ASEAN cites 2 Moro youths for arts and culture, innovation

COTABATO -– Two young Moros, namely Rasul Alih and Amin Hataman, received awards from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year in Jakarta, Indonesia for feats in their respective fields. The awarding ceremonies were held on July 20 at Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia during the 22nd ASEAN Youth Day Meeting and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth.Rasul Alih II, an artist and a student, represented Ingat Kapandayan Artists Center that promotes Tausug arts and culture. Based at the Notre Dame of Jolo College, the group seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of Sulu and the Tausug tribe.The group thanked the people behind the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Foundation, the Office of Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) for the recognition. You inspired us to do more great things for our nation, Ingat Kapandayan said through a Facebook post.Meanwhile, 16 year-old Amin Hataman was responsible for developing biodegradable bags made from coconut by-products. He also received his award during the ASEAN Youth Day ceremonies. Hataman is the eldest son of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman and Anak Mindanao party-list Representative Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman. It's an honor to receive this award. I am very thankful for the NYC for choosing me as the recipient of the ASEAN Youth Award. I am very grateful for being able to join in the discussions and forums, and having the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between the ASEAN countries, and being able to learn from other delegates of different backgrounds and points of view, Amin said.James Ceasar Ventura, NYC commissioner, said choosing this year’s individual awardee required looking into other areas that have not been given adequate consideration in the past but could be major sources of inspiration for many youth leaders. In the NYC Commissioners Meeting where we selected the ASEAN Youth Awardee, we considered not just someone accomplished but someone who can inspire our youth to focus on areas we have been ignoring before. Science and technology is an area where we are clearly lagging behind. Amin was the nominee who satisfied that criterion. At a young age, he had reaped recognition because of his promising work in science and research. Amin inspires not only the Moro youth but every Filipino youth to explore the potentials of our local resources, develop them into useful products for the benefit of the community. He inspires not just enthusiasm in science, and environmentalism, but also social entrepreneurship where the communities are placed at the center of business and innovation, Commissioner Ventura said.