COLORS OF PEACE A woman peeks from a row of mannequins garbed in the happy colors of the hijab inside a stall at the Barter Trade Center in Cotabato City. The center is known for selling locally handwoven fabrics and textiles imported from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in colors that might as well be the colors of peace when it dawns on Mindanao. REM ZAMORA
MANILA, Philippines — A bill proposing to observe National Hijab Day on February 1 of each year has been approved at the House of Representatives committee level, with one of the authors noting that it is a huge step against religious discrimination.
In a statement on Wednesday, Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, who filed House Bill No. 3725, said he hopes the bill would be enacted into law in the 19th Congress.
Earlier, the House committee on Muslim affairs approved the proposal and consolidated it with House Bill No. 1363, authored by Maguindanao and Cotabato 1st District Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura.
“Isa itong malaking hakbang sa ating pagpupunyagi at pagsisikap laban sa diskriminasyon base sa relihiyon. Umaasa tayo na ngayong Kongreso ay maging ganap na batas na ito,” Hataman said.
(This is a big step towards our efforts and bid to end discrimination based on religion. We are hoping that this would be enacted within the current Congress.)
The lawmaker said the bill would help Filipinos understand the importance of wearing a hijab for Muslims and, at the same time, eradicate the stigma that comes with it.
READ: On World Hijab Day, CHR insists wearing hijab not a sign of oppression, terrorism
“It is time to pass this measure into law. Ito ay para imulat ang mga mamamayan sa kahalagahan ng pagsusuot ng hijab para sa mga kababayan nating Moro,” Hataman noted.
(It is time to pass this measure into law. It is meant to raise awareness about the importance of wearing hijab for Moro Filipinos.)
“Ang panukalang ito ay may layong itaas ang antas ng pang-unawa ng lahat tungkol sa tradisyon at kultura ng mga kababayan nating Muslim, partikular sa pagsusuot ng hijab sa hanay ng mga kababaihan. Ito rin ay isang instrumento para labanan ang diskriminasyon base sa relihiyon,” he added.
(This proposal aims to increase the level of awareness or understanding of the tradition and culture of Filipino Muslims, particularly about wearing hijab for women. This is also an instrument to fight discrimination based on religion.)
Under Hataman’s bill, Filipino Muslims and non-Muslims alike would be encouraged to wear the hijab while embarking on a campaign to remove misconceptions about it.
Government institutions and schools are also urged to promote an understanding of why Muslims wear the headscarf.
“Discrimination emanates from the mind. Kung galing sa maling paniniwala o kaisipan, mali din ang aksyon, mali ang tugon. Kailangan nating iwasto ang maling kaisipan tungkol sa pagsusuot ng hijab, kailangan natin ng mas malalim na pang-unawa na ito ay simbolo ng dangal at dignidad ng mga Muslim,” Hataman said.
(Discrimination emanates from the mind. If the mindset stems from a wrong idea, actions or responses would be wrong. We need to correct wrong mindsets about the wearing of the hijab. We need a more profound understanding that this symbolizes purity and dignity for Muslims.)
“Dahil sa paglaganap ng maling paniniwala ukol dito, madami ang hindi tinatanggap sa mga paaralan, ang hindi natatanggap sa trabaho, ang hindi pinagbebentahan sa mga tindahan, at ang hindi pinaparahan ng mga pampublikong sasakyan,” he added.
(Because of the proliferation of wrong beliefs about this, many are not accepted in schools, at jobs, are not entertained in stores, and are not allowed to ride public transportation.)
A bill seeking a National Hijab Day has been filed before. Hataman said it was filed since the 16th Congress — approved on third reading in the 17th and 18th Congress — but was not acted upon by the Senate.
However, there are high hopes that the bill would be enacted as Senator Robinhood Padilla — an outspoken Muslim and an advocate of anti-discrimination measures — also filed a similar bill before the Senate.
READ: Padilla wants February 1 observed as National Hijab Day