Army conducts lecture on Islam

CEBU, Philippines – In oneness with the Filipino Muslim communities, the Philippine Army conducted yesterday a Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Lecture at Camp Lapu-Lapu.

Ustadz Najeeb Razul, president of Voice of Islam Foundation and chairman of Council of Elders in Central Philippines, was the guest lecturer and speaker during the event.

Held under the auspices of the Central Command, the lecture was a manifestation of solidarity with the Muslim brethren in the observance of Eid'l Fitr, which signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The activity is also in line with President Aquino's Proclamation No. 26 declaring Sept. 10 as a non-working holiday "in order to bring the religious and cultural sig-nificance of the Eid'l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness."

The lecture was organized by the 3rd Army Training Group (3rd ATG) of the PA's Training and Doctrine Command, which recently opened the 3rd Quarter 2010 offi-cers' and non-commissioned officers' (NCO) career courses at Camp Lapu-Lapu.

A total 157 students are currently enrolled in various courses, which aim to train them for higher leadership and staff positions in their respective units.

"Our current pool of students is a cross-section of the AFP as we have officers and enlisted personnel from almost all the major Philippine Army units, and some stu-dents from the Philippine Navy (Marines) and the Philippine Air Force who chose to take their career courses at 3rd ATG. For this quarter, we are honored to also have as stu-dents, two officers and an NCO from the Indonesian National Army or Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI AD)" said Major Ronald Alcudia, the 3rd ATG act-ing commander.

"This lecture on Islam and Muslim culture aims to promote greater understanding among our students, some of whom are Muslims, as well as providing an opportunity for cultural awareness for our officers and soldiers to be aware to Muslim beliefs and practices," Alcudia said.

Future lectures on the customs of indigenous peoples will also be conducted as the courses progress.

"This activity is supported by AFP Central Command in solidarity with Filipino Muslims in the Visayas and all over the Philippines. This is also our way of encourag-ing inter-faith dialogues and promoting the cause of peace to bridge the gaps that divide our people," said Col. Jacinto Bareng, CentCom Civil-Military Operations officer.

Bareng explained that Proclamation No. 675 issued on July 20, 2004 declared the month of September as National Peace Consciousness Month, and the theme for this year's celebration is "People Power at the Heart of the Peace Process." - /LPM (FREEMAN)