Muslims ethnic groups all over the Philippine flocked to UP Film Center in Quezon City to graced the 36^th National Qur’an Reading Competition. The outgoing Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo dubbed this year’s theme “The Qur’an is the Universal Message of Peace” as a program “that will bring the message of peace, harmony and understanding among Muslim, particularly in the Philippines and a consistent effort to promote peaceful dialogue as part of the solution to the armed conflict in Mindanao and to help in the strengthening the country’s bilateral relations with the Islamic countries.”

The winner of this competition will be the representative of the Philippines to the international competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For the record, the Philippines won the International Qur’an Reading Competition in 1979, 1992, 1993, 2000 and 2001.

At the event, I’m amazed on the colorful dresses of Muslim women. You can determine what ethnic group they belong by their colorful dresses. Indeed, I can say that Muslim women in the Philippines had sense of fashion. My camera lenses then focused more on the colorful dresses of these women.