Muslims in Cebu converge in prayer for Eid al-Fitr

Celebration of Eid al-Fitr at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday, June 15, 2018. Lyn Rillon/Philippine Daily Inquirer

CEBU CITY— Clad in his green camouflage uniform, Master Sergeant Dave Daan sat and prayed with his fellow Muslim brothers.

The 52-year-old member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was among the nearly 1,500 Muslims who gathered at the Plaza Independencia in downtown Cebu City on Friday morning for the congregation prayer to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, or the end of Ramadan.

They started to converge at 6 a.m., placing their prayer mats on the floor towards the direction of Mecca. Similar scene occured in the eight regsitered mosques in this city.

Ustadz Salih Sarigan, an Imam, led the congregation prayer in Plaza Indepedencia, which began a few minutes past 7 a.m. The assembly and prayer concluded around 8 a.m.

During the prayer, Sarigan reminded the attendees to live by the values instilled by Ramadan.

“Ramadan teaches us with the values of patience, unity, and generosity,” Sarigan told the crowd in Filipino.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district, graced the religious gathering.

Osmeña assured the Muslims that they are welcome and safe in Cebu.

Based on the records of the Cebu City Office on Muslim Affairs, about 1,000 Muslim families or 8,000 Muslim individuals reside in Cebu City.   /kga