This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 35, October 9-15, 2005
Day One of Ramadhan
in Baguio
The Ramadhan is an occasion to
reflect and find peace and unity, not only among Muslims but also those who
respect Muslim tradition. A Muslim leader clarified, however, that before peace
and unity can be achieved, there should be equality first.
BY LYN V. RAMO BAGUIO CITY — Inuray and
four of her children did not sell VCDs along Magsaysay Avenue here (246 kms
north of Manila) in the afternoon of Oct. 5. It was the first day of Ramadhan. Together with her husband
and other Muslims in the city, Benguet and Mountain Province, Inuray, 35, and
her children took some time to observe religious rites at the People's Park. Her family hails from
Marawi City but they now live in Baguio. According to her, they are in Baguio
"to earn a living. Mahirap ang buhay doon sa Mindanao" (Life there in Mindanao
is hard). For those who came from
Mindanao, they later realized that life in this city is just as hard. Inuray
had to leave two of her children to a relative who had since adopted them. Authorities here often
round up illegally-produced DVDs and VCDs. "Siyempre, nahuhuli 'yung mga
paninda namin at nalulugi kami palagi dahil doon pero tuloy pa rin and
pagtitinda" (Of course, our wares get confiscated and we incur losses
because of that but we still continue selling), Inuray said. She did not say
where she gets her wares. Muslims are not the only
ones who sell VCDs here, it was learned. This year's Ramadhan in Baguio City
aims to clarify issues like that about Muslims and Islam. Ending
with iftar Last Oct. 5 at exactly 5:45
p.m., the day-long fasting ended with iftar (breaking the fast with water
and other light food preparations). The end of the religious leader's chanting
of the adhan (a regular prayer) signaled the breaking of the fast. Inuray
and her
children, each with a cup of drinking water and another cup of chilled mixed
fruits in milk, then started eating. Soon after the breaking of
the fast, the religious leader led the magribh (the sunset prayer) and
all of those who participated faced west to see the sunset. The men, who made up the
bulk of those fasting at the People's Park, placed a tent on the open pavement,
while women and children occupied the shaded portion of the park. The Islam faithful then
silently prayed in unison, as they alternately stood, bended and fell on all
fours, head bowed down on the carpeted pavement. There were just a few chants
heard, but in their silence, they performed the sunset worship as if they were
just one body, one force. Dinner was served
afterwards and the crowd partook of the meals laid on two long tables at the
park. A long queue of women and their children in tow, their husbands and even
the participating non-Muslims shared the food that would strengthen the Muslims'
faith in Islam and the Christian's belief in one true God. Foreign students from
Sudan, Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Kuwait and Pakistan also participated.
Government officials, among them Mayor Braulio Yaranon and Councilor Leandro
Yangot, were also invited to witness the iftar. Need for
equality Indeed, the Ramadhan
provided a time for people to find peace and unity. Central and Northern Luzon
Sultan Mohammed Amin "Bob" Torres said, however, that before peace and unity can
be achieved, there should be equality first. "Equality ang
nakakalimutan yata ng ating gobyerno" (The government seems to forget
equality), he said, as he decried government claims that Muslims are terrorists.
"Hindi Muslim ang nanggugulo sa Senado, at kahit sa Kongreso" (The
trouble-makers in Senate and Congress are not Muslims), he says. Northern
Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat
© 2005 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Northern Dispatch (Nordis)
Posted by Bulatlat