not many people milling around these chic shops, so I concluded that the moneyed sheiks, the princes and the princesses had simply packed off to Palma de Mallorca, Torremolinos or Monaco for the holidays.

Cellphones: Don’t leave home without it

The most important possession that a pilgrim must have is the cellphone. Thanks to it, missing persons were drastically reduced. In a place where the tents all look alike, where every pilgrim is garbed in white, cellphones make the difference that Saudi Boy Scouts had to do less work in herding people who lose their way going back to their camps. You can now take pictures to your heart’s contents. I see upraised hands holding aloft their 3G phones for the people back home to view the Al-Haram. The only hazard is taking pictures at the Jamarat. Many cellphones have been cracked from the hails of pebbles that the pilgrims throw to stone the devil at the Jamarat.

But I feel that pilgrims should be discreet with their mobiles especially during the circuit round the Ka’aba—the Cube. I was on my fifth circuit when suddenly a cellphone from another hajj rang with the ring-back tone of the Police’s Every Breath You Take. This could befuddle your concentration.

Easiest hajj

For years, the worst accidents happened in the Jamarat area. The stampedes that claimed lives seemed to be a thing of the past. If the success of managing the throwing of stones at the Jamarat is to be taken as a gauge, then this is the easiest and most convenient hajj so far. The Hajj authorities of the Kingdom have to be commended: they are close to reducing the hajj routine to a science. The flow of the people was orderly, with one-way routes that redistribute the pilgrims back to their tents. For those who wish to go to Al Haram for the tawaf (circuit), there is a 1.4 kilometer tunnel that leads through to the holy place. To demonstrate their confidence, the authorities have allowed people on wheelchairs to cast their stones at the Jamarat.

Lodging

The Philippine contingent was dispersed in many buildings near and far from the holy mosque. The Philippines is always late in putting up the needed deposit in getting lodging contracts with the service providers. Apartments which are a walking distance from the holy mosque are at a premium. Because the decision to go on hajj among Filipinos is always done in the last hour, the lack of funds for billeting reservations relegated many of our hajjis to the outskirts of town. The service provider had promised to ferry the hajjis to and fro Al-Haram on shuttle bus which held good only for a few days.

The Saudi government has constructed new apartments for the pilgrims, a far cry from the cramped and old lodgings we used over a decade ago. In fact, the elevators were so new in one apartment that the contractor obviously had forgotten to apply grease along the runners. We had a hard time opening and closing the elevator doors. This was corrected only when a hajj was trapped and a little drama ensued.

Nostalgia

I tried to mingle with the elderly and get their stories and views on the new Makkah. An old man lamented the speed in which technology has taken over. He said that in the past when pilgrims traveled by boat, they use to bury the pictures of their loved ones in the plains of Mina and Arafat. They would call from atop the hills, the names of kin echoing along the valleys, inviting them to go on hajj, on the belief that this would hasten their kins’ going on hajj. “Nowadays,” he went on, “you simply dial your cellphone and in seconds you are talking to your wife. The conversation, mind you, are not the tear-jerkers ones. It could be as mundane as reminding her to look over the pockets of your trousers before laundering it, because you have some receipts or money left in it.”

After the third-day of stoning the Jamarat, the 2.5 million pilgrims started dispersing out of Mecca after performing their farewell circumambulation (tawaf) of the Ka’ba. Some went to Medina some 600 km away to visit the Prophet’s Mosque. Some went straight to the airport for their flight back home. Others go to the seacoast of Jeddah to buy things to bring back.

I went to the Holy Place to snap up some pictures. Flocks of birds, chased away by millions of pilgrims, were now returning to the square. I was lazily ambling along the edges of the square when I saw a familiar figure setting on the edge of a marble hedge along the stairways of Ben Dawood. It was Toni Leviste, the famous equestrienne, her feet dangling and swaying in a playful mood. Sweat beaded her forehead after performing the Farewell Tawaf.

I had met her and her father, Ex-Governor Leviste, earlier at the Jeddah International airport when I discovered that we were together on the same incoming flight. My editor Amina Rasul had asked me to get an interview with her some few months back, but I was never successful. When she recognized me, Toni smiled. She said she was waiting for her Dad who was doing his Tawaf. I said, “What about the promised interview?” She said, “Okay, why don’t we do it in Jeddah. We have to catch our breath first.” I said, OK.

In a while we saw her father emerging from the Grand Mosque, his head freshly shaved. He gave me a wide grin. Toni sort of complained what took him so long. He only smiled. They waved at me and mingled with the throng until they were just a smear in the landscape.

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