MUSLIM communities gathered in Plaza Independencia for the Eid’l Adha Al-Mubarak Celebration or Feast of Sacrifice yesterday.
Malo Manongiring, director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Visayas, said that Eid’l Adha is not only a reminder for Muslims, but for all Filipinos to not hesitate to sacrifice self-interest for a better future for the country.
“Wag natin sundin yung ating mga masasamang personal na mga interest (Let us not follow our wrong personal interests),” said Manongiring.
Manongiring said that the Eid’l Adha celebration is important because it is a reminder of the sacrifice of the prophet Abraham.
Manongiring believes that the wrongdoings of people, just like the recent spate of killings in the country, arise from personal interests that need to be sacrificed.
“I hope tama na yung killings (I hope these killings would end),” said Manongiring.
Hanifa Macasindel, a Muslim who has been living in Cebu for 20 years, said that it is necessary to attend the feast of sacrifice with the family.
She said the children, even the smallest ones, should be bought to the celebration because it is one of the most important days for Muslims.
Normala Sarip, another Muslim mother, said that this celebration is dedicated to God.
“Mura mig panibagong gipanganak, naluwas sa among mga sala (We’re like newborns, free of sin),” said Sarip. (USJ-R INTERN RUTH MALINAO)