Situated on top of a gently rising hill covered in rich foliage and long green grass, Mindanao State University is a serene place. Groups of students mill around the campus or scurry to classes in faculty buildings planted into the verdant surroundings.
A slope stretching towards Lake Lanao affords a clear view of the city of Marawi that hugs the lakeside. It looks peaceful from up there. But the aircraft of the Philippines air force circling overhead tell a different story.
When the academic year began in September, their bombing runs were a daily spectacle. Propeller planes and jets would swoop in to drop their payload, and thick plumes of smoke would follow an explosion just visible from the distance. It was a routine reminder of the bitter battle being waged on their doorstep.
On May 23, militants of the Maute Group, a local ISIL affiliate, took control of Marawi, a city on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. At Mindanao State University (MSU), the exam period was just drawing to a close. Students and staff were hastily evacuated to the nearby city of Iligan as soldiers poured into Marawi to take on the insurgents. The ensuing battle lasted five months. The military finally eliminated the last pocket of resistance in the city centre on October 23, five months to the day after the siege began.
As the fighting raged in the city, the university's leadership took stock. The campus borders Emishu, a Marawi suburb that derives its name from the acronym MSU. Emishu is detached from the rest of Marawi, and its residents returned when it became clear that the military had the insurgents hemmed in.
MSU president Dr Habib Macaayong decided it was safe enough to reopen the university. Staff prepared for the next academic year, and students were asked to return in September.
And they came. When classes resumed, about 9,000 students enrolled in courses at the Emishu campus, according to Dr Macaayong. Only a few had stayed home. While the students sat in class, soldiers were fighting and dying a few kilometres down the road, and Marawi was pulverised by relentless air strikes.
The campus was within reach of the heavy-calibre machine guns of the Maute Group, and stray bullets occasionally hit Emishu. In September, one of them killed a government official as he was driving out of Emishu after a visit to the university. Insurgents from outside Marawi even attacked an army base in the suburb, local residents say.
"There is always the anxiety, because of the air strikes and gunfire every day. Sometimes it can be a little distracting in courses and lessons but after a while we get used to it," said Mahib Mangonta, a third-year literature student, at the time.
For the students, the opportunities the university offers outweigh the risks. Mindanao is the poorest region in the Philippines and MSU is the country's largest university, with 11 campuses dotted all over the island, giving 78,000 students a chance to better their lives through higher education at highly subsidised rates. Dr Macaayong says it is the only university in the Philippines offering an education "practically for free".
Such chances — and aspirations — are not easily given up."Before it opened for enrolment I was actually encouraging some of the students to come back because it's our university, it's our second home, and if we don't come back then there will be no more MSU," says Yvonne Bertiko, a student from eastern Mindanao. "[Without] this university there will be no uni for anyone who can't afford college."
Helping along the economic development of Mindanao has been an explicit goal of the university since it was founded in 1961. By increasing education levels and prosperity on the island, MSU is also intended to counter the insurgencies that have plagued Mindanao for decades. Poverty has been the key driver of unrest on the island, not least because it has reinforced the sense of discrimination felt by the Muslim population. While Muslims are traditionally looked down on by the Christian majority, economic disenfranchisement is by far the most tangible form of discrimination.
"The mission of the university to be active in promoting peace and development in the Mindanao region. All of our campuses are strategically placed in areas that are conflict-prone, or very poor," says Florencio Recoleto, MSU's vice chancellor for academic affairs.
It is no coincidence that university's main campus is in Marawi, the only city in the Philippines where sharia is applied, which is officially known as the "Islamic City of Marawi".
The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, or ARMM, is home to about four million people and is also the poorest region in the Philippines. Marawi lies in the middle of the autonomous zone, a vast stretch of jungle on the western shores of Mindanao island.
Whereas in the past Islamist insurgent groups demanded more rights and autonomy for the country's Muslim minority, the insurgencies in the autonomous zone have become markedly jihadist in recent years. The Maute Group is one of several militant outfits seeking to spread terror and link up with extremist groups abroad.
MSU is on the other end of the ideological spectrum. Apart from trying to alleviate the economic grievances that are a root cause of Islamist extremism in the Philippines, it also promotes tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
"If you go into our classrooms you see a very diverse mix of students. You see Muslims and Christians studying and learning together. There is no such thing as tension just because of religious reasons," says Dr Johara Alangca-Aziz, a lecturer at the university.
The university's "special mission" has also inspired its leadership and staff to carry on working in spite of the risks.
"We believe that education is really the solution to extremism," says Aslainee Macatanong, another MSU lecturer. "We cannot just give in to this kind of thing."
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Read more about the coronavirus
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
More on animal trafficking
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
FIGHT%20CARD
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
