In 1475 the first Muslim Missionary to arrive in the present day Northern Mindanao Region was SHARIEF ALAWI. He landed in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental just a few kilometers away from Cagayan de Oro City - The Region Capital. Hence, the Sharief Alawi Islamic Centre is named after that well respected Muslim Missionary who came from Johore, Malaysia. It is believed that Sharief Alawi is of Arab descent - son of Sharief Ali Zenal Abedin of Hadhra- maut, Yemen to Potre Josuol Aashekin, the daughter of SuItan Eskander Zul Qarnain. Islaam gained inroad to the neighboring towns that majority of the people became Muslims. Traces of the Islamization are still noticeable especially in the names of towns and barrios. To cite a few Tagoloan (Repository of Leadership), Cagayan literal (Yesterday or People of Yesteryear) some say the word “Cagayan” came from the Maranao word “Ragayan” (Running Point), Carigogan(bossy), Mabasa (to get wet), Balongis (teenage girl) and BALULANG (Mud Brake) are native names of Maranao origin. The Maranao (Lake Dweller) is a name of a tribe in the Philippines. ALL ABOUT SHARIEF ALAWI ISLAMIC CENTER
Location & Topography: Sharief Alawi Islamic Center is situated at the Villa Angela Subdivision, Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City. Cagayan de Oro City is the seat of the Regional Capital – Northern Mindanao Region. Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City is composed of Upper Balulang and Lower Balulang. Housing and subdivisions in this City is principally concentrated in this Barangay Balulang. In Upper Balulang (going to CDOC International Airport) are found Camella Subdivision, Xavier Estate Subdivision, Xavier Height Subdivision, Pueblo de Oro. In Lower Balulang (where your Sharief Alawi Islamic Center is located) are found Emily Home Subdivision, Villa Angela Subdivision, Villa Nina Subdivision, Gold City Subdivision and NHA Lourdesville Subdivision. Villa Angela Subdivision. There are approximately 1,200 houses/units in Villa Angela Subdivision. In Phase I the majority are Christians yet there are a sizable number of Muslims – Masjid Omar is situated here under the able leadership of Sultan Sarip Mangotara. In Phase II the majority are Muslims. It is in phase II that your Sharief Alawi Islamic Centre is located. Area: The Sharief Alawi Islamic Center Complex has an area of approximately SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY THREE (7,853) square meters of titled Residential lots . The Villa Angela Muslims Association acquired some of these lots from the developer, Villarosa & Associates. The said Villa Angela Muslim Association (VAMA) purchased bulk of said lots from the Mindanao Development Bank (MDB) on installment basis. All are fully paid. Sharief Alawi Islamic Centre Today: Nowadays your Sharief Alawi Islamic Centre is composed of: Masjid Sharief Alawi, Mahad Sharief Alawi Al – Islamia, The Sharief Alawi Islamic Integrated School and Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Quran. The Tahfidul Qur’an occupies ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) [7m x 20m] SQUARE METERS at the rear portion of Masjid Sharief Alawi. Panoramic View – On The Air
When one approached Cagayan de Oro City (by Air Transpiration) the panoramic view of Masjid Sharief Alawi Minaret [Airplane right side] is easily noticeable. Similarly, when one took off at Cagayan De Oro City International Airport the same Minaret of your Masjid Sharief Alawi is readily seen [left side]
Existing Amenities: Basketball Court, Volley Ball Court, Badminton Court and a spacious Parking Area that could accommodate 100 vehicles, more or less. On Going Projects: (1) Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Qur’and & Orphanage (for boys) Building. It is 3-Storey Building with a floor area of TWO HUNDRED (200) [10 x 20] SQUARE METERS. Engineer Barry Macarambon is supervising the construction. The footing has been completed. (picture attached). The estimated cost is Php 1.5 Million. Target date for completion is this Idl Adha 1433 Insha Allaah. and (2) The Sharief Alawi Asean & Islamic Research Library. It is 2-storey attached to the Madrasah building with a floor area of FIFTY (50) [5 X 10] SQUARE METERS. The 50 - meter area is for the bookshelves with adequate space for the Librarian and her Assistant. The Library Reading Area is the whole of the 2nd Floor of the Madrasah Building. The posts are already cemented.