The Kirim

The Kirim The Official Student Creatives and Publication of The King Faisal Center for Islamic Arabic and Asian Studies

โ€œ๐๐ž๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐€๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ: ๐€ ๐‚๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐“๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐€๐ˆ๐ƒ๐’ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒโ€Every year on December 1, the world comes together to commem...
01/12/2025

โ€œ๐๐ž๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐€๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ: ๐€ ๐‚๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐“๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐€๐ˆ๐ƒ๐’ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒโ€

Every year on December 1, the world comes together to commemorate "๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ ๐—”๐—œ๐——๐—ฆ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜† (WAD)" โ€” a global reminder of our shared responsibility to understand HIV/AIDS, break the stigma surrounding it, and help end the epidemic through awareness and compassion. More than a symbolic observance, it is a call to action: to educate, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people living with HIV.

Despite the continuous progress of society, HIV/AIDS remains one of the most misunderstood and heavily stigmatized topics. It is often spoken about in whispers, overlooked in discussions, and clouded by misconceptions. One of the most common questions is whether HIV/AIDS is contagious. The answer is both yes and no.

According to Dr. Ameer Hussien Abbas, MPH, during his HIV Awareness Symposium at KFCIAAS, HIV is indeed contagious โ€” but only through specific modes of transmission. He clarified that HIV cannot be transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, sharing utensils, or any form of air or casual contact. The virus is transmitted exclusively through unprotected sexual in*******se, the sharing of needles or syringes, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, and other situations involving direct blood-to-blood contact.

It is equally important to distinguish HIV from AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that attacks the bodyโ€™s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can progress into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is recognized as the most advanced and critical stage of the infection (World Health Organization, 2025). This progression underscores the need for early testing, proper treatment, and continuous awareness.

At present, there is no known cure for HIV. However, the condition is treatable, manageable, and controllable through antiretroviral therapy (ART). With consistent treatment, individuals living with HIV can lead long, healthy, and fulfilling lives. This truth is often overshadowed by fear, misinformation, and silence โ€” making education and awareness crucial in changing public perceptions.

As human beings and members of society, our greatest responsibility is to educate and be educated. People living with HIV/AIDS are human beings โ€” deserving of respect, compassion, and understanding. Ending stigma begins with replacing fear with knowledge and judgment with empathy.

Let this yearโ€™s World AIDS Day remind us of a truth that must be reaffirmed: ๐—›๐—œ๐—ฉ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ ๐—ฎ ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ต ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ. It is a medical condition, not a moral failure. And with awareness, compassion, and continued advocacy, we move closer to a world free from stigma and discrimination.

Writer & Lay-out | Miernys Leah Puod

"๐Š๐Ž๐˜๐€๐‡, ๐‡๐ˆ๐๐ƒ๐ˆ ๐’๐ˆ๐‹๐€ ๐๐€๐“๐€๐๐†๐†๐€๐‹~"Eyes here, Aspiring Kirimstix! ๐Ÿ“ฃAfter a thorough deliberation, The Kirim Publication is pl...
01/12/2025

"๐Š๐Ž๐˜๐€๐‡, ๐‡๐ˆ๐๐ƒ๐ˆ ๐’๐ˆ๐‹๐€ ๐๐€๐“๐€๐๐†๐†๐€๐‹~"

Eyes here, Aspiring Kirimstix! ๐Ÿ“ฃ

After a thorough deliberation, The Kirim Publication is pleased to announce the applicants qualified to proceed to the 3rd and Final Phase of the Screening Process. Kindly take note of the details below:

โ“ What: Phase 3 | On-the-spot Content-Making & Final Interview
๐Ÿ“† When: December 2, 3, and 4, 2025 (Tuesdayโ€“Thursday), 4:00 PM onwards
๐Ÿ“ Where: Pahang Building

What to bring:
โ–ช๏ธŽ Media Crew โ€” phone and/or laptop
โ–ช๏ธŽ Guris โ€” phone / drawing tablet / iPad / pencil and bond paper
โ–ช๏ธŽ Content โ€” pen and paper ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ญ๐˜บ

Applicants may attend on any of the dates based on their availability. Please be reminded that no additional or special sessions will be provided for those who are unable to attend within the specified schedule.

