Fethullah Gulen awarded in the Philippines for contribution to peace

Foundation International Turkish Schools Director General Malik Gencer (L) accepts an award from Philippine army chief Gen. Leonardo B. Guerrero (R) on Gülen's behalf at a ceremony in Manila on Friday. (Photo: Cihan, Merve Kırıkkanat)
Foundation International Turkish Schools Director General Malik Gencer (L) accepts an award from Philippine army chief Gen. Leonardo B. Guerrero (R) on Gülen's behalf at a ceremony in Manila on Friday. (Photo: Cihan, Merve Kırıkkanat)


Date posted: September 27, 2013

The Philippine army chief has honored Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen with a special award for the charity activities and contributions to peace of the faith-based Hizmet movement.
Philippine Chief of General Staff Gen. Leonardo B. Guerrero said during a beef-sharing ceremony that the army is grateful for the important activities of the Hizmet movement with the inspiration of Gülen.

The ceremony, jointly organized by the Phillipines Chamber of Commerce, Turkish schools in the country and the General Staff, took place at First Army Command Headquarters.

More than 100 high-level Philippine commanders and a number of Turkish invitees participated in the ceremony, including Guerrero, Gendarmerie Command Civil Operations Commander Col. Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos, army commander Col. Ramiro Manuez A. Rey, Foundation of International Turkish Schools Director General Malik Gencer, Pacific Dialogue Philippines Foundation Chief Ferhat Kazkondu, Philippines Chamber of Industry and Trade Head İrfan Karabulut.

Philippine commanders said in their speeches that they were pleased with the activities of the Turkish community in their country and stressed what they called Gülen’s “exemplary” understanding of tolerance and charity.

Col. Burgos also expressed his gratitude to Gülen for his contributions to peace.

Army chief Guerrero told the private Cihan news agency after the ceremony, which was organized to donate meat to poor families, that Gülen not only provides “us [with] an example of generosity” but also helps Turkey and the Philippines understand each other well.

Turkish intellectual and scholar Gülen was recently awarded the Manhae Peace Prize for his contributions to world peace at a ceremony held in South Korea.

Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. Now residing in the US, he has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world. He has written nearly 50 books in Turkish, some of which have been translated into several languages.

Source: Today's Zaman , September 27, 2013


Related News

First International Science Projects Olympiads of Indonesia organized by the Turkish schools

Turkish schools in Indonesia organized an International Science Projects Olympiads in the country for the first time. Turkish schools affiliated with PASIAD, Pacific Social and Economic Solidarity Association, have been organizing national science Olympiads, ISPO, since they were founded.

Filipina, infant freed from Turkish jail, but…

The Filipina mother who forcibly was separated from her infant and detained in Turkey for weeks has been released. But their reunion is being cut short by her deportation, in the crackdown following a failed coup in which she had no part. Information is being withheld from Karen’s lawyer and the Philippine Embassy staff assisting her. Forcible separation of an infant from her mother is a humanitarian concern.

Renewing Islam by Service: A Christian View of Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet Movement

A new book, Renewing Islam by Service, by Dr. Pim Valkenberg has been published by Catholic University Press, which offers a theological account of the contemporary Turkish faith-based service movement started by Fethullah Gülen, and placed against the backdrop of changes in modern Turkish society. In the first two chapters, Pim Valkenberg includes stories of his personal experiences with supporters of this movement, in a number of different countries, when he focuses on the dialogue-minded Turkish Muslims in the Netherlands.

Fethullah Gulen: From Izmir to the Global Hizmet Movement

Gulen’s name has progressively reached a wider Western audience. But, let us note that most of news coverage paints Gulen within a political narrative — forgetting (or ignoring) four decades of civil society advocacy, education and dialogue activities and support for democracy and human rights. There is more to Gulen than this current political paradigm. Some history and perspective will help set the facts straight.

Hizmet keeps school and cultural center in São Paulo

Founded eight years ago, the Colégio Belo Futuro Internacional [Belo Futuro International School] teaches elementary to high school and has 163 students, of which only seven were born in Turkey.

Afghan leaders: Increase in Turkish schools would help bring about peace

Indicating that students who graduate from Turkish schools in Afghanistan are those who will save the country, Niazi said: “Since the opening of the schools, children from different tribes are sitting at the same table and praying together. These schools have allowed these children from tribes we once thought impossible to reconcile to grow up as brothers.”

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Government media runs riot in smear campaign against Hizmet

The real wretch

Hizmet movement in the spotlight at MESA 2012

Libyan minister would like to see Turkish teachers, schools in his country

New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan visited Turkish Cultural Center in Manhattan

Legal action against Gülen in the US: A golden opportunity for Gülen

Report claims government categorized schools linked to Hizmet

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News