by Maria Bernice L. Leyeza

[NEWSFEATURE] For nearly four decades, the Los Baños Muslim community has celebrated the end of Ramadan or commonly known as Eidul Fitr on August 9, 2013. There are almost 100 Muslims who attended the Eidul Fitr in the mosque located at the Umali Subdivision in Brgy. Batong Malake.

The meaning of Eidul Fitr is ‘festival of breaking the fast’. It is a time for the Muslims to be happy and ask for forgiveness. During the month long celebration, Muslims refrain from drinking any liquids or eating food from sunrise to sunset. Also one should abstain from, sexual intercourse, violence, and bad habits during the holy month.

Eidul Fitr is celebrated on the the ninth month of the Hijra (Islamic) calendar. During this festival, the Muslims wear their best attire and offer a prayer or namaz in mosques. After offering prayers, they would exchange best wishes with each other and sometimes, they would donate a thing or two to a charity or marginalized sector of the community.

As observed, Ramadan is taking place in a lunar month, and it does not always start on the same day every year. Muslims must see the first full moon of the ninth month, and that is the time when the Ramadan would start.

During this month, it was believed that Allah, Muslim’s God, gave the qur’an to the last prophet, which is Muhammad. This year’s Ramadan took place last July 10 as announced by the Muslim leaders. Since they had not sighted the new moon at dusk on July 9, 2013, Mufti Omar Pasigan, head of the Dharul Ifta (House of Opinion), said that the following day would be the start of Ramadan.

In Los Baños, Muslims have been strictly following the rules during Ramadan. Datu Mokalid, a member of University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Judo Team and a BS Chemical Engineering student, has been fasting since he was seven years old. Since then, his mom had convinced him to fast at that age to be prepared for the upcoming years. A Muslim must not only be physically fit but also mentally.

Mohammad Atali, the current Imam of the Los Baños mosque, said that he encourages children who are under 14 to start fasting to practice in succeeding years. Although he also said that if the child is still hesitating to fast, s/he can prefer not to practice.

Atalid also added that if an aged person who is not capable to fast, s/he must offer a full meal or same value to at least one marginalized Muslim per day. It is also applicable for the severely sick Muslims if fasting might affect their current condition.

While being pregnant for her third child, Nadia Alegria, one of the caretakers of the Mosque in Umali subdivision, had stopped fasting during Ramadan. It is advisable not to fast if a woman cannot be able to maintain her current state if she has menstruation, or needs to breastfeed.

Alegria also mentioned that her eldest son has been practicing Ramadan for two years already. But she is practicing the rest of her children to fast by skipping their lunch or sometimes dinner, in order for them to get used to after some years or so.

Fasting during Ramadan takes a lot of discipline in order to go through the day. However, what about if a Muslim is an athlete? An athlete needs self-discipline in order to achieve the maximum potential of one’s skills. However for a Muslim athlete, greater self-discipline is needed because they need extra effort in their training as they fast.

Mokalid has not taken any food or fluids for the past nine hours every day in the month of Ramadan, but this did not stop him from attending his trainings. Mokalid started training judo, a combat martial art created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, in 2008. However, he stopped training and came back in 2011. While training judo, he is still practicing Ramadan.

During the sacred month, Mokalid usually eats between 4:30 to 6:00 a.m. or before sunrise. His training hours is 6:30 p.m., and after training, he eats light meal. He said that even if it is hard, he still pursues to train judo because he is passionate to train and learn skills of the sport.

Although, there are no instances of him having blackouts during training, he is making sure that he is still in the right condition. Also, he clarified the misconception with the Muslims in regards with swallowing their saliva is not allowed. Swallowing their own saliva is allowed, because the saliva, itself, is in the body. He said that even if you swallow saliva, after that the person can still be thirsty.