Mabrouk and Bittawfeeq, Aspirants! See you at the final interview.

๐‚๐Ž๐‹๐‹๐„๐†๐„ ๐’๐Š๐Ž๐Ž๐ | "Know HIV, Live Healthy": Dr. Abbas Leads HIV Education Session at KFCIAASNovember 21, 2025 โ€” The King F...
21/11/2025

๐‚๐Ž๐‹๐‹๐„๐†๐„ ๐’๐Š๐Ž๐Ž๐ | "Know HIV, Live Healthy": Dr. Abbas Leads HIV Education Session at KFCIAAS

November 21, 2025 โ€” The King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic, and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS) held another installment of its Thematic Seminar Series entitled โ€œKnow HIV, Live Healthyโ€, a lecture-seminar on HIV Awareness and Prevention organized by the King Faisal Center Studentsโ€™ Organization (KFCSO). The distinguished Dr. Ameer Hussein A. Abbas, MPH, served as the resource speaker for the program.

The session officially opened with welcome remarks from Hon. Johanie Hadji Omar, the Overall Program Head, followed by an inspirational message from the supportive Dean of the center, Atty. Jashim A. Abdulrahman.

The highlight of the event was the comprehensive lecture delivered by Dr. Abbas. He discussed the nature of HIV, its modes of transmission, prevention methods, available treatments, and the vital role of students in combating misinformation and stigma surrounding the virus. He also addressed the rising number of documented HIV cases in the country, particularly in Marawi City.

During the open forum, Dr. Abbas emphasized the importance of integrating HIV education and awareness into school curricula and community wellness programs. He also humorously clarified a common misconception, noting that raising awareness about HIV does not mean someone has it.

Overall, the lecture served both as a learning platform and an eye-opening moment for participants, underscoring the reality of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite being considered a sensitive topic, it remains crucial to be discussed openly. People affected by HIV deserve to be treated with kindness, respect, and compassion โ€” never with stigma or prejudice.

______

โ€œ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ ๐˜š๐™†๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑโ€ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜จ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ ๐˜—๐˜ถ๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ธ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ด๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜Š๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜๐˜ด๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ค, ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ช๐˜ค, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด. ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ, โ€œ๐˜š๐™†๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑโ€ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜จ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฎโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ธ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด.

๐˜‹๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ: ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜Š ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ "๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ" ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜’ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ด๐˜บ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ป๐˜ฆ "๐™†๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ".โ€

Report and Lay-out | Miernys Leah Puod
Photo | Hamadhi Sarip

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | Gumawa ng Kasaysayan: Vanguards Nag-uwi ng Dalawang Tanso sa Table TennisSa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa ...
17/11/2025

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | Gumawa ng Kasaysayan: Vanguards Nag-uwi ng Dalawang Tanso sa Table Tennis

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa kasaysayan ng Hari, dalawang manlalaro ng KFCIAAS sa Table Tennis na sina Mohammad Ilyas Sheik at Anelyn Anne Mack, ang nag-uwi ng tansong medalya sa para sa "singles event" ng kategoryang pang-lalaki at pang-babae. Ang tagumpay na ito ay kanilang nasungkit sa labanang sinalihan ng apat na magkakaibang kolehiyo sa "Semi-Finals" na naganap noong Nobyembre 09, 2025 sa MSU Dimaporo Gymnasium.

Nakapasok sa semi-finals si Sheik matapos siyang ideklarang panalo by default laban sa CFAS Sharks, dahilan upang makaharap niya muli ang mataas ang lipad na COE Eagles. Samantala, hindi rin nagpadaig si Mack nang talunin niya ang matibay na depensa ng CPA Knights, matapos ang dalawang sunod na set na panalo. Dahil dito, muling nakaharap ni Mack ang mabangis na CSPEAR Lions.

Bagama't hindi nakapasok sa championship round ang dalawang manlalaro, ayon sa regulasyon ng laro, ang mga semi-finalist ay awtomatikong itinuturing na third placers o bronze medalists, dahil tanging ang dalawang natitirang koponan lamang ang nagtunggali para sa gintong at pilak na medalya.

