EMBASSY SPEAKERS' PROGRAM A BIG HIT WITH MINDANAO STATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001549 SIPDIS STATE USAID WASHDC STATE FOR EAP/PIMBS (VILLAROSA/WICKBERG),EAP/PD (EMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SCUL KIRC OPRC PHUM KWMN OIIP KISL PGOV RP SUBJECT: EMBASSY SPEAKERS' PROGRAM A BIG HIT WITH MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY AND QUR'ANIC STUDENTS IN MARAWI ¶1. Summary. As part of the Embassy Speakers' Program, Assistant Information Officer Ruth Urry delivered two speeches to students at Mindanao State University and the Zaid Bin Thabit Qur'anic Center on March 17 in Marawi City, part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). AIO Urry spoke to students from MSU Center for Women's Studies and the College of Business Administration about the U.S. commitment to women's rights in conjunction with Women's History Month. She also spoke about her background and U.S.-Philippine relations to Qur'anic students, who welcomed a U.S. visitor and expressed interest in learning more about the United States. IRC Director Eva Brillo accompanied AIO Urry to Marawi and conducted a separate program for the American Corner at MSU. End summary. -------------- Description of Mindanao State University, Marawi -------------- ¶2. Mindanao State University in Marawi City has a well-regarded reputation for high academic standards, progressive thought, and a willingness to engage with the United States. It is located in Marawi, a city known as the "Islamic heartland" of the ARMM, with a population that is estimated to be 95 percent Muslim. Under the leadership of MSU President Campar Umpa, Ph.D., a former Fulbright scholar, MSU has cultivated good relations with Muslim and Christian communities and encouraged Muslim-Christian integration. Note: Dr. Umpa's six-year term will be ending in August, and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will appoint his successor. End note. -------------- Reaching Out to Young Audiences -------------- ¶3. AIO Urry addressed more than 100 students and faculty from the College of Business Administration and Center for Women's Studies at MSU on the topic, "Working for Women Worldwide: the U.S. Commitment," in commemoration of Women's History Month. MSU President Umpa; Professor Salic Abdul, Chair of the Graduate Department; Professor Potri Riga, Dean of the College of Business Administration; and Professor Marlene Hofer-Tamano, head of MSU's Center for Women Studies also delivered remarks in support of good U.S.-Philippine relations. Following the speech, AIO Urry answered questions about visas, studying in the United States, USAID's support for women's development in the Philippines, and oversight of USAID programs. The response from the students and faculty, all of whom wanted a picture with AIO Urry, was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. -------------- -------------- Dialogue with students from the Zaid Bin Thabit Qur'anic Center -------------- -------------- ¶4. In the afternoon, AIO Urry, TJIC Director Brillo, and MSU Faculty visited the Zaid Bin Thabit Qur'anic Center, located on the MSU campus. The Center is very similar to a Madrassah in that it offers a Qur'anic education to adolescent males, who come from various Muslim communities throughout the southern Philippines. Director Rachid Ouabed, an Algerian native, explained that the students were selected for their academic potential and ability to memorize the Qur'an. According to Director Ouabed, funding for the Center - as well as room, board, and tuition for the students - are provided by Saudi Arabia. AIO Urry gave a speech titled "U.S.-Philippine Relations: Why the Philippines Matters to the United States." She also brought photos of her family and her hometown to show to the audience of approximately 50 male students, ranging in ages 12-18. AIO Urry and IRC Director Brillo staged a handover ceremony of 100 copies of a Tagalog- language version of "Muslim Life in America" and "Fast Facts about the USA," two IIP Publications. Following the speech, IRC Director Brillo explained that the Qur'anic Center students were also welcome to visit the American Corner in MSU and use its resources. -------------- -- A Hunger for English-Language Materials -------------- -- ¶5. The faculty and students at the Qur'anic Center were very welcoming toward visitors from the U.S. Embassy, and invited them to tour all of their facilities. Director Ouabed showed them the Qur'anic Library, a small dusty room with about 100 books in Arabic donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He expressed a great interest in receiving English-language texts and English- language instruction materials, mentioning that the Center was working with MSU to integrate English-language instruction and computer science into the curriculum. PAS Manila made a small donation of IIP publications on U.S. history, economics, and government. PAS has contacted USAID's Education Section to report the Center's request for English-Language teaching materials. -------------- American Corners Outreach -------------- ¶6. IRC Director Brillo addressed an audience of 45 students and faculty from MSU's Department of Library Science and Information Technology, librarians from the unit libraries of the MSU library system, and librarians from libraries in Marawi City on the topic, "American Libraries: Re-shaping The Philippine-American Library Tradition." During the open forum she answered questions about the American Corner (AC) and the services and resources it provides to the community. The Chair of the Department of Library Science and Information Technology expressed appreciation for the up-to-date reference materials in the AC and the online periodicals database. After the lecture, IRC Director Brillo met with the librarians from other libraries in Marawi City to encourage their library users to visit the American Corner. These librarians confirmed that students and other people from the local community, such as elementary and secondary students, are using the AC. MUSSOMELI