Institute of Islamic Studies, University of the Philippines-Diliman
In contemporary world permeated by hegemonic Western positivistic sciences which rescinded the important value of ethics, faith traditions and revealed knowledge that have had impacted human lives for several centuries and millennials were relegated to private life. This notion of privatizing civilizational religions, Islam in particular, had created intellectual numbness, apathy and indifference. To bring forth ‘intellectual compassion’ in the arrogant world of Western sciences, the UP Institute of Islamic Studies was created on November 22, 1973 by Presidential Decree 342, as part of the Philippine Center for Advanced Studies (PCAS). Following the abolition of PCAS on July 9, 1979 by virtue of Executive Order No. 543 issued by the then-president of the Philippines, the Institute was re-established as a separate unit of the University.
The following positions are currently vacant at the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS): Administrative Officer IV and Administrative Assistant III.
Interested applicants are advised to refer to the Bulletin of Vacant Positions issued by the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO). For further details, please visit the HRDO website at https://hrdo.upd.edu.ph/jobs
The Library of Islamic Heritage, Arts, and Language (LIHAL) has officially commenced its first phase with a series of community needs assessment activities conducted in selected areas of Sulu from July 22 to 25, 2025.
Led by the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), the initiative aimed to collect baseline data and establish local partnerships to ensure the project is grounded in the actual needs, aspirations, and capacities of the communities it seeks to serve. The LIHAL project is anchored on the commitment to preserve and promote Sulu’s rich cultural heritage, including the historical narratives of Lupah Sug.
The fieldwork revealed key insights into existing educational gaps and the urgent need for cultural preservation in both public and private institutions across the province.
Preliminary findings show that many students in remote area, such as Sitio Sionogan in Indanan, have never set foot in a library or museum, despite already being in junior high school. Some public schools, including the nearest one to the sitio, do not have a library. In contrast, private institutions like Notre Dame of Jolo College have better resources, including a Heritage Hub, which serves as a mini-museum showcasing historical exhibits and rare book collections. However, access to such facilities remains limited, especially for students from underserved communities, as shared by the teachers. They have also expressed the need for capacity-building programs for history teachers and heritage workers, particularly in curation, documentation, and the dissemination of local cultural knowledge.
Meanwhile, institutions like the Lupah Sug Provincial Library and the National Museum branch in Sulu, both located in the heart of the province, have played a significant role in promoting cultural education. Through school immersion programs and educational tours, they have broadened students’ exposure to local heritage. However, these institutions, much like most school-based libraries in the region, suffer from a lack of relevant reading materials, particularly those that feature Sulu’s history and arts authored by local writers. This highlights the urgent need to support local authorship and provide training opportunities and publishing platforms for emerging writers in Sulu.
The assessment engaged key stakeholders, including teachers, librarians, students, library clients, and community leaders. Participating institutions included Sulu National High School, Notre Dame of Jolo College, the Lupah Sug Provincial Library, and the community of Sitio Sionogan.
Following the fieldwork, the UP IIS team is set to release a comprehensive report featuring policy recommendations and educational program proposals based on the collected data. The report will also identify potential partners and collaborators to help develop and sustain a community-based library model tailored to the unique context and cultural landscape of Sulu.
Beyond data collection, the project also gathered meaningful stories from the people of Sulu, reflecting their cultural pride and hopes for the future. These narratives will help inform efforts to support local education and heritage preservation.
LIHAL is an extension project of UP IIS funded by the UP Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development.
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Article by Camz Bello | Photos by Nash Rasul and Kristine Sulla
In partnership with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and the Provincial Government of Sulu, Assoc. Prof. Darwin J. Absari, faculty member of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS) and Convenor of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies – Islamic Studies Program (UP CIDS-ISP), along with Ms. Johayra Datlan, Senior Lecturer at UP IIS and Development Management Officer III at NCMF, served as resource persons for the “Awareness Seminar on PD1083 (Code of Muslim Personal Laws or CMPL) and Other Laws Affecting Muslims in the Philippines.” This awareness-raising activity was held on July 24, 2025, at Sumadja Hall, Capitol Site, Patikul, in the province of Sulu.
The initiative is a response to long-standing challenges facing Shari’ah Law, particularly the CMPL, since its codification in 1977 and the establishment of Shari’ah courts in 1985. To this day, the CMPL has not been updated or expanded, and Shari’ah Law remains largely unfamiliar to the broader Muslim population in the Philippines.
Since 2023, UP IIS and UP CIDS-ISP have actively implemented and collaborated on various initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness and educating Muslim communities. These efforts also seek to promote dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders and institutions engaged in matters related to Islamic Law.
Representing the provincial government of Sulu, Provincial Administrator Hon. Erwin Tan expressed his appreciation for the presence of UP IIS in his welcome message. He also conveyed hopes for stronger collaboration with the provincial government, particularly in advancing academic initiatives such as the revival of the historical narratives of Lupah Sug.
The seminar began with a lecture by Prof. Absari on the Brief History of Islamic Law in the Philippines. In his presentation, he emphasized not only the importance of raising awareness among Muslim communities regarding Shari’ah Law, but also the need to encourage the use and promotion of Shari’ah court services. This, he stressed, is essential to honor the struggles of the ancestors and Muslim revolutionary groups such as the MNLF in preserving the traditions, practices, and legal systems of Muslims in Mindanao.
