08/03/2026
Masha Allah
mga Batang Isuma...
VOICES FROM THE SOUTH, RISING IN THE NORTH
When young Muslims turn devotion into gold and dreams of peace
In Mindanao, where memories of conflict have often lingered like distant thunder and families long for days when communities could gather without fear, the Muslim yearning for peace remains deep and enduring. The Qur’an is recited not only as devotion but as a quiet prayer of hope that healing will come and understanding will replace division.
That same longing for harmony finds a smaller but meaningful expression far north in Ilocos Sur, where two young Muslim learners channel their faith and discipline into achievements and dreams of service, reminding us that the desire for peace can rise from every heart and every place.
From the classrooms of Balaleng Elementary School, Mohammad Hanzala B. Marangit and Omair D. Sangcopan emerged as champions in Arabic Spelling (Imlah) and Qur’an Reading respectively. Their success came not only from competition but from daily dedication to learning and faith.
For Mohammad Hanzala B. Marangit, a Grade 4 learner, Arabic words have long been part of his routine. At home in Zone 3, Bantay, known as the Muslim Compound, he spends time practicing spelling and recitation. Step by step, the language became familiar, and it led him to victory in this year’s Regional Festival of Talents.
Hanzala dreams of becoming a policeman. For him, the profession represents service and peace.
“I want to become a policeman someday so I can help people and promote peace in our community. Police officers protect others, and I want to be part of that mission,” he said.
At a young age, his words reflect a vision of security and harmony, values he hopes to uphold in the future.
Beside him, Omair D. Sangcopan, a Grade 6 learner, earned the championship in Qur’an Reading through steady practice and devotion. Living under the care of his grandmother, Omair reads the Qur’an frequently at home and in school, refining his recitation and understanding.
Omair aspires to become a soldier. Just like Hanzala, Omair believes that military service is a path to safeguarding peace.
“I dream of becoming a soldier because soldiers help maintain peace and security. I want to serve my country and contribute to making our communities safe and peaceful,” he expressed,
Obviously, his ambition reflects a commitment to service and responsibility, values nurtured through both education and faith.
At Balaleng Elementary School, the quiet presence of Hanzala and Omair reflects the same gentle strength often associated with communities in the south. Teachers observe their growth like young seedlings pushing through soil, small at first but steadily reaching toward light.
“They may not seek attention, but their devotion and dedication are undeniable. Every task they complete and every lesson they embrace shows how devotion can transform potential into achievement,” said Ma’am Emelita Arizabal.
That devotion carried them from ordinary classroom lessons to championship victories, turning effort into gold and dreams of service into guiding stars. Hanzala’s aspiration to become a policeman and Omair’s dream of military service reveal visions of peace and protection, ambitions rooted in the same values of discipline and responsibility that shaped their success.
Their stories remind us that voices of faith and determination can rise from any place, north or south, and contribute to a future of understanding and harmony. Hanzala and Omar are living testaments of hope. They prove that greatness can bloom in the quietest places.
Like young saplings reaching toward the sun, Hanzala and Omair rise with purpose, rooted in faith, nourished by education, and reaching for a future where service and understanding light the way. Their journey whispers a powerful truth: peace is not just a destination but a path, and every step taken with dedication and kindness brings us closer to a world where differences become strengths and dreams become bridges.
📷✍️ RFOT Media and Documentation Team
