Malacañang sent greetings to Philippine Muslims on their celebration of the Eid’l Fitr, which ended their month-long Ramadan fast, and exhorted them to spread charity and peace.
The Eid ul-Fitr should remind all Filipinos to thank God “by spreading love, compassion and charity to those in need,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said. “Eid ul-Fitr reminds our Muslim brethren to give thanks for the Almighty’s blessings by spreading love, compassion and charity to those in need.”
He added “but these are potent reminders for all Filipinos, regardless of faith.”
The Vice President expressed hoped that the Filipino people will achieve a deeper understanding and acceptance of different beliefs as efforts at nation-building are being sustained.
For her part, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita-Quintos Deles called on all Filipinos to seek God’s mercy and blessing by rising “above everything that separates us from peace.”
“I join our Muslim brothers and sisters in this year’s celebration of Eid’l Fitr. This provides all persons of goodwill with the opportunity to share in the celebration of the Muslim Ummah for the culmination of the Holy Month of Ramadan,” Deles said.
Over five million Filipino Muslims join the entire Muslim world in the celebration of Eid’l Fitr, ending a month-long fasting.
“Eid’l Fitr is a time of rejoicing in the fulfillment of one’s spirit. It is also a time to nurture peace as one becomes stronger and wiser at the heart of struggles, and gentler and more forgiving in the midst of conflict. As peace makers and peace builders, the challenges we experience do not weaken our resolve but rather build our tenacity to rise above everything that separates us from peace,” she added.
Deles invited “all Filipinos to be in solidarity with our Muslim brethren.”
“We are in a time filled with hope for a just peace in Mindanao that is closely, hopefully, within our reach,” Deles said, referring to the ongoing formal exploratory talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “After months and, yes, years of struggles on the peace tables, we have dared again to dream of peace under the true and tested “straight path” of President Aquino,” she stressed.
“There may be times when the process can get a little complicated, but these are merely signs that we are steadily moving closer to our shared goal: Peace,” Deles quoted Aquino’s State-of-the-Nation Address before Congress last July 23.
Deles asked the Filipino people “to accompany us in the next stages of the peace process, continuously following the straight path that brought us here,” adding that “with renewed spirit and a stronger sense of purpose at this celebration of Eid’l Fitr, let us be one in praising and thanking God and in seeking His mercy and blessings in pursuing peace and development for all Filipinos.
The Philippine Army (PA) said it was joining the 5,000 Muslim soldiers in the celebration.
Major Harold Cabunoc, PA spokesperson, said Ramadan was a holy month of fasting towards a higher spiritual state.
Cabunoc added that joining the 5,000 Muslim soldiers in the celebration of the religious holiday only showed that the PA respected their right to exercise their religion and faith just as much it respected that of Christians, Protestants and other religious devotees.
He said the PA has two Imams in the persons of Maj. Farouk Sarip of the 4th Infantry Division and Maj. Adzramien Sahisa of the 1st Infantry Division, lauding both as dedicated and passionate military chaplains trying their best to provide emotional and spiritual guidance, especially at a significant time like the Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is considered by the Muslims as the holiest month as it signifies the revelation of the Holy Qur’an to the Prophet Mohammad.