Of no argument that everyone’s experience on making major decisions in life takes enormous amount of bravery and courage. Remarkably of these decisions is to change one’s religion.

Sr. Daisy Jane “Jehaan” Corpin-Orcullo was born on Sept.22, 1967 in Pindasan, Madini, Dvao Del Norte, . She was born as a Muslim (’s doctrine of fitra) but, being born to non-Muslim parents. She was brought up a Christian. Being the youngest child of the eight children she was born when her parents were active members and religiously followers of the SDA church. She made herself free from religious beliefs for almost two years as a ‘free thinker’.

It happened in 1988 that she started to do research in Islam, after almost two years of having no religion. Felt insecure, and worthless of cannot even fill the space for religion on any documents. she was in a state of many uncertainties.

Her brother, the eldest in the family became a Muslim in 1986. His conversion involved on his intensive readings on the history of world religions, which eventually led him to embrace Islam. Without doubt, he shared a great effort of her becoming a Muslim like him. As her life in almost all aspects turned to be full of worries, distress, and inconvenience at that Catholic school she was working, she thought of visiting her brother and personally disclosed to him the agony she was in.

The visit was not in vain. The day she left he handed her a small book, and from that book she happened to read for the first time a phrase which her whole self submitted and decided to become a Muslim. That phrase was a prayer – the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an which universally recite in every five obligatory prayers. What she read was the Surah Al-Fatiha, of the book “Teaching Prayers for Muslim Girls”, where each line saved her grieving soul.

Alhamdulillah, she became a Muslim in 1989 and life positively changed. She left her job at ICC, and immediately was compensated with another better job at Mindanao State University, Marawi City. She worked as a Guidance Services Specialist in a Muslim dominated place in Southern Philippines for 15 years. MSU became her home and a place she can say enliven her faith in Islam.

Yearning to see the Islamic country of , a Muslim sister informed her about the training offered by the Regional (). It inspired her to write a letter of a possible chance to participate. Alhamdulillah, positively replied. Thus, for the first time she came to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to participate the 5th International in January – March 2004. The two-month training included several important areas of knowledge in Islam. It was also a venue of getting to know other Muslim sisters fromSoutheast Asia and the Pacific. The training provided relevant experiences, exposures, visitations and other opportunities that have transformed their lives to adequate success. She was impressed of the RISEAP’s extensive Da’wah work. Meanwhile, the Islamization of Knowledge propagated by the of Malaysia, caught her interest. She longed to pursue her Ph.D. and Alhamdulillah, Allah (SWT) through RISEAP her application at IIUM was accepted.

It was not an easy life being a student especially far away from home. Yet, Alhamdulillah RISEAP is always there to provide moral, spiritual and most of all financial support not only to her, but to others who also were previous Muslimah/Imam participants who became students of IIUM. For her, RISEAP was and is a part of her success. After five years of struggle and perseverance, in October 2010 she was one of those graduates of the 26th IIUM Convocation, with the degree in Ph.D. Educational Psychology. Alhamdulillaher Rabbil Aalamiin!

By: Dr. Daisy Jane “Jehaan” Corpin-Orcullo
RISEAP 5th International Muslimah Course Participant