Lanao del Norte town turns 77, hosts fun run for interreligious harmony

MATUNGAO, Lanao del Norte — Matungao town in Lanao del Norte celebrated its 77th Charter Day on Saturday, June 20, marking it with a fun run that highlights interreligious harmony between Muslims and Christians in the area.

Local government unit (LGU) workers, youth, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders joined the celebrations themed “Matungao @77 Fit to Progress.”

Stakeholders from other towns, civilian employees, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the education and youth sectors joined the first-ever fun run on June 20 from the town hall to nearby interior villages. 

READ: Lanao del Norte town halts classes as sea recedes after strong quake

Col. Bernardo Taqueban, the newly appointed commander of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, lauded the initiatives of Matungao’s local government to organize the fun run, saying it fosters unity and harmony among Muslims and Christians.

Led by Mayor Jabber Maba Azis and Vice Mayor Aisha Mangotara-Azis, the fun run, which started from the town hall and crisscrossed interior villages, had three categories: 10 kilometers (K), 5K, and 3K.

Azis, a physician, said, “It is our vision that every citizen of Matungao will adopt health and wellness consciousness with proper diet and nutrition in order for us to live a better and healthier life and to prevent possible illnesses.”

Matungao, which in Meranaw means “cold,” was founded on June 20, 1949, comprising 12 Muslim-dominated villages.

According to the 2020 Census, Matungao is a fifth-class municipality with a population of 14,756 inhabitants. 

It was created as a municipality through Executive Order No. 230 signed by then-President Elpidio Quirino. /das /atm