The Manila Times

IT’S A DEAL

- JOSHUA VERA CRUZ

Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari shakes hand with Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso as he presents a copy of a proposal for a Manila Islamic Cemetery on Friday at the Manila City Hall.

MORO National Liberation Front ( MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari said he was “extremely grateful” to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso for the proposed Manila Islamic Cemetery.

“This will make the Philippine­s to be in the news, for the whole Islamic world. Once they see this, they will be extremely happy with the developmen­t,” Misuari said as he paid Domagoso

a courtesy call on Friday.

“Nagkataon lang na andito si chairman ( It was just by chance the chairman was here),” Domagoso said as he presented the final design of the Islamic cemetery during Misuari’s visit.

The proposed Islamic cemetery will be situated inside the Manila South Cemetery and will have its own Mosque with a dedicated entry gate and a wash area for its specific burial rites.

The Muslim cemetery is a “gift” to the Muslim community and will be a first for Manila to have a resting place for Muslims, Domagoso said.

“Bakit ganoon? Meron tayong Filipino cemetery. Mayroon tayong Chinese cemetery. Bakit wala tayong Muslim cemetery ( Why is that, we have a Filipino

cemetery, a Chinese cemetery, but we don’t have a Muslim cemetery)?” Domagoso said.

According to Domagoso, Muslims who die in Manila had to be transporte­d to burial places in Bulacan, Taguig or Mindanao.

“Consider it done, we are just waiting for the funding,” Domagoso said.

 ?? PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI ??
PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines