COTABATO City– Thousands of villagers from provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have been flocking here to watch the nightly cultural presentation as part of the fasting month celebration, officials said.
The compound is filled with mock villages depicting various cultures in the five provinces of the ARMM where Muslims converged after the “iftar” (breaking of the fast) during the fasting month.
ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said it was the third time that the regional government center is the busiest and happiest place in the city as Muslims observe the fasting month.
In the compound were mock villages of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi where cultural presentations are performed every night since June 18, the start of fasting month.
On Sunday night, two ARMM officials welcomed the guests from various provinces. They were ARMM Public Works Secretary Don Loong from Sulu who recited the “Azan” (call) to an evening prayer from the Jolo mock village, also known as “Tausug village.”
On the other hand, Dr. John Magno, who is from Basilan, hosted an “iftar,” first meal after a day-long fast, in the mock village of Basilan, also known as “Yakan” village.
According to Loong Tausug employees of different regional agencies have been helping manage their village where Tausug cultures, including food are served and native Tausug dress for men and women are for sale.
In the “Yakan village,” Magno had established a weaving facility to show how Basilan Muslims produce the famous “yakan cloth” with the use of traditional weaving equipment.
”We would like to spread the skills in cloth weaving, we invite students and teachers so they will pass on to others the art and culture of the Yakans,” Magno said.
The mock village is the brain child of Gov. Hataman, who started the practice when he was elected regional governor in 2013.
This year’s event inside the 30-hectare ARMM compound could be the last as the region prepares for the coming of the new political entity – the Bangsamoro government.
The establishment of new political entity is the expected outcome of the 17-year peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Hataman said the new administration may continue the activity every fasting month because it was noble and a venue where “iftar” can be performed after a day-long fasting. pna
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