However, since he has a busy schedule and his dorm is in New Dorm (inside the campus of UPLB), he cannot attend to the prayers in the mosque located at the Umali Subdivision. But he continues to pray and recite qur’an in his dormitory five times a day. Some students also do what Mokalid is doing. As long as they still can pray and do the rituals in their home or dormitory.

He is also encouraging some of his non-practicing Muslim orgmates and non-Muslim friends to pray with him during Taraweeh (comes from an Arabic word which means to rest and relax) or a prayer that would take for an hour. During taraweeh, a Muslim will be standing and reading the Qur’an, the Muslim’s bible, and performing a cycle of movements consisting of: standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. After each cycle, s/he will sit for a while before continuing the prayer, and the resting period while praying is called taraweeh.

Mokalid also mentioned that observing Taraweeh is one of his most favorite prayers. Since he can focus more and give thanks to Allah. It is also the time that his devotion towards Allah becomes stronger.

On the other hand, most of the people who gathered and worship in the mosque are graduate and undergraduate students in the UPLB, also the families nearby the area. It was built during 1979 and finished the entire mosque in 1980.

One of the caretakers of the mosque is Omar Alegria, who owns a sari-sari store across the mosque. His wife, Nadya, took care of the store and the mosque after he died in 2005.

The first Imam in the Mosque at Umali subdivision was Mohammad Sororo. He served for almost a decade. Currently, Atali has been serving in the mosque for eight years. He lived in Maranao before going to Los Baños. He is now living in the junction area and has a shop at Rhoda’s.

The Imam is chosen by the members of the community who they think is intelligent enough to recite correctly the qur’an. The Imam should be a respected member of the community. Sometimes, an Imam is hired or recruited, and may undergo in special training. An Imam however, should be a male. But in some cases, if the group only consists of women, then one of them who is knowledgeable in qur’an can lead the prayer.

GROVE, Los Banos – Fire destroyed a house on a compound behind Sizzler’s last night, Sept. 12.

There were no injuries reported, aside from four puppies that died.

Police reports state that the fire broke out in 10453, Grove at 8:39 in the evening. The cause of the fire, however, was still unidentified.

“Nagulat na lang kami. Marami ng lumabalabas na tao, mga 8:40 siguro ‘yun. ‘Yun pala may sunog na. [We were shocked. There were many people going out (of Sizzler’s) at around 8:40 pm., only to find out there was fire already”], said Helen Garnale, a canteen keeper at Parduch.

Panic struck the nearby Sizzler’s dormitory and restaurant after the fire broke out.

“May tumili. ‘Pag tingin ko, after five minutes may apoy na. Nagtatakbuhan na yung mga tao, so nakitakbo na din ako… Five meters away lang yung sunog mula sa kwarto ko. (Someone cried. When I checked, after five minutes there was fire already. The people were already running, so I followed them… The fire was just five meters away from my room,)” said Maria Carmel Rimpos, a UPLB student and dormer at Sizzler’s.

The Batong Malake fire squad, however, was quick to respond.

“Tumawag ako ng isang mama, ‘di ko na nga naalala kung sino s’ya. Sabi n’ya s’ya nalang daw ang pupunta sa fire office. Ambilis ng Batong Malake. [I called a man on the street; I can’t even remember who he was. He volunteered to go to (the Batong Malake) fire office. (The) Batong Malake (fire squad) was quick],” said Mrs. Brenda Ramos, owner of the Sizzler’s dormitory and restaurant.

Mrs. Ramos let the fire squad enter the burning house through the front of her restaurant.

“Sabi ko wala po kayong dadaanan sa likod, dito na po kayo dumaan. Buti nalang dito dumaan, kundi kung sakali pati kami damay. Putok lahat ng salamin sa init ng apoy eh. [I said (the firemen) cannot enter at the back, so (they) can enter here (in the restaurant). It’s a good thing they came through here. The fire could have reached us. All of our windows exploded due to the heat],” she said.

Police reports stated that the fire was already under control at 8:58 pm. At 9:05pm, the fire was already out.

