Doc Ahmad Hajiri

This is the Mus-haf (Qur'an) left by my father. I found this in our old house and brought it with me. My mom told us that he would often read Surah Yaasin and Surah Al-Mulk as we, his children start to doze off and sleep. And this was his favorite (and perhaps the only one?) mus-haf. I could no longer remember his voice. I could no longer remember his warm touch and embrace. I can only remember his face from that old faded picture in our family album. I could only remember a few glimpse of those memories with him: carrying me on his shoulders as I try to touch the low ceiling of our house; him tousling my hair as he go to work or the Masjid to pray. Of him coming home with a half-gallon of ube-flavored ice cream--our favorite! And that one last conversation I had with him when he told me "Soon, son, you will enter school and learn a lot of new things." I was 4 back then, giddy and excited to enrol in kindergarten. Twenty ye ars. 20 long years since that fat...

Bismillah.. Malugay na aku wayruun nakasulat diy ha blog ini. Ha laum sin pila bulan limabay daing ha kasuwd aku pa UP College of Medicine, agun nagsunud-sunud na in mga hinang madtu-mariy. Kahaba’ hangka pitu awn kami exams. Kansa misan biyariin in baya ku magpost, agun kahunitan na aku manglawag time misan da kuman mag-update sin blog ku laung kailu. Higanap mu pa in pag-iyanun “Adaptation Stage” ku ha hula’ ini landuh in layu’ pa hula’ ku kalasahan; bukun hat ha layu’ niya ha hal pag-untasun (distance), sa’ sambil na ha layu’ sin piyagbiddaan sin tilibutan ku atawa ka “environment”. Bunnal niya, kiyahunitan tuud aku. Sa’ laung sin hambuuk taymanghud nagpatumtum kaku’: “Wayruun tau piyag-anak maingat na asal manaw.”  Ay ma’na, wayruun maluhay ha katan sin hinang kabayaan mu, miyumuhut-muhut mu abutan. Subay in katan ini labayan panandas iban hunit; iban subay tuud paglugtuan iban pagsabaran.  Alhamdulillah, magsukul aku pa Tuhan Rabbul ‘Aalamiyn ha katan si...

It was almost 5 in the afternoon when my phone rang, displaying an incoming call from an unknown number. I picked it up and answered the call with the classical "Hello?" "Salam Utuh Ahmad," a woman's voice was on the other side of the line, "Are you here in MSU? This is Mam Dong" "Wassalam Ma'am," I replied, wondering why would our High School Registrar call me, "I am not in MSU now, but I can go there right away," "Ok, please do. I have an important matter to tell you," now I am getting more curious why I am being called at this time of day. "Insha Allah Ma'am, I am on my way," ==== Let's cut the long story short, I went to the High School department, met Ma'am Dong and our DSA Chairman Sir John, and was informed why I was called there: The High School Department will be holding a Recognition Program for the Honor Students the next day, and--out of time constraints and the desperation...

In MSU, when you say OVERNIGHT it means going out with classmates to finish  certain requirement in your subjects; or having a group-study for your final exam the next day; or practicing and rehearsing for your drama and variety shows for your finals; much worst, it can also mean spending the whole 8 hours staying up at night in Internet Cafes.  I thought it will all end there. That I will certainly miss those exhausting yet happy times I had. I graduated in college, and immediately entered the world of professionals. And then there it was, another kind of OVERNIGHT was actually existing in this new world. (I still cannot consider myself a full-pledged professional. I still look like a student anyway :-) Professional life is truly far different for Student life. aaaah! I cannot organize myself here. Sorry for the poorly-written post today. Its 3AM and I still need to finish my report later this morning (at 8AM). Need to finish this,,,, Good morning! ...

Salam. This is just a quick update of WHERE I HAVE BEEN for the past few days and WHAT I WAS DOING. Last week, I requested a one-week Leave of Absence from my office to process my school papers (specifically my Diploma and TOR), in preparation for my applications in Med.School next June. By Thursday I went to MSU (my oh-so-dear alma mater) in Marawi City. And then, the supposedly my five-day stay in Marawi end up being extended, day by day. Well, as to WHAT took me so long, only those who have experienced the MSU LIFE would be able to understand it well *nodding*. I would only say these words for those who don't know:  "When you plan on getting a job done in MSU by Monday, expect that you will finish it on Tuesday. The next week." A lot of things did happened in my short visit in Marawi. I went to the Biology department, Com.Cent., Grandstand, Golf Course and other places MSU is known for. Met old friends and classmates who are now either in Masteral Co...

