Maranao women vies for world record on Hijab Day
Maranao women attempted to set a new world record by forming the largest human power symbol when they joined the World Hijab Day celebrations February 1.
The women wearing yellow hijab (veil) and landap (Maranao traditional malong) who are mostly teachers coming from the schools division of Lanao del Sur-I challenged Canada’s world record which consisted of only 364 participants.
The activity was organized by the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RCBW-ARMM) to highlight the 2015 World Hijab Day fete in the region.
With the theme “Hijab WALK: Women’s Access to Livelihood ay Karapatan,” the celebration was aimed to emphasize women’s important role in nation building, and to promote women’s right to decent livelihood.
RCBW-ARMM Chairperson Jehanne Mutin said it is a call to all the women, that they have rights to access livelihood programs of various government agencies.
The activity started with a solidarity walk from the People’s Park to the Provincial Capitol Gymnasium where the human power symbol was formed.
It was participated by different line agencies and non-government organizations in the province and in the ARMM including the business, religious, traditional leaders, youth, and academe sectors.
Mutin said the human power symbol represents women empowerment. “Ito ay isang simbolo na ang mga kababaihan ay empowered (it is a symbol that women are empowered),” she added.
According to her, the activity is the official entry of RCBW-ARMM to the Guinness World Book of Records (GWBR).
“We want the world to know that women in Mindanao, particularly in ARMM, are capable of doing everything that they want to do,” she said.
The world-record attempt was witnessed by Judge Aboali Cali of the Ulama League of the Philippines and GWBR consultant Arnold Garbanzos.
Garbanzos said the records and video will be sent to London for validation by the GWBR.
The World Hijab Day is a worldwide event that encourages Muslim and non-Muslim women to wear hijab and experience what it is like to be a Hijabi woman as part of a bid to foster better understanding.
RANAO STAR/APB/PIA-10