“Buti naagapan agad. Kung hindi, malamang mas malaki pa ang naging damage. [It’s a good thing (the fire) was put out immediately. It could’ve caused further damage]”, said PCI Andres Simbajon Jr.

Only the upper part of the house was burned. The house was said to be owned by a certain Velasco family who doesn’t reside there anymore. The lower part of the compound, however, was occupied by the Matias family.

“Kami mismo ‘di pa namin alam ang cause ng sunog… Buti na lang walang nasaktan. [Even we don’t know what caused the fire… It’s a good thing no one was hurt,” said Mr. Froilan Matias, one of the compound residents.

Paoloregel Samonte (with reports from Janica Gan)

by  Elsie E. Reyes

The Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) Laguna Council celebrated its 64^th anniversary in Camp Mariang Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna on September 8, 2013. The Pistahan sa Kampo is an annual gathering of girl scouts, from twinklers to senior scouts as well as their troop leaders, in the province of Laguna.

The participants took part in dance contests that featured traditional Filipino folk dances. With their respective coordinators, the girl scouts also set up booths and food stalls for the celebration.

Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez, GSP Council Board President and San Pedro Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz, and GSP Southern Luzon Regional Executive Director Rebecca Basañes graced the event.

Mayor Perez emphasized in his talk that girl scouts play an important role in the observance of the town’s waste segregation and no-plastic ordinance. “Alam niyo, ang dami niyong batang ito. Kung kayo lahat ay tutulong  sa inyo inyong bayan na bawal kang magkalat, magkakameron ng ayos sa basura, magiging  malinis ang inyong barangay, bayan at ang ating lalawigan,” Perez told the scouts.

GSP Southern Luzon Regional Executive Director Rebecca Basañes expressed her delight because Laguna recorded the highest GSP membership among the 96 GSP councils in the country. Basañes further said that “Ang gusto ko, sa isip at sa gawa, ang lahat ng girl scouts ay nangunguna din”. Director Basañes also introduced to the scouts Ms. Aileen Reyes as the new Council Executive of Los Baños.

One of the highlights of Pista sa Kampo was the folk dance competitions for different girl scouts levels namely Tiklos for twinklers, Salakot for star scouts, Sakuting for junior scouts, Binuyogan for senior scouts, and Sapatya for troop leaders.

Among the winners were Calamba West District for the twinklers category, Calamba East District for the star scouts level, Rizal district  for the junior scouts category, and Sta. Cruz District for senior scouts category. For the troop leaders evel, Calamba West emerged as the victor.

This year’s Pistahan sa Kampo was organized by the GSP Council Board of Laguna, National Equipment Service, District Committees, District Field Advisers, and the Council Staff.

by Isabel L. Bondad

[NEWS FEATURE] On August 7, the Sampaloc Lake Fish Farmer Marketing Cooperative (SLFFMC) conducted a cleaning operation in Sampaloc Lake, one of the seven lakes in San Pablo City. The activity is part of the cooperative’s advocacy of keeping the lake clean and safe especially those residing near the lake.

Since 2011, the SLFFMC organized cleaning operations every month for San Pablo’s seven lakes. The cooperative coordinates with local fisher folks and their families for the regular cleaning of the lakes. Wives of the fishermen sweep the surroundings around the lake while the fishermen use nets with long sticks to get the garbage floating on the surface of the lakes. They make their rounds in their boats clearing the lake of garbage.

While the regular removal of garbage from the lakes are vital in the rehabilitation of lakes, SLFFMC aims for more sustainable means of achieving their goal of having clean and safe San Pablo lakes. The cooperative advocates good fishing practices among their members as well as regulate the number and size of fish pens in the seven lakes.

SLFFMC is an organization of fisher folks residing near the Sampaloc Lake. Victorino Anyayahan currently heads SLFFMC. Established in 2011, the organization remains active in keeping the lakes clean and in facilitating the lake rehabilitation. The cooperative aims for a sustainable source of livelihood, which can be achieved by rehabilitating the lakes.