(The reasons why) This was my "Why Anak Iluh" page before. Why Anak Iluh? (edited April 10, 2012) Anak Iluh  means 'orphaned child'. Two Tausug words: ' Anak ' meaning 'child' or 'son/daughter' and ‘ Iluh ’ which is the equivalent of the English word 'orphan'. I consider myself an 'Anak iluh' (though, not a complete orphan. I still have my beloved Inah, Alhamdulillah). I lost my father when I was at the young age of four (a month before I became five and enroll in school). This paved way to various realizations in my life. I never grew up with a father's hand leading my way; I sought and found answers to questions I have by myself; I became closer to the poor children whom I shared the same fates; I learned to see things the way a common Tausug child would; I learned to give importance to every little thing I have. And along my long journey in life, I realized and believed that everything indeed happened with ...

At age four, my mother enrolled me in a nearby kindergarten in our small village in Sulu where I was born. I can already read and count by that time. And I was a happy, excited, little chap. I was not accepted by the school. I was one-year old short. To comfort me, they told me there were no more 'kiddy chairs' left; and I have to wait for next year. I cried all the way back home, with my mother dragging me. Why do I have to wait for 365 days just because we don't have enough seats! but what choice do I have? And the 365 days went by so fast. ******* After that year, I entered Kindergarten... Six years in primary School... Another f our years in High School... And finally, finished my four years in college... And here I am today, bracing myself for a higher and more challenging stage I am about to take; my long-term dream: Med.School. Yet NO. No, not now. Not today. It is just yet to come. I have to wait... For another 365 days; for another one, long year. But this ...

After reading Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", I learned about writing your own Mission and Vision in life; about your Goals and Roles, and how you wanted to spend the rest of your life (without regret of course). You will always feel great if you have a life with DIRECTIONS. Knowing where you want to go is one of the first steps of having a well-spent life. This is my Personal Mission Statement or PMS for the year, the month or the Life I wanted to achieve. My PMS is my Personal Constitution: the LAWS and PRINCIPLES I will lead my self with. Learn more about me and what I want my self to be in the future (my ideal self). InshaAllah, I will strive hard to achieve these goals.  And now, I want YOU to do the same! Write your own PMS: what do you really want to achieve in your life? How would you want other people to remember who you are when you die? (Just read the book guys.) NOPE! This is not the Right one! =====================...

Catching up on things. There are times I just wanted to do nothing but delve deep in my thoughts. Deep thoughts about anything, feeling tired (or rather, bored) of writing them down on my Journal; even how significant they may have been those moments...  And in some instances, I just do not have enough time to write, or I feel too exhausted to even look for my always-hiding pen. But I always love to keep record of what's happening to me. Lest other people who will find my journal another 50 years from now would know nothing about me. And here I am. = = = = = From the Novel: "Puddang Jiyanji-an" An excerpt from the Diary of Mukhtar Jundam August 23, 1998 "How would it feel to DIE suddenly in a small market you do not even know where..." You were shot with a gun; and you're falling to the ground. A man who happened to know you (or thought knew you; and certainly you haven't met him before) had just fired a bullet, piercing through your heart...  ...

After almost a week of trying to "blend in" with this new society I am living with in Zamboanga, certain (and really sudden) changes had to take place; be it in my personal ways of living life to the places I go to. And now that I finally had the time to sit down and write or blog about this new adventure I have, sharing it with the world is the first thing I wanted to do! 1) I HAVE A NEW ROOM slash HOUSE slash OFFICE slash PHOTO-GALLERY Yup, you read it right!  I have finally found a good, and comfortable place to live in--or rent. I am now staying in ALLIAN COMPOUND, BULAHAN DRIVE, SAN JOSE ROAD, ZAMBOANGA CITY. Anyone looking for me, you are always welcome... (specially sa mga magpa-sign ng autographs, biro lang). And yes, I have a number of plans for my room-slash-and-so-on, kasama na dun ang gawin etong isang small GALLERY ng mga ARTS and WORKS ko... I just need to settle some problems and reapir/clean the room muna. 2) I MISSED MY SHARES. I missed my 2-cups, 1 vian...

Fast Post lang to. Fourth day in Zamboanga: I am just about to Explore a new world, a new life... First day, After a half-day rest at my Auntie's 'unfinished house' (wala pa ngang pintuan at bintana eh), I went to the Literacy for Peace and Development (LIPAD) Regional Office (My future Office). To those who will be looking for me in the future, daan lang kayo sa Boulevard, sa harap ng Grandstand (Forgot the name). I found it Empty pa for the mean time, and I have a lot of things to do para magstart yung office to function well. As of what is the office for; what LIPAD Project is; anung trabaho ko dun, InshaAllah I will post in a later date. (Andami na rin kasi nagtatanong. I am also planning to create a website din for the program para dun na kayo magcheck ng details...). Basta, I have a new life to start. More details later. Found a good place to stay din. And now I need to Budget everything. try ko muna for one month (food and lodging) kung ilan magastos ko, then dec...