US embassy cable - 05MANILA1549

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. 
 
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Description of Mindanao State University, Marawi 
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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. 
 
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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. 
 
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Dialogue with students from the Zaid Bin Thabit Qur'anic Center 
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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. 
 
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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. 
 
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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