The “Mosque” Wonderful place in Cotabato
Cotabato City, Philippines
Cotabato is one of the most underrated provinces to delve with. Because of its negative image to the public, where a place with multifold incidences of ambush, bombing, kidnapping and any other forms of political strife. Hence, the city has been a less travelled place and remained to be shunned.
The Great and Grand
The Grand Mosque rose like a golden sun, that is situated in a commonly misunderstood city.
The Sultan Hassal Bolkiah Masjid (or famously known as The Grand Mosque) in Cotabato City was funded by the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah through the initiative of former Congressman Didagen Dilangalen to the tune of Php 300 million. The Grand mosque is located at Barangay Kalanganan Dos, Cotabato City which is 2- 3 kilometers away from the Husky bus terminal.
Interesting about the mosque is that, it’s a profligate gift from the Sultan of Brunei. The Sultan of Brunei, funded the construction of this mosque with his own personal money to help the emerging Muslim population in the Southern Philippines.
The mosque would give you a Middle East vibe because of its symmetrical and unusual design that made it different from any other mosques found in the locality. As said, the mosque’s minarets are 141 feet tall (43 meters or equivalent to a 15-storey building) and is topped by pilot’s lights to avoid aerial accidents at night.
The mosque occupies 5,000 square meters of a 5- hectare land. It can accommodate approximately 800 to 900 male worshippers and 600 female worshippers. With its scale, it is the largest mosque in the Philippines.
Because of its wide coverage, it can be seen from atop when you book a flight going to the southern part of Cotabato City. Just like the patented mosque design in the country, the domes which are painted in gold are adorned by crescent moons.
The most magical part of the mosque is where the large circular- shaped window architecturally captures the setting sun every afternoon Islam prayer (and yes I witnessed this!).
*check the Pink Mosque blog for continuation.
**some facts were taken from- https://www.ironwulf.net/2012/05/28/cotabato-city-grand-mosque-rising-in-the-land-of-promise/