This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 45, December
18-24, 2005
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 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. 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 © 2005 Bulatlat
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