Mayor’s message on If’tar: “Let’s reflect on values that bind us and not divide us”
“As we celebrate this special If’tar, let us renew our ties and reflect on the common values that bind the Muslims and Christians together and not the values that divide us”.
Thus said Mayor Celso Lobregat, as he shared his message of friendship and respect to the Muslim community in celebration of If’tar or pagbukah or the breaking of the fast organized by the Filipino Turkish Tolerance School Thursday night.
For the past four years, Lobregat had the opportunity of sharing an If’tar meal with the Filipino-Turkish community in observance of the holy month of Ramadan, a season of prayer, fasting and personal sacrifice for those embracing the Islam religion all over the world.
“This important occasion of If’tar demonstrates our sincere appreciation to our Muslim brothers and sisters in this part of the world as you commemorate the revelation of Qur’an”, the mayor told the guests coming from the different sectors during a program that preceded the If’tar meal.
The Filipino Turkish Tolernace School led by directors Cihangir Arslan and Mehmet Cetin of the high school and elementary levels, respectively, invited the different sectors to the If’tar, a yearly undertaking for the school.
Citing Islamic teachings, Lobregat said Ramadan is the season when Muslims throughout the world are called upon by God Almighty to observe obligatory fast to develop self-control, gain better understanding of God’s gift and greater compassion towards the deprived.
“Ramadan is a time of heartfelt prayer and togetherness. It provides Muslims a time to focus on their faith and practice God’s commands through fasting, prayer, contemplation and charity. Muslims here and around the world renew their commitment to lead lives of honesty, integrity and compassion,” he stressed.
He said Islam is a religion of peace and people who practice the Islamic faith have made greater contributions to our city and the nation. In Zamboanga City, he said, Christians and Muslims, since time immemorial live in harmony and peaceful co-existence. Muslims and Christians are found together in the neighbourhood, in malls, in market places, in public and private schools and colleges and universities, in working places and everywhere.
The present administration, Lobregat emphasized, embarks on relentless efforts aimed at establishing equitable social progress and economic development, quality public education, infrastructure development and other social service-related undertakings— all these for the people of Zamboanga regardless of faith, culture and tradition.
He hoped that “the virtues of goodness, self-restraint, charity and generosity and the care for the needy learned during Ramadan shall be carried-out beyond Ramadan and shall influence the everyday life of our Muslim brothers and sisters”.
Also present during the If’tar hosted by the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School were Congreswoman Beng Climaco, Western Mindanao Command Chief BGen. Ben Dolorfino, Vice Mayor Manuel Dalipe, other city and military officials and representatives from different sectors. (Sheila Covarrubias)