Masjid Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Cotabato City Maguindanao

"Masjid Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah" the biggest and handsomest Mosque in Cotabato City, Maguindanao located at Barangay Kalangan II, Tamontaka Bubong Road, near the construction site of Cotabato City Seaport.  This would most likely to coincide with the celebration of "Crab Festival" and "Shariff Kabunsuan Festival" between December 15-19, 2011.  It is expected that his Majesty Sultan Hadji Esmail Hassanal Bolkiah who funded this project will grace into this momentous event.  Too bad the former president of the Philippines - Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who initiated the project in the pursuit of Peace and Development in Mindanao, could not make it. 

According to Ma'am Ludy the project in charge and Ma'am Babe the project nurse, this grandeur mosque occupies 5,000 square meters from the 5 hectares lot which was donated by Representative and Mrs. Datu Didagen Piang Dilangalen.  This grandeur mosque is so big, whereas more than 3 kilometers before I could reach the place I could already see some of the golden painted domes and towers contrasting the green mountains.  This would surely be another fascinating sight for those coming into Awang airport and going out of Cotabato City; another beautiful man-made structure can be viewed from the sky.  Facing the grand mosque, on its right side is the Timako Hill, one of the many tourist destinations in Cotabato City; then to the left is a controversial peak, which I wonder if anyone had scaled it already, this will surely be a great camping ground for those who wanted to see the grand mosque by night.  At the back of the mosque, is the Bongo Island bounded by the Moro Gulf and Celebes Sea.

When I reached the place, I was welcomed by the friendly security guard, he inspected my bike race pack and asked me to bring my important belongings and leave the bag to his guard house.  There was no logbook available yet, which only means that it's not yet officially open to the public.  As I walk the lonely path, I was totally amazed that structures of this kind exists in the Philippines and take note in Cotabato City.  A multi-million project which cost more than Php200 million and lasted for almost 3 years of construction.  I kept on taking photos of the wider view of the grandeur mosque; the fountain, the dome, the minarets, the grass and the light post compliments the over-all look of the mosque.   

After enjoying the landscape view, I walk towards the mosque passing the ramp of the main entrance with a magnificent view of the fountain.  The main entrance and the domes on passages have also an inspired dome shaped.  The mosque has two prayer halls located at the center of the building with mesh walls separating it from the ablution halls.  Chandeliers will illuminate the mosque by night and the dome shaped at the center of the main prayer hall will provide natural light for the male and female prayer rooms.  CCTV cameras were also installed at strategic points to ensure the safety of the believers.  It is estimated to be that 1,000 worshipers can be accommodated on the prayer rooms plus hundred's of worshipers could used the two courtyard in case there are no vacancy inside especially during big events.

The most wonderful feature of the mosque is the mihrab, which directly points towards the location of Mecca using the modern GPS.  I did use my phone GPS and it certainly points to the correct direction.  The mosques have four minarets, on which loud speakers will be attached to call the attention of the believers within the area.  Climbing any of these four minarets towering a height of 40 meters will give you a fantastic 360 view of the area, but sad to say General Arze was not allowed to climb the tower due to some constructions going on.  The 14 golden painted domes served also as wind towers that will distribute cool breeze to the rooms below.