Muslims in Mindanao Celebrate Second Light Festival

In a solemn ceremony opened by a prayer by Imam Alireza Kunting, and shortly followed by his 9-year old daughter’s reading of a passage from the Q’uran, the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) showed its oneness with the Muslim community in its observance of the holy night of Lailatul Q’adar.

The Islamic faithful believe that Lailatul Q’adar was the night the first Divine Revelation came to Prophet Mohammad while in prayer in the cave of Hira.

At sunset, all AMORE-lit households in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao switched on their household lights in a symbolic guiding of the descent of angels from heaven, who they believe, will bestow forgiveness and enlightenment on them.

At the ARMM Manila Liaison Office, meanwhile, a ceremonial switch-on was led by Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan.

The Second Mindanao Light Festival was broadcast over DXMS-Cotabato, and heard over the Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the Zamboanga peninsula.