Dahil dito, sina Sheik at Mack ay parehong itinanghal na 3rd Runner-Up, kasama ang mga kinatawan ng CICS T-Rex (menโ€™s category) at CHS Vipers (womenโ€™s category). Samantala, naiuwi ng COE Eagles at CSPEAR Lions ang gintong medalya, habang napanatili naman ng COA Tamaraws ang pilak sa parehong dibisyon.

Ngunit higit pa sa mga medalya, ang tagumpay na ito ay simbolo ng kasipagan, dedikasyon, at puso ng KFCIAAS Vanguards. Sa unang pagkakataon, nakaukit na sa kasaysayan ng Hari ang kanilang pangalan bilang mga unang mandirigmang nag-uwi ng karangalan.

Ulat | Hania Bonsalagan
Litrato | Aisha Magsaysay at Hania Bonsalagan

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | Vanguards Routed by Vipers, Lions, TamarawsMorning of November 09, 2025, at the MSU Dimaporo Gymnasium ma...
17/11/2025

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | Vanguards Routed by Vipers, Lions, Tamaraws

Morning of November 09, 2025, at the MSU Dimaporo Gymnasium marked the beginning of the Table Tennis tournament for both men and womenโ€™s divisions. Each rally and serve carried the pride of every college, with the KFCIAAS Vanguards standing firm and ready to defend their honor.

In the first match, Mr. Mohammad Naim Hudaifa and Mr. Abdulhakim Metopher faced the sharp attacks of the CHS Vipers. Despite their best efforts, the Vanguards could not withstand the Vipersโ€™ venomous precision.

Hoping to make a comeback, Mr. Mohammad Ilyas Sheik of Singles A fought hard to secure a win. However, the Vipers maintained their venom and held their ground until the final serve.

In the womenโ€™s category, Ms. Anelyn Mack started strong in Singles A by grabbing an early win against the COA Tamaraws. Yet the Tamaraws, known for their unwavering strength, charged back in the following sets to claim victory. The doubles team of Ms. Sittie Alawi Asral and Ms. Sittie Ashia Mindalano also opened with a confident win, but the Tamaraws strengthened their defense and turned the tables as the match progressed.

When afternoon arrived, so did a new rhythm for the Vanguards. The womenโ€™s Singles A and Doubles went head-to-head against the CSPEAR Lions and roared with triumph, sealing their wins in two sets. Though Singles B, represented by Ms. Zyra Salazar, fell short against another Lion, the Vanguardsโ€™ momentum echoed loudly in the gym.

Meanwhile, in the menโ€™s category, Mr. Abdussalaam Y. Solaiman and the doubles team of Mr. Hudaifa and Mr. Metopher fought relentlessly against the COA Tamaraws. Despite their solid teamwork and determination, the Tamarawsโ€™ defense remained steadfast.

In the quarterfinals, the womenโ€™s Singles B and Doubles once again met the CHS Vipers in an intense showdown. The Vanguards gave their all, yet the Vipersโ€™ bite proved difficult to neutralize.

Though their respective matches that day did not all go their way, the Vanguardsโ€™ spirit remains unwavering. With stronger strategies and renewed focus, the KFCIAAS Vanguards are determined to rise again.

Writer | Hania Bonsalagan
Photos | Aisha Magsaysay and Hania Bonsalagan

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | Vanguards Iniwang Nakatingala ng EaglesKung mainit ang hapon, mas mainit pa ang naging labanan sa pagitan...
09/11/2025

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | Vanguards Iniwang Nakatingala ng Eagles

Kung mainit ang hapon, mas mainit pa ang naging labanan sa pagitan ng KFCIAAS Vanguards at COE Eagles para sa football (men's category) na naganap kanina sa loob ng MSU Soccer Field. Sa iskor na 0-1, tinangay ng Eagles ang panalo.

Hindi man nakapuntos ay walang mapapansin na bahid ng lungkot sa mukha ng Vanguards. Sa halip, tawa, sigawan, at teamwork ang umalingawngaw sa buong laro. Hindi man sila ang nag-uwi ng panalo, panalo naman sila sa pagkakaisa.

