Marawi City, Philippines- The Commission on Higher Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in coordination with the Wisdom International School for Higher Education Studies (WISHES) and the Integrated Mindanao Economic Forum (IMEF) based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the participation of the Provincial Governor, Province of Lanao del Sur administered the first awarding ceremonies and releasing of Checks to the CHED-ARMM approved researches, trainings, development programs and one year CHED-ARMM special  educational assistance for Muslim scholars and grantees funded by the Kingdom Foundation Headed by HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Awarding Ceremony was held on August 17,2008  starting at 9:00 am at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol Complex in Marawi City, Philippines.

The conduct of this affair was witnessed by  the Lanao del Sur Provincial Governor represented by his wife  Sittie Raifah Rakiin Adiong and Muslim scholars, academicians and grantees. Among them are the former President Dr. Camar A. Umpa, former Acting Graduate School Dean Dr. Ali B. Panda, former King Faisal Center Dean  Prof. Casan Cana, former Dean Pendililang Balague, Assistant Vice President Raga M. Bacarat of the Mindanao state University System. “This is a precious  opportunity to the Muslims in Mindanao,” said by Dr. Norma M. Sharief, Managing Commissioner of the CHED-ARMM.

Dr. Sharief  revealed during this Awarding Ceremony that “  we are in the process of evaluating the proposals submitted to us by various sectors. This opportunity could not be materialized without the $500,000 donation by Prince Al Waleed. This is the reason why we are always in transparent and this ceremony intended only for the recipients in Lanao del Sur.  This will be followed  in Maguindanao and to be followed in Zamboanga City to serve recipients from the 3 island provinces of Sulu, Tawitawi and Basilan..

Expression of thanks and gratitude by the recipients was represented by Dr. Raga M. Bacarat, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Mindanao State University.