Manila: The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) on Monday took pride in Raihana Ambangala for securing second place in the female recital category of the 64th International Qur'an Recital and Memorization Assembly held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last Oct. 12. 'The NCMF is proud to share not only to the Filipino Muslim community but to the whole Philippine nation the triumph of Ambangala who bannered the Philippine flag in an international arena,' NCMF Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim said in a news release. 'Just like how Filipino athletes bring home pride to the country, Filipinos who excel at a global arena --in a competition organized by reputable foreign governments like Malaysia, which hosts this annual competition since 1961 --should also be recognized. And so, the NCMF shares this good news to the Filipino people.' The NCMF said Ambangala surpassed participants from 13 countries, with Malaysia and Indonesia placing first and third, respectively. The 28-year-old from Pikit, Cotabato has a hist ory of success in similar competitions, having placed fifth in 2018 and winning a Qur'an reading contest in Brunei in 2015. Meanwhile, Abdurahim said NCMF is also exploring the possibility of hosting an International Qur'an Reading Competition (IQRC) in 2026, coinciding with the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines. This proposal, he said, aligns with the Philippine Constitution's aim to promote indigenous culture and support peace and unity. "A Philippine hosting of an IQRC in 2026 to be participated in by ASEAN Plus Three --consisting of 10 ASEAN Member States and the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea- is timely and supportive of the APT's socio-cultural cooperations,' Abdurahim said. The NCMF aims to partner with the National Organizing Council for ASEAN 2026, furthering socio-cultural cooperation within the ASEAN Plus Three framework, to promote awareness and knowledge of Islam and celebrate Philippine diversity. Source: Philippines News Agency