Sabi nga ng team captain na si Amir Mudag, "Unlike the past 2 years, this year I am really impressed about my team. Kasi even if it was not really perfect, our middle field was that a little bit of adjustment, our lack of a little bit coordination. But over-all, nagustuhan ko talaga yung game. Even though natalo kami, but alhamdulillah, we all played well."

Dahil sa patuloy na pagsuporta sa kanila ng kanilang mga coach na sina Prof. Basarodin Angin at Dr. Jalloud Abdul at pati ng buong KFCIAAS, positibo ang pananaw at isipan ng Vanguards sa kabila ng lungkot at dismaya ng kanilang pagkatalo.

Ulat | Hania M. Bonsalagan
Disenyo | Miernys Leah Puod
Litrato | Fairozah Mamintal

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | KFCIAAS Vanguards Kinulang sa Depensa Kontra CICS T-rexTinaob ng College of Information and Computing Sci...
09/11/2025

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | KFCIAAS Vanguards Kinulang sa Depensa Kontra CICS T-rex

Tinaob ng College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS) T-rex ang King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic, and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS) Vanguards sa puntos na 41-34 sa huling set sa laro ng basketball na ginanap sa Grandstand ng Unibersidad kahapon โ€” ika-8 ng Nobyembre โ€” lamang bandang alas dos ng hapon.

Sinimulan ng may siklab ng Vanguards ang laro ng una itong pumuntos ng tres habang zero naman ang T-rex, ngunit ang init na sinindihan ng kampo ng berde ay ang naging hudyat ng kabilang grupo upang magpakitang gilas sa sunod-sunod nilang puntos na hindi nasundan ng Vanguards. Nagtapos ang unang round sa iskor na 10-21, pabor sa CICS.

Nagsimula namang umunit ang laban nang pinilit humabol ng Vanguards sa ikalawa at ikatlong round na nagtala ng 30-36 na puntos. Nagpamalas sila ng sunod-sunod na pagpasok ng bola โ€” tila ay mga galit na pinunong handa ng sakupin muli ang laro. Ang mga marka at gasgas sa balikat at ang dagundong ng pagbagsak sa sahig ng isa nilang kasamahan ay hudyat ng pagiging pursigido nilang manalo.

Ngunit naging mapagmatyag ang koponan ng T-rex at hindi na nga nagawang higit na humabol pa ng Vanguards sa apat na round at tuluyan na nga silang napayulo sa mga T-rex.

Ulat | Jaharah Salimbagat
Disenyo at Litrato | Miernys Leah Puod

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | KFCIAAS Vanguards: Battle Faces On!The heat of the sun was no match for the fire of competition and repre...
07/11/2025

๐’๐€๐†๐€๐˜๐€๐ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“ | KFCIAAS Vanguards: Battle Faces On!

The heat of the sun was no match for the fire of competition and representation as the most anticipated Mindanao State University โ€“ Marawi (MSU-M) University Intramural Games (UIG) 2025 officially kicked off earlier today, November 7.

From the opening parade to the โ€œSaludoโ€ Competition, representatives from each college proudly showcased not only their colors and emblems but also their creativity, energy, and camaraderie, living up to the theme: "UIG 2025: The Tradition of Unity, A Celebration of Strength".

The King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic, and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS) Vanguards proved themselves as the true defenders of the King โ€” facing the scorching sun and the anticipation of the crowd with their battle faces on. A clear sign that the Vanguards are now more than ready to take the frontline of this yearโ€™s UIG.

Writer | Miernys Leah Puod
Photos | Anjirah Macmod

"๐”๐ˆ๐† ๐ง๐š! ๐ˆ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐›๐ฅ๐ž๐ง๐  ๐ฐ๐š๐ฅ๐š ๐ค๐š ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐จ, ๐›๐ž๐ก!"It's that time of the academic year again when the rare species of MSUans finall...
07/11/2025

"๐”๐ˆ๐† ๐ง๐š! ๐ˆ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐›๐ฅ๐ž๐ง๐  ๐ฐ๐š๐ฅ๐š ๐ค๐š ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐จ, ๐›๐ž๐ก!"

