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Breaking the fast

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 5) — Inuray and four of her children did not sell VCDs along Magsaysay Avenue this afternoon. It is the first day of Ramadhan. Together with her husband and many other Muslims in the city, Benguet and Mountain Province, Inuray and her children took time out to observe religious rites at the People’s Park.

The family hails from Marawi City but are now in Baguio City “to earn a living,” she quips. “Mahirap ang buhay doon sa Mindanao,” (Life in Mindanao is hard) she explains when I asked why she had to leave.

For Inuray’s family and many others who came from Mindanao provinces such as Lanao, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, life in Baguio City, however, is just as hard. According to 35 year-old Inuray, she had to leave two of her offspring to a relative who had adopted her children. Authorities here often round up illegally produced DVD and VCD in makeshift shops.

“Siyempre, nahuhuli ‘yung mga paninda namin at nalulugi kami palagi dahil du’n,” (Of course, our wares get confiscated and we suffer losses) teary-eyed Inuray would volunteer, “pero tuloy pa rin ang pagtitinda.” (But we continue selling anyway.) She did not elaborate where she gets her wares.

Lawyer Esmael Bomogao clarified that Muslims are not only those that sell VCD’s. Neither that all VCD salespersons are Muslims. This year’s Ramadhan in Baguio City aims to clarify issues and facts about Muslims and Islam. It hopes to educate the public through various media.

It was exactly 5:45P.M. when the day-long fasting ended with iftar, breaking the fast of water and other light food preparations. The religious leader had just finished chanting the adhan, a regular prayer, signaling the breaking of the fast, Inuray and her children, each with a cup of drinking water and another cup of chilled mixed fruits in milk. In some Islamic countries, dates would be eaten to break the fast.

Soon after the breaking of the fast, the religious leader signaled the prayer for magribh, the sunset prayer, where each of them faced west to see the sun set.

The men, who made up the bulk of those fasting at People’s Park, placed a tulda on the open pavement, while women and children occupied the shaded portion of the park.

The Islam faithful then silently prayed in unison, as they alternately stood, bended and fell on all fours, head laid down on the carpeted pavement. There are just a few chants heard, but in their silence, they performed the sunset worship as if they were just one body, one force.

Dinner was served soon after and the crowd partook of the bounty laid on two long tables at the park. Soon, a long queue of women and their children in tow, their husbands and even non-Muslims who were participating shared the food that would re-strengthen the Muslims’ faith in Islam and the Christian’s belief in one true God.

Inuray and a few other women from the South, in their traditional southern clothing were eating when Nordis interviewed them. Over dinner, there were some conversations about Islam and their life outside of Mindanao. Later, Inuray signaled that she had to give her three other children some food.

Some women Muslims from the Cordillera, among them Malu Maria from Atok, Glenda Hanan from Tublay, one from Tram in Itogon and still another from Bontoc, Mountain Province were generous with their stories on conversion. It was a revelation that some of them embraced Islam while they worked as overseas contract workers.

Foreign students from Sudan, Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Kuwait and Pakistan also came nad supported the fete. Muslim teachers, imams and the common tao were all there in unity. Government officials, among them are Mayor Braulio Yaranon and Councilor Leandro Yangot, were also invited to witness the iftar.

Indeed, the Ramadhan provided a time when people seek peace. That even in diversity, they find unity, a speaker professed. Central and northern Luzon Sultan Mohammed Amin “Bob” Torres, who prefers to be called a Muslim revert (not convert) said however, that before peace and unity can be achieved, there should be equality first.

“Equality ang nakakalimutan yata ng ating gobyerno,” (The government tend to forget equality) he said as he decries government claims that Muslims are terrorists. “Hindi Muslim and nanggugulo sa Senado, at kahit sa Kongreso,” (The trouble-makers in Senate and Congress are not Muslims) he says.

Organizers said they are overwhelmed at the turnout. They said they did not expect such a large crowd at the opening day rites for this year’s month of fasting. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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