INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S WATCH
Second Islamic Cemetery
Hailed
Burying the dead is an
important ritual for Muslims and they had to do it within 24 hours. With
the lone Muslim cemetery in Metro Manila severely congested, those with
the means are forced to transport their dead to Mindanao costing at least
P10,000 in air fare alone. The establishment then of a second Islamic
Cemetery is like an answer to their prayers.
BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat
RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL ─
Moro people in this province hailed the establishment of an Islamic
Cemetery in Sitio Maislap, San Isidro in Rodriguez (formerly known as
Montalban). The cemetery, located at the outskirts of the National
Capital Region, is only the second Islamic Cemetery for Muslims in Metro
Manila.
Colorful flaglets and
buntings were put along the way leading to the ceremony’s location during
the ground breaking ceremony Dec. 13. Despite the rain, they walked their
way to the muddy site of the ceremony, in their best traditional dresses.
|
BLESSING: Muslims in
prayer as thanksgiving for the opening of the second Islamic cemetery.
PHOTO BY AUBREY MAKILAN |
Moro children and
women performed singkil, kulintang, and malong dances (traditional dances
using bamboo, gongs, and the traditional Muslim wrap around cloth). After
which, leaders performed a Duwa’a, a muslim prayer. Guests and Muslim
leaders threw coins, water, and salt at a hole in the ground. Datu Karnaen
Acon, 53, Montalban Islamic Affairs Council chairman of the board, said
that the coins and water symbolized a prosperous life while salt was put
to prevent adversities. After putting a short bamboo pole into the hole,
Bayan Muna Party-list Joel Virador and San Isidro Barangay Captain Eliong
Hernandez covered it with soil.
This marked the main
gate of the new Islamic cemetery.
A very important
project
Alim Mohaimen Alioden,
an imam (Muslim priest) at the Rawdhat Salam Mosque and director of the
Rawdhat Salam Qur’ran Reading School, both in Sitio Maislap, said that the
cemetery project is very important to them.
Alioden said that the
existing Islamic cemetery in Taguig could not accommodate more. Those with
the means had to transport their dead relatives to
Mindanao
costing around P10,000 in air fare alone.
Death is a very
important and sacred event for them because “there is everlasting life
after death.”
Muslims from Rizal
sought the help of the Suara Bangsamoro Party-list for the project. Suara
did not have any representative in the Lower House and Bayan Muna (People
First) Party took-up the proposal. Bayan Muna donated P3 million for the
project while Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo, through the Office of Muslim
Affairs, committed 13 hectares of land for the proposed burial site. The
Bahrain government will also donate P5 million for the project, Cuerpo
said.
Aside from the
donation, Virador also sponsored House Bill 3615 “establishing an Islamic
cemetery in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal, appropriating funds
therefore and for other purposes.”
If approved by both
the House of Representatives and the Senate, the national government,
through the Department of Budget and Management has to allocate the
necessary funds for its construction. The proposed bill has passed the
Committee on Muslim Affairs and now pending in the Committee on
Appropriations.
If approved without
amendments, Virador said, P15 million will be allocated for its
construction.
Virador added that
this project inspired Moros in Davao
City to have their own Islamic
Cemetery in their place. Likewise, the Davao government will be requested
to donate land for the burial site, he said.
Fall guys
There are around
100,000 Muslims in Metro Manila. Continuing armed hostilities in Mindanao
results in massive dislocation and forced migration thereby increasing the
number of Muslims in and around Metro Manila. In Rizal alone, Muslim
communities are concentrated in Sitio Maislap, Sitio Tanag, Sitio Juvel,
all in Barangay San Isidro, and in Kasiglahan, Dau, and Abatex, in
Barangay San Jose.
Virador said that
many Muslims have become fall guys in government campaigns against
“terrorism” and the Abu Sayyaf. With the impending passage of the
Anti-Terrorism Bill, Virador said, more Muslims will become victims of
military and police operations. Virador called on police authorities to
respect the rights of Muslims.
Virador added that
the Moro people want peace but not the peace of the cemetery.
Meanwhile, aside from
the Islamic cemetery, Muslims are proposing for the establishment of a
“Halal” slaughter house. It will be used to slaughter only red-meat
animals Muslims are allowed to eat such as cows and goats. Bulatlat
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