It's that time of the academic year again when the rare species of MSUans finally wake up from their semester-long hibernation โ€” the Mindanao State University (MSU)'s 64th Founding Anniversary University Intramural Games (UIG) 2025!

Out of all these "species", which one are you? ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜†๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฎ-๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, ๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ-๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ธ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ, ๐—ผ ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐˜†๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ป?



Words | Miernys Leah Puod
Cartoons | Al-Yameen H. Nhayr, Almamirah Lawa, Haniyah Balindong, and Hanifah Fahad

๐‹๐ˆ๐“๐„๐‘๐€๐‘๐˜ | ๐—”๐—ป๐—ด ๐— ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—œ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—œ๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜I have a confession to make. I am perpetually and painfully haunted. But it is n...
03/11/2025

๐‹๐ˆ๐“๐„๐‘๐€๐‘๐˜ | ๐—”๐—ป๐—ด ๐— ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—œ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—œ๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜

I have a confession to make.

I am perpetually and painfully haunted. But it is not by the spectral image of the dead; rather, it is a haunting ghost born of doubt and judgment that was cast by my own society. The haunting is inescapable. I tried ignoring it, but it still finds its way to send a shiver down my body.

This ghost has two tormenting faces.
โ€œ๐˜๐˜ด๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด? ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต.โ€
โ€œ๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜๐˜š ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต?โ€

Like a relentless phantom, this haunting ghost refuses to be buried. I tried covering my eyes, yet it still creeps into my sight. I cannot simply dismiss the mockery when it has become the emotional core of my academic life, following me no matter where I am and no matter what I achieve.

The first face of this ghost laughs at my efforts dismissively. As if my pursuit of knowledge is merely a soft option to attain good academic standing. But I will not descend into the petty and exhausting politics of academic comparison. I refuse to argue by comparing our syllabus, our reading list, or the complexity of Islamic inheritance law because you will not understand. I will not compare my struggles to the struggles of my fellow students from other courses because I, too, will not understand.

The challenge of an engineering student is a challenge of matter and mechanics. The challenge of a medical student is a challenge of body and biology. The challenge of a law student is a challenge of rules and precedents. There will always be a challenge. That comparison is beneath the gravity of my purpose.

The challenge of an Islamic Studies (IS) student is a challenge of the metaphysics of the soul and the world. To label it easy is an ignorance of our syllabus and a declaration of spiritual blindness. The difficulty of our course is not merely technical, but spiritual and existential. The study of Allah, His law, and His perfect religion is being undertaken in a world that is fundamentally hostile to its Creator.

The world we live in is an engineered distraction that puts us in constant forgetfulness of our Creator. And studying Islam is a labor of memory in a system designed to forget it.

If the knowledge we seek were truly simple and easy, then why is the world in this spiritual state? If the path to living consciously with Allah is so simple, why is true peace and moral clarity so rare across all of humanity? If the basic truth of our existence is effortlessly accessible, then why does the act of resisting temptation or even maintaining sincere intention and focus in our prayer require such immense, taxing effort? If the subjects we study are easy, then why is the greatest spiritual struggle always about discipline, consistency, and repentance?

I am haunted by this ghost because I know the cost of the struggle, and it is immense.

The second and more tormenting face of this ghost is perhaps crueler. It follows me everywhere, and although it is unseen, its touch can be felt. Its eyes can be felt piercing through my soul. Its screams are audible. It is the demand for perfection. It is the crushing expectation that because I study virtue, I must instantly embody flawless virtue.

A simple mistake in my ethical judgment is a backlash to the entire discipline I study. They fail to understand that the entire wisdom of this discipline is built on the reality of human fallibility. We study the greatest lives of the Prophets and Companions who are not instant and flawless products of their faith, but as models of lifelong struggle in striving for excellence.

I am expected to be a perfect marble statue, but I am just a work-in-progress, like many others. I am condemned to perfection.

I am haunted because my course holds immense power, and that power creates immense resistance. The ghost is trying to make me despair and make me believe that my effort is not worth it.

But the ghostโ€™s power exists only in the shadows.

