There is beauty in every religion when their principles align with the goodness of humanity.

Beyond books, journals, and traditional classroom discussions, the essence of learning continues through experiencing real-world cultures. Amidst the cold, rainy afternoon of February 26, 2026, students, faculty, and staff came together in Room 209-210 of the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐀𝐒) building to witness the tradition and significance of the 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 and the 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 in person as the 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚 continues in its second year.

“𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚”, or “𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭”, comes from the Tausug word “𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚”, which means “𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧” or “𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤”, therefore interpreted as the end of fasting after a sunset in Ramadan. The season of 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 is a moment of reflection and prayer for the 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 as they live and abide by the teachings in the 𝐐𝐮𝐫’𝐚𝐧, reaffirming their faith and giving thanks to 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 for His grace. It is also a safe space where people of different faiths gather together to reflect and share their insights and values through a meal, celebrating diversity and encouraging mutual respect between each other.

“[𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚] is a testament that we are for inclusivity, so regardless of your religion, of your faith, of your 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐧, we recognize, we give justice to your being as a human person,” says 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐒𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐝 𝐒. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧, adviser of the 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥.

“Hindi lang ito simpleng pagdiriwang, bagkus isa itong makulay na pagtitipon sa mga ngayon, dahilan sa tayo ay nandito at tayo ay galing sa iba’t ibang grupo lalo na’t mayroon tayong iba’t ibang sektang pinanggalingan. (This is not only a simple celebration, but it is also a colorful gathering because we are here and we come from different [ethnic] groups, especially that we come from different sectors.)” adds 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐋𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚, head of the 𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

The project, which was made in partnership with the 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬’ 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 (𝐋𝐒𝐒) and the 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐆𝐄) program of the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐀𝐒), was originally intended as a supplementary learning resource for students who are enrolled in the 𝐄𝐆𝐄 𝟑𝟏𝟑 – 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 course, but its purpose goes deeper than that. Following its successful run last year, the 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚 continues to spread knowledge about the Islamic way of life as a testament of the University’s commitment towards an inclusive education, bringing the 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 closer for the people to see its wonders. It has since broadened its audience, inviting more students who showed interest in partaking in an enlightening conversation.

As the students waited for the 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐛 (𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭) to come through, they took every lecture as an opportunity to take notes and listen eagerly in silence, deepening their knowledge about Islam. This time, two Muslim scholars willingly took the time to impart their knowledge on the significance of 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 and the 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, aiming to break the stereotypes by correcting the common misconceptions about the religion in this life-changing activity.

𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐌 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 and motivational speaker 𝐔𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐡 𝐄𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫, who was also the keynote speaker of last year’s 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚, returns to USeP to graciously share his wisdom on the sacredness and importance of fasting in 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 and the 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦. He shares that, while Ramadan is still meant to test our faith, obedience, and discipline by discernment and resistance against the temptation of sin, there are a few exceptions that may allow people to not fast due to some circumstances, showing the merciful side of the religion. Even so, he reminds everyone about the true spirit of Ramadan, that it is not only an act of obedience, but also an act of gratitude for His guidance.

“Ang tunay na diwa why we are fasting in the month of Ramadan, we are happy and celebrating that in this month, guidance is available for humanity (The true spirit behind our fasting in the month of Ramadan is because we are happy and we are celebrating that in this month, guidance is available for humanity),” he said.

Meanwhile, 𝐔𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐍𝐮𝐫-𝐀𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐦, who served the Bangsamoro community as a 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, shares that the necessity of an independent government in the 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐌 region aligns itself with the Islamic values of justice, mercy, accountability, integrity, and service to the vulnerable that the community needs. She also reminds the interfaith community to uphold the Islamic faith and humanitarian values by holding ourselves accountable in all our actions, not only for the family or for the community, but also for Allah.

“What you practice, you preach, and what you preach, you practice. What you intend, you do, and what you do, you intend,” she said.

The 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚 became a perfect opportunity for everyone to open their minds and reflect on these lessons as the speakers took the time to address some relevant questions from the audience, such as seeking forgiveness and the moral dilemma of children in Muslim families. In return, the audience also expressed their appreciation towards the speakers for enlightening everyone about the goodness of Islam.

What makes this year’s event more interesting lies in its timely coincidence: as both the 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 and the 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 started in the same month this year, witnessing a moment that happens once in a blue moon becomes more meaningful to ponder into the significance of their shared values. Besides respecting each other’s cultures and traditions, many religious leaders have been calling for an interfaith dialogue, prayer, and reflection between 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 and 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 despite the striking differences in their beliefs.

At 5:51 PM, everyone stood together in solemnity when the 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠 (call to prayer) came, which marks the end of fasting. Many non-Muslim members joined in solidarity as our Muslim brothers and sisters expressed their sincere devotion towards Allah, uniting everyone through prayer and thanksgiving. This was followed by the 𝐈𝐟𝐭𝐚𝐫, which was generously prepared as an 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐪𝐚𝐡 (𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲) through the 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐈. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐢, in collaboration with 𝐔𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐡 𝐄𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐒𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐝 𝐒. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧, and 𝐌𝐫. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐍. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨, symbolizing the Islamic duty of charity and service to others.

As the 𝐋𝐒𝐒 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 took charge of the food distribution, everyone lined up outside the room, waiting patiently for the food to be served. Excitement was written all over each other’s faces, curious about the variety of Bangsamoro delicacies and what each of it tastes like. There’s the signature 𝐭𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐦, the creamy chicken in white sauce, the twisty flavor of spicy mango chicken, the 𝐩𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐤, the savory beef rendang, the beef caldereta, the garlic shrimp, the mixed seafood, and the tuna fish fillet. There were also well-known Tausug glutinous delicacies such as 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐢 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢, 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬, and 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐝-𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐝, and fruits such as watermelon and grapes, which added more delight to the cuisine. While everyone had their fill of the meal with laughter and amazement, 𝐔𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐡 𝐄𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫, together with 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 and 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, remained in the room and prayed the 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐛 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 together using the 𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐲 (𝐦𝐚𝐭), all while surrounded in peaceful silence.

The core message of the 𝐏𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚 celebration reminds us that Islam is not the kind of religion most people paint them to be; rather, it is a religion that respects humanity and embodies mercy, compassion, justice, and fairness towards everyone, especially the poor and needy, no matter their culture or social status. Through this immersive experience, it is now our responsibility to embrace diversity within the multicultural Philippines and to spread the word that we can co-exist with each other no matter what we believe, for we are meant to exist in this world full of love and kindness, bringing each other to a close spiritual relationship with our Creator.