CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the Muslim community here recently said they are grateful for the harmonious relationship with the City Government of San Fernando and how the local government unit supports the group in its endeavours and advocacies.
During the commencement ceremony of New Successful Hufaazul Qur’an from Darul Haq Litahfiezil Qur’an Al-Islamy, an Islamic school in Barangay San Pedro Cutud here last Sunday at city hall, City Muslim Coordinator Kaiser Manguranda said that San Fernando has shown full support, even in the drive of the community in spreading the word of faith.
“The members of the Muslim Community in the city are well-supported and well-guided. Over the past years, the Islamic community has been facing religious discrimination in some parts of the world and in the Philippines as well. But in the City of San Fernando, the case is different. Here, a harmonious relationship between the Muslim community and the city government exists,” Manguranda said.
“The support extended to us by the city government and Mayor Edwin Santiago is incomparable. Like in Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, we could see and feel the assistance for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” expressed Manguranda.
“We are grateful and happy that our talks with the mayor has been fruitful. He discussed with us the city government’s plan to construct additional classrooms for Islamic studies, which is actually one of our dreams,” he added.
Santiago, for his part, said that in the city, there is “shared governance.”
“The Muslim Community, as part of the religious sector and other sectors, and which chose to live and do business here in San Fernando, are our partners in governance and we have always considered them as Fernandinos,” said Santiago.
Santiago also congratulated the six young members and all graduates of the community for having successfully mastered the whole part of Holy Qur’an, the message of Allah to humanity
“They stand as good examples for the youth, regardless of their faith and beliefs,” he said.
The aforementioned graduates are set to be sent to Middle East for further studies of the Islamic religion. Currently, the said school in San Pedro Cutud has 68 students, all undergoing Islamic studies.