I am brave and courageous because I have chosen the hardest fight: the fight to anchor my consciousness in truth and purpose in a world dedicated to chaos. This path, this sacred, agonizing, and purposeful path, is the most worthwhile struggle of all. I fought the right battle, and in it, there is no greater honor.

Writer | J.C.Y.
Illustration | Almamirah Lawa

"๐Š๐€๐ˆ๐‹๐€๐ ๐๐€ ๐Ž๐Š๐€๐˜ ๐€๐๐† ๐Œ๐€๐†๐ˆ๐๐† ๐‡๐ˆ๐๐ƒ๐ˆ ๐Ž๐Š๐€๐˜?"On a scale of 1-10, gaano ka ba ka-stressed? This deceptively simple question cut...
02/11/2025

"๐Š๐€๐ˆ๐‹๐€๐ ๐๐€ ๐Ž๐Š๐€๐˜ ๐€๐๐† ๐Œ๐€๐†๐ˆ๐๐† ๐‡๐ˆ๐๐ƒ๐ˆ ๐Ž๐Š๐€๐˜?"

On a scale of 1-10, gaano ka ba ka-stressed? This deceptively simple question cuts straight to the heart of our well-being and is more critical now than ever.

Realistically speaking, being a student in this generation is no joke. You wake up early, rush through classes, juggling between your part-time jobs and other agendas, and still try to keep up with social life and family expectations. You unconsciously reach this point where it feels like youโ€™re running on autopilot โ€“โ€“just trying to survive the week. And yet, when someone asks โ€œOh kamusta kana?โ€ we develop this habit of automatically responding โ€œOkay lang naman.โ€ But are we, really?

For many that glorify productivityโ€”where rest feels like a ball of guilt and burnout is almost a sash of honors, the answer reflects a persistent state of strain that signifies a pressing need to acknowledge and address their mental health. Understanding what mental wellness entails is the first step toward a healthier and more resilient life.

Two (2) days after the conclusion of the National Mental Health Awareness Month (October), The Kirim presents "Usap Tayo? Kasi Okay Lang Naman Hindi Maging Okay" โ€” a reminder for everyone that kindness and sensitivity should not be limited to a single month, nor should they be the reason for someone's mental health deterioration.

Healing is a community effort that starts with empathy. We must all take responsibility for creating a supportive environment by making it safe for others to share their struggles. This means becoming an empathetic, active listener, and offering support without judgement or unsolicited advice. Discussing mental health and sharing informative sources like this can actively challenge the stigma and validate the experiences of those who are suffering. Remember, while itโ€™s okay not to be okay, seeking help is always a necessary act of courage and most importantly, self-love.

๐Ž๐ง ๐š ๐ฌ๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ-๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ, ๐ ๐š๐š๐ง๐จ ๐ค๐š ๐›๐š ๐ค๐š-๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐? ๐”๐ฌ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐š๐ฒ ๐š๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ.

Writers | Juwaireah Yusoph, Alessandra Pondiong, Marwah H. Ebrahim, and Damiarah Mangigin
Lay-out | Miernys Leah Puod

๐€๐ƒ๐•๐ˆ๐’๐Ž๐‘๐˜ | MSU Marawi Announces Wellness Break ScheduleIn observance of the Mental Health Awareness Month, MSU System Pr...
23/10/2025

๐€๐ƒ๐•๐ˆ๐’๐Ž๐‘๐˜ | MSU Marawi Announces Wellness Break Schedule

In observance of the Mental Health Awareness Month, MSU System President Atty. Paisalin P. Tagoโ€”through the official page of Mindanao State University โ€“ Marawiโ€”has officially announced the wellness break schedule for all students, faculty, and staff from October 30 to November 3, 2025.

Memorandum No. 052, Series of 2025, is part of the Universityโ€™s ongoing effort to promote awareness of mental health challenges and encourage mindfulness of oneโ€™s own well-being and that of others. The week-long break aims to provide students, teachers, and staff the opportunity to rest, recharge, and reflect on the importance of mental health and overall wellness. However, regular office operations shall continue throughout the period.

The University encourages everyone to use this break for self-care, balance, and renewed focus and energy.

Official Memo: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GAgsZ6Jco/

Writer | Jonairah Mapande

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