(picture attached) Note: under the plan the ground floor will serve as Canteen and Islamic Cooperative using the mudarabah system. To complete the Project Php 200,000.00. is needed. Target date of completion is opening School Year 2012. Rationale And Benefits: 1. On the construction of Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Qur’an & Orphanage Center Bldg. The existing location of the Tahfidul Qur’an at the rear portion of the Masjid greatly reduced the space available for congregational prayers especially during Fridays. Further the ablution area and the Air Fans could not be properly managed especially because the boys, many of them are of tender age, mingled with adults. Greater wastage in Light and Water is very much discernable. Moreover, we have to courteously decline more enrollees because of lack of adequate space. The construction of Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Qur’an housed in a separate building, but adjacent to the Masjid, would allow more enrollees. Further orphans (both of Muslim and Christian Parentage) could be accommodated and at the same time enrolled in the Tahfidul Qur’an and learn Islaam. This explains the new nomenclature Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Qur’an & Orphanage Center Bldg. In addition better supervision on their study schedule, physical exercises and ideal discipline as are conducive to easy and better learning and memorization of the Holy Qur’an could be in place; and 2. On The construction of Sharief Alawi Asean & Islamic Research Library. There is no Muslim Library in the whole of Northern Mindanao. We hope that the Sharief Alawi Asean & Islamic Research Library will be a nucleus to hasten better understanding of Islaam and the Muslims in this predominantly non-Muslim region. Plans/Projects For The Future: Allaah Willing we desire to have an all embracing programs geared towards the promotion of Islaam and the Welfare of the Muslims. For the purpose, we envision the construction of a Sharief Alawi Medical Clinic & Zakah Center Building, The Sharief Alawi Islamic Printing Press, The Sharief Alawi Islamic Radio & Television Net Work. And another Tahfidul Qur’an & Orphanage Building exclusively for girls. The acquisition of the adjacent lands towards the Cagayan River is desired. THE SHARIEF ALAWI ISLAMIC CENTRE OF THE FUTURE
When this plans and programs, the on-going projects and the existing facilities are combined together and becomes a living reality The Sharief Alawi Islamic Centre will bloosom like this Insha Allaah:
Masjid Sharief Alawi, (Existing)
Mahad Sharief Alawi Al – Islamia, (Existing)
Sharief Alawi Islamic Integrated School (Existing)
Tahfidul Quran [at the rear portion of the Masjid] (Existing)
Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Qur’an & Orphanage Center Bldg. [boys] (on going)
Sharief Alawi Asean & Islamic Research Library (on going)
Sharief Alawi Medical Clinic & Zakah Center Bldg, (Plan for the future )
Sharief Alawi Tahfidul Qur’an & Orphanage ( girls) Bldg. (Plan for the future )
The Sharief Alawi Islamic Printing Press Bldg. (Plan for the future ) and
The Sharief Alawi Islamic Radio & Television Net Work(Plan for the future )
As a precautionary measures a Testament (Amanat) signed by all the Muslim Homeowners of Villa Angela Subdivision was made under whose Terms And Conditions all the lands, buildings and other improvements on all the properties belonging to the Villa Angela Muslim Association, Inc. Sharief Alawi Islamic Centre) shall not be used, sold or mortgaged and that no buildings and other improvements shall be introduced except for religious and Islamic education. (Photo copy of the said Testament are hereto attached) The Amanat serves as limitations on the Power of the Shoora - Board of Directors. It is clearly stipulated that any actions by the Shoora –Board of Directors in violations of the restrictions are void ab initio and of no force and effect.
