7,500 Filipino Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for hajj ---By GMA Integrated News

An estimated 7,500 Filipino Muslims traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate in the hajj in Mecca, Vonne Aquino reported on "24 Oras Weekend" on Saturday. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said the last batch of pilgrims were sent off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday. "Walang isang naiwan at wala ni isang nagkaroon ng stranded or aberya doon sa kanilang paglalakbay,” said NCMF Commissioner Yusoph Mando. He also welcomed the initiative of the airport to put up hajj lanes or express lanes for Filipino Muslims, as well as direct flights from Mindanao to Saudi Arabia. According to the NCMF, hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and involves walking in a circle around the Kaaba, the sacred building at the center of Mecca's Grand Mosque. "Pupunta po kami dyan para manalangin. At itong mga pangyayari, itong mga kasalanan na nagawa po namin, pati mga magulang namin, lahat ay sana po ay mawala na at pagbigyan nyo po kami sa pagbabagong life. Kaya kapag umuuwi na yan, ang tingin sa kanila ay purified person,” said Dr. Abdul Hannan Tago of the NCMF Office of the Secretary. The NCMF asked all khatibs, imams, and religious leaders to spread the message of peace, forgiveness, patience, love of country, and poverty reduction in their weekly sermons. —Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News

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