From sunrise to sundown, the Pious Muslim does his purification---neither eating nor supping any liquid, to cleanse his body from all free radicals and fill his soul with the Noble sayings and learnings of the Holy Qu'ran. This is a period of intense reflection, of the things the Pious did for Allah's sake and of thinking only of the Noblest and Purest Intentions. The Muslim prays unceasingly and honestly to Allah, Who Is the Lord of the Worlds.
Allahu Akbar!
Let me replicate the speech of my good friend, Amina Rasul for this Holy day of breaking the fast.
Let us give worship to the One True God---the MOst Holy, the Lord of the Lords, The God of all gods.
Salam! Greetings of Peace!
Today, billions around the world celebrated the end of the Holy month of Ramadhan. Our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Philippines celebrated the Eid’l Fit’r, the Feast of the Breaking. And so it is my pleasure to greet you all “ Eid Mubarak”, “ Hariraya Puasa!”
During the Ramadhan, our Muslim brothers and sisters spent a month of fasting from sun up to sundown, studied the Holy book or Quran, occupied themselves with inner reflection, prayers and participated in pious activities such as charitable giving and peace-making. It was a time of intense renewal for those who observed it. The month of fasting ended with the celebration of Eidl Fitr, also known as Hariraya Puasa in Muslim Southeast Asian countries.
Eidl Fitr is one of only 2 major religious celebrations in the Islamic World. It is also the grandest and most joyously celebrated event. During the Eid, after the early morning congregational prayer, Muslims visit each other and share their best foods, give gifts, and have fun. The mood is much like New Year or Christmas.
I have wondered why this important Muslim Holiday is not more widely celebrated in the Philippines, which is a home to over eight million Filipino Muslims.
Although the Eidl Fitr has been declared a national holiday, there is not much activity devoted to it apart from the “Salaat” or the congregational prayer performed by our Muslim brothers and sisters. I had thought that if our retail, hotel and restaurant industries could celebrate Chinese New Year enthusiastically, then why haven’t we done the same with the Eid’l Fitr.
Eidl Fitr holiday is considered a spectacular tourist event in neigbouring countries. In Singapore tourism websites, for instance, Eidl Fitr or Hariraya Puasa is listed as a holiday. There are suggestions on what tourists can do and malls have sales. Thus, this important Muslim religious holiday has been a driver for economic activity for the tourism and retail industries.
We have been developing our tourism master plan, not just for the international visitors but more so for local visitors. Festivals are an important component. Considering there are some 8 million Filipino Muslims, the Eid is a potential blockbuster for our tourism and retail industries.
This, when former Senator Nina Rasul proposed that the Department of Tourism support the 2011 Eidl Fitr Festival, I endorsed the idea wholeheartedly. Not only do we strengthen the relationship between our Muslim and Non-Muslim communities, but we also develop a festival that has the potential to contribute to the national economy.
Given the negative image that the Philippines has had due to the war on terror and the armed conflicts in the South, the celebration of the Eidl Fitr shows the world that the Philippines does celebrate its Muslim heritage. The 2011 Eidl Fitr Festival here in the SM Mall of Asia, one of the largest malls of Asia, is the perfect venue to present the rich, diverse and beautiful cultures of our Muslim tribes.
The Muslims of the Philippines are a significant part of our history and our nation. Despite this, many Filipinos are still unaware of the Muslim peoples’ innate artistic skills and rich culture. We lose a part of ourselves if we do not embrace the totality of our diverse cultures and history.
Unfortunately, at the national level, there is lack of positive coverage of the contributions by Muslims in the social, cultural, and economic areas. We do need to change that. The celebration of a festival is a wonderful way to address this failure. The Eidl Fitr Festival is a cultural bridge for our nation.
In 1993, former Senator Santanina T. Rasul spearheaded the first of the series of celebrating the International Eid’l Fitr Festival. The festival was a venue to create awareness on the art, culture and history of the Filipino Muslims as part of the Filipino heritage. Activities during the festival included cultural exhibits, showcase of Muslim artifacts and cultural presentations brought in by the different embassies that have annually supported the event, as well as music, dance, and food.
May I congratulate the Magbassa Kita Foundation Inc, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and the Festival Steering Committee for successfully organizing this festival. Now that I am a private citizen, I look forward to viewing the exhibits, watching the dances – maybe even learn a few dance steps and how a man can use the malong – and buy halal coffee.
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