Muslims, Christians have a tearful exchange of roses on Eid’l Fitr –OPAPP

A distance from the devastation and turmoil in Marawi City was a peaceful moment—Christians and Muslims exchanged flowers in celebration of Eid al-Fitr at an evacuation community in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte on Sunday.

The interreligious gesture brought tