بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
🗒️✨ Alhamdulillah the 3 days-event/exhibit at SM Ecoland hosted by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) went well. 3 quick lessons learned from attending the exhibit on all three days from June 16 Monday to Wednesday June 18:
1✅ It is recommended and more convenient to perform wudhu/ablution before going outdoors whenever you can before wearing socks that fully cover one's ankles so when it is Salah/prayer time, you can just pray if you still have your wudhu/ablution or perform wudhu then simply wipe over your socks instead of struggling to properly wash your feet while several individuals are waiting for their turn to use the faucet or CR stall.
Although there was a designated area for Muslims to pray during the 3 days exhibit, the bathroom stalls don't have bidet spray or "balde" bucket for proper washing. So it's more convenient, despite the location being several steps away from SM Ecoland, to perform one's wudhu/ablution in the bathrooms of the Muslim community near the Masjid Jamjom
https://www.facebook.com/MasjidJamjoom/ where females can more comfortably pray at the second floor without their niqab on if they normally wear the niqab when going out and when in the presence of non-mahram males.
2✅ Five different modes of reaching SM Ecoland here in Davao city from Wisdom Islamic School near Dumanlas Buhangin district:
1➡️ Ride yellow pedicab going to SPMC (10 pesos) then take jeepney route 4 (13 pesos) going to Roxas or near Mini Forest Boulevard then take another jeepney in front of the Salmonan basketball court/gym near the pedestrian lane (13 pesos) going to SM Ecoland.
2➡️ Ride yellow pedicab going to SPMC (10 pesos) then climb the bridge to get to the other side near some convenient stores and take jeepney with sign that says "SM Ecoland" to go straight to SM Ecoland (13 pesos) - I tried this mode but since it was very difficult to find jeepneys going straight to SM Ecoland (very rare to find one) we took a regular taxi instead.
3➡️ GrabCar with fixed fee which usually costs from 300 pesos and above. The drivers usually drive fast and often take shortcuts to reach the destination quicker, probably to save on fuel and/or have more time to collect as many passengers as they can so their earnings could increase. From the benefits of taking GrabCar, besides the ride being air-conditioned, is that a lot of drivers let you use their hotspot if you don't have internet data. One time a driver was even friendly and considerate enough to allow me to charge my cellphone with his charger.
4➡️ Ordinary taxi from Wisdom Islamic School or from SPMC going straight to SM Ecoland. Depending on the traffic and on the driver's method of reaching the passengers' destinations, the fee/fare usually starts from 200 pesos something. Not ideal during rush hour and if the driver is inexperienced or uncooperative regarding taking the most efficient routes.
5➡️ With personal vehicle or with a loved one or friend who is very generous enough to give you a ride to your destination for free.
3✅ After the closing program, a number of packed meals (accordingly biryani or kabsah) were being distributed to the attendees but with the officials being prioritized. Seeing how there were more guests and participants than the quantity of packed meals, not everyone at the venue was able to receive a box of early dinner. Alhamdulillah from this I was reminded that:
📝 No matter how much we want something or we're willing to take something, we shouldn't feel entitled to receiving that thing if we didn't specifically pay for it nor actively worked for it and if it was never destined by Allah the Most Wise for us to have it.
Anyhow, biryani and kabsah can be easily bought from Labbayk restaurant, Dani's Palace, Brew-it cafe of sister Nusaybah
and Turkish Kebab House, Chef Cengiz Place, of sister Ayse and Jannah's Kitchen (of sister Jannah Javier Umm Muhammad) as well as other sisters with amazing ability to cook a wide variety of delicious meals, including atti Narjis Umm Fatum Lari whose biryani some time after Eid Al-Adha was one of the best biryani dishes I've tried Alhamdulillah in a long time.
JazakAllahu Khair also to dear sister Sherry (mommy vlogger and one of the moms of our former students here at Wisdom Islamic School) for being pleasantly supportive in subtle ways despite being a busy working mom🌼
Encouraging others including myself to also support Darussalam Bookstore by purchasing some of the books and accessories being sold there as well as at Taharah AlHalal currently located somewhere around Matina:
