| Macapanton
Y. Abbas, Jr., Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs
Atty.
Macapanton Abbas, Jr. is the new Department of Education
Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs.
He
was born in Dayawan, Marawi City on March 31, 1943.
Academic
Background
He
obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the Ateneo
de Davao, cum laude, in 1963. Then, he finished his
Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines
(UP) as an entrance scholar and a scholarship grant
from the Commission on National Integration (CNI).
He passed the Bar examinations in 1969.
While
in UP, he was at the top of the Roll of Honor of the
UP Law Register. He was the captain of the Graduate
Level debating team when UP was declared national
champion during the National Speech Festival of the
National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)
in 1966.
The
Undersecretary also joined international student conferences
and was involved in student organizations in various
capacities, such as president of the NUSP and chairman
of the Asian Conference of the International Student
Summit.
Government
Positions/Foreign Employment
In
1966-1969, he was connected with the Commission on
National Integration as private secretary. Then, in
1969-1970, he transferred to the Senate of the Philippines’
Committee on National Cultural Communities as secretary.
In 1972-1975, he joined the Office of the Executive
Secretary as Special Assistant for Muslim Affairs.
In 1972-1976, he was appointed consultant on Muslim
Affairs by the Office of the President and supervising
officer of the Presidential Task Force for the Reconstruction
and Development of Mindanao.
In
1976, he was invited by the Mindanao State University
(MSU) as professor and Dean of the Public Administration
and Community Development. Then, transferred to King
Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as professor
from 1976-1980. In 1980-1983, he became vice-president
of ALEZCO Co., KSA, then transferred to SSB Berhad,
Malaysia as its president.
Atty.
Abbas came back to the Philippines in 1987 and established
his law firm, Abbas and Associates. Then, in 1993-1999,
he joined Energy Partners, Ltd., while concurrently
a senior partner of AQSA Law Firm and president of
Asian Neaga, Inc.
Achievements
He
published and wrote over 100 papers and articles in
the Philippines and abroad on Muslims in the Philippines
and Muslim minorities all over the world.
He
is a prominent national leader concerning Moro Muslim
Affairs. He has earned the respect not only of Bangsamoro
intellectuals but also in the Islamic world.
He
is a member in good standing of both the Philippine
Bar Association and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Usec.
Abbas is married to Haja Hajara Canoy Abbas of Maigo,
Lanao del Norte. #
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