15 November 2005 – Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia of the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, has highlighted the significant role played by Filipino-Muslims in nation-building and the national significance accorded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Eid Ul Fitr Celebration by declaring this major Muslim celebration an official holiday to be observed not just by Muslim Filipinos, but by the entire Filipino nation.

In her reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Garcia said the Embassy hosted on 13 November 2005 the Eid Ul Fitr Celebration for the Filipino-Muslim community in Egypt, which was attended by more than eighty members of the Philippine Students Association (PHILSAC) of the prestigious Al-Azhar University.

In her remarks, the Ambassador encouraged the Filipino students to “imbibe the Islamic education they have acquired from Al-Azhar” and share it with their respective communities and regions in the Philippines.

In response, Mr. Edris Hadji Salih, President of the PHILSAC, thanked Ambassador Garcia and the Embassy for organizing the event and expressed the students’ willingness and desire to assist the Philippines in whatever way they can.

To close the celebrations, Consul Sahid S. Glang of the Embassy stated that Islam is a religion of moderation and peace, and the Holy Month of Ramadan signifies all what Islam stands for: moderation, charity, respect and care for others.  Consul Glang noted that it was very unfortunate that extremist organizations have stolen the “agenda of Islam,” further derailing the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.

PHILSAC is composed of Filipino-Muslim students on scholarship at the Al-Azhar University, which is the most prestigious center of learning in the Islamic world.  The University is likewise known for being an advocate of moderate Islamic teaching.  END