Manila, September 01: Muslim organizations and government institutions will kick off Friday, a three-day historic Eid’l Fitr cultural festival in Pasay City that brings together followers of Islam and Christianity, in what the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) trumpeted Thursday as a barrier-breaking event for the first time.
Eid’l Fitr is the end-of-Ramadan celebration, or Festival of Breaking Fast, a joyous event to send off the month of piety, worship, compassion, and mercy.
Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay was invited and expected to come as the guest of honor and speaker at the formal opening rites at 5 p.m.
Venue of the 2011 Eid’l Fitr Festival is at SM Mall of Asia (MoA) — Music Hall and Atrium.
Amina Rasul-Bernardo, PCID lead convener, cited the strong and invaluable assistance of the Department of Tourism (DoT), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The brains behind the event are the mother and daughter tandem of former senator Santanina Rasul and Amina with their Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) and PCID.
Rasul-Bernardo cited the Manila Bulletin for being one of the media partners of the event.
PCID’s Rasul-Bernardo said this is the first time the Eid’l Fitr has received tremendous support from various government agencies.
She said this year’s Eid’l Fitr event on Sept. 2 to 4 is a collaboration between Muslims and Christians, with the festival serving as a bridge connecting various faiths and cultures.
“This 2011 Eid’l Fitr Festival is a cultural bridge. It is a most enjoyable way of spanning the gulf of misunderstanding between communities. When people celebrate a special occasion together, that is the start of mutual respect and understanding,” she said.
She thanked MMDA, OPAPP, MinDA, DoT and DepEd for supporting the festival and helping us reach out to all our fellow Filipinos.
The MMDA and Metro mayors, Rasul-Bernardo said, issued a resolution supporting the Eid’l Fitr event, which “is a strong message to us Muslims that we are part of the community.”
She said the DepEd encouraged schools through an advisory “to let children join in the festival and learn about our cultures.”
This is fitting because the festival showcases the “rich history of the Muslims” in the country, she said, and it includes an art exhibit of the works of Abdulmari Imao, still the first Muslim National Artist for Visual Arts; and his young protégé artists; country displays of Islamic embassies in the country; a trade fair of Moro and Mindanao products, local government units (LGUs) and institutions working on peace and development; and a cultural show.
Appreciate this big achievement
We have been trying to discontinue all these fights happening among Muslim and Christian, and this is the best step ever taken. Both Islam and Christinanity are Abrahamic religions, They are in the same track. We must call each other by Unity, Peace and Brotherhood.
I highly appreciate this step taken by Phillipines.
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