Ms. Datlan followed with a lecture on the Salient Features of PD1083. She highlighted key provisions of the law and how they contrast with other existing Philippine laws. She underscored the need for separate legal frameworks for Muslims to ensure culturally sensitive engagement with issues such as marriage, inheritance, civil personality, and divorce.
This awareness-raising campaign is a joint effort of UP IIS, UP CIDS-ISP, NCMF, and the Provincial Government of Sulu developed in line with the Supreme Court of the Philippines’ reaffirmation of its commitment to strengthening the role of Shari’ah Courts within the national judicial system.
Article by Camz Bello | Photos by Nash Rasul
The UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), through its Quality Assurance Officer, Assoc. Prof. Nefertari A. Arsad, Ph.D., received recognition during the Kahusayan: Ceremonya ng Pagkilala ng Kagalingan sa QA, an event honoring outstanding contributions to Quality Assurance (QA) in UP Diliman.
Assoc. Prof. Nefertari A. Arsad was recognized for her active participation in and successful completion of the UP External Quality Assurance (QA) Reviewers Training–an initiative designed to strengthen the University’s QA processes by deepening participants’ knowledge of desktop reviews, site visits, and feedback preparation (UPD QAO, n.d.).
Moreover, it also enables participants to assess the quality of educational ecosystems and processes. Selected for her expertise and long-standing involvement in QA-related initiatives, she was among the UP Diliman faculty members chosen to undergo this specialized training.
In addition to completing the training, Assoc. Prof. Arsad was also recognized as a QA Champion in her capacity as the Quality Assurance Officer of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies, a role she has held since 2021. She has led numerous QA efforts at the Institute, including the preparation and submission of key reports such as the iAADS and SAR, and the coordination of External QA (EQA) processes and related activities at the unit level.
The award was personally handed to Prof. Arsad by Mr. Charles Ramos, Head of EQA at the UPD Quality Assurance Office (QAO), and Ms. Vixey Marie Llema, Junior Project Associate of the UPD QAO at the Office of the Dean, UP Institute of Islamic Studies, last June 19, 2025.
The Kahusayan ceremony celebrates the commitment of UP Diliman faculty, staff, REPS, and academic units to upholding and advancing the university’s quality assurance standards.
The two-day seminar-workshop titled “Navigating Realities in Muslim Education” successfully concluded last June 5, 2025, at Hall C, Ateneo de Zamboanga University Lantaka Campus. Organized by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies–Islamic Studies Program (UP CIDS-ISP) and the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), the event brought together key stakeholders to address pressing issues affecting Muslim education at the grassroots and school levels.
The first day, held on June 3, opened with presentations from academic and government resource persons. Dr. Hja. Sarah Lucman Handang, Education Supervisor II and Regional Madrasah Education Program Regional Supervisor of DepEd Region IX, led discussions on the Department of Education’s Madrasah Education Program. She was joined by Dr. Nefertari Arsad, Project Leader of UP CIDS-ISP, faculty member at UP IIS, and member of CHED’s Technical Panel for Islamic Studies, who spoke about the Commission on Higher Education’s Equivalency Program. Prof. Vi-Amor Dayrit, a registered behavior technician and lecturer at UP Diliman’s College of Human Kinetics, tackled issues related to learner behavior and management.
The second day featured interactive workshops and more in-depth lectures. Prof. Dayrit conducted a hands-on session on classroom management, while Dr. Arsad led a segment on the different facets of school planning. A highlight of the final day was a presentation by TESDA Zamboanga–Isabela City Director III, Omarkhayyam Dalagan, MDM, JD. He introduced TESDA’s scholarship programs, its 8-point agenda, and not to mention, training and partnership opportunities designed to enhance the technical and professional skills of Islamic education practitioners.
Participants came from a wide range of educational institutions committed to advancing Muslim education in their respective communities. These included Sarang Bangun Learning Center and High School, which is known for integrating Islamic values into academic instruction. Religious institutions such as Hadji Ahmad Sakaluran Institute, Madrasah Al Rahman, also took part, highlighting the importance of traditional Islamic learning. Several teachers from Zamboanga City public schools also attended in their dual capacities as ALIVE and subject teachers and traditional madrasah educators, including Taluksangay Elementary School, Talabaan Elementary School, Ayala SPED Center, Don Gregorio Elementary School, Santa Barbara Elementary School, and Talon-Talon National High School. The presence of faculty from Mindanao State University–Tawi-Tawi and Mindanao State University–Sulu further underscored the regional commitment to enhancing Muslim education through collaborative engagement and academic expertise.
As a key takeaway, TESDA encouraged UP CIDS-ISP to consolidate the identified professional development needs of the participants and craft formal recommendations to further strengthen support for Muslim education.
The seminar-workshop is part of an ongoing initiative launched in 2024 by UP CIDS-ISP and UP IIS to respond to educational challenges facing Muslim communities, with a focus on practical solutions for school-level implementation.
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