San Pablo’s seven lakes are major sources of livelihood for many residents. Sampaloc Lake, the largest lake is in the city proper. Yambo and Pandin Lakes can be found in Barangay San Lorenzo. Mohicap, Calibato, Palakpakin, and Bunot Lake is located in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Barangay Santo Angel, Barangay San Buenaventura and Barangay Concepcion respectively.

According to Teodoro Reymina, an environmentalist and a known advocate of rehabilitation of the lakes, the bodies of water were once known for its clear and unsoiled waters. Because of excessive exploitation and human involvement, the water quality in San Pablo lakes has deteriorated. Illegal fish pens were built and garbage and other impurities were disposed in the lakes contributing to the worsening condition of the lakes.  Such condition was made worse with the excessive use of fish pellets  that led to the fish kills reported in the area. Fecal wastes from backyard piggeries of some residents also account for the impurities.

According to the water quality report of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), increased concentration of ammonia and inorganic phosphates were observed in San Pablo lakes. Such levels of substances exceeded the allowed and acceptable amount.

Furthermore, fecal impurities have been found on all the lakes. The Sampaloc Lake is reported to be the dirtiest of the seven lakes while Pandin Lake is said to be the cleanest but should still be guarded due to the amount of phosphate deposits found. Also, removing the excess impurities on the water of the Sampaloc Lake cannot be done on a short of period of time. This will take a long process since too many impurities such as ammonia and fecal matters were found on its waters during according to the water quality testing result.

LLDA also said that continuous efforts and community participation should be exerted in order for the lake to be free from excess impurities. Due to the overcrowding of fishpens in Bunot Lake, it was highly recommended that fishing activities be stopped to let the lake recover.

Given the situation of the lakes, several rehabilitation projects for the seven lakes were implemented by different non-government organizations from 1999 to 2008 however, very few of these efforts were sustained.

SLFFMC President Anyayahan said that the rehabilitation of the lakes is their responsibility as residents. He further explained that it would be to their disadvantage if the lakes are not rehabilitated as the lakes are their major source of income.

Local government efforts for the rehabilitation of the seven lakes include the Lake Watch, a program preventing further increase in the lakes’ condition. Commercial establishments around the lakes are also decreased in order to lessen the wastes on the lakes. Around 39 establishments were already removed while about 250 illegal settlers were relocated.

As a source of livelihood, fishing and handicraft making from the water hyacinth are some of the benefits the residents acquire from the lakes. The lakes are also abundant sources of freshwater tilapia and carp.

Aside from these, tourism has also been a source of income for the residents near the lakes. Boating services on the lakes was offered to tourists. Bikes can also be rented for visitors in the Sampaloc Lake. Floating cages were made available for tourists and other visitors to rent on Bunot Lake.  The green water rafting tour was organized in Pandin Lake by wives of fishermen in order to acquire additional income and to help their husbands earn money for their family.

Rafts can be rented on Pandin Lake. Wives of the fishermen serve as the sailors and this gives them extra income for their families.

As of July 2013, according to Reymina, there are already visible improvements on the lakes. The environmentalist said that the improvements since 2011, changes can be observed even on the air that we breathe around the lakes. The situation recently is now “better.”

According to Monina Eruno, a resident near the Sampaloc Lake, the project beneficial not only to those who live near the lake but also to other people visiting the lake. Hindi man nila malinis kaagad ang lawa, darating yung oras na babalik din ang lawa sa dati tulad ng kalinisan nun noong bata pa ako. (The lake may not be clean immediately but time will come that the lake will be back to the once clean and unpolluted lake when I was younger.)”

Although the project is already on its second year, according to Anyayahan, this is just the start of the rehabilitation. The members of the SLFFMC, with the residents, local government unit, as well as other members of the community will continue to work together for the rehabilitation of the San Pablo lakes.