The qualifying round in the annual Filipino Qur'an competition organized by the Philippine Embassy in cooperation with the Muslim Filipino community begins in the Eastern Province on Aug. 11 and in Riyadh the following day, according to Ustadz Bajunaid Andi, head of the event's organizing committee in Eastern Province. This year's competition involves memorization of the Holy Qur'an. The contest in Eastern Province is opened only to boys from age 14 to 20. The competition has been divided into two set of contestants. One category is contestants from age 14 and below and the other is from 16 to 20 years old. The competition in Central Region is opened to both boys and girls. The contest in Riyadh is also divided into two categories, boys and girls age 14 and below, and 15 to 20 years old (for male contestants only). “Winners in these two regional competitions will compete in the final round on Aug. 18 at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh,” Andi said. Contestants in both the qualifying and final rounds must be Muslim Filipinos within the age categories who had memorized chapters in the Qur'an. Contestants must submit a copy of their passports or any document as a proof of Philippine citizenship on or before the dates of the competitions. The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Central and Eastern Regions will supervise the competition in both during the qualifying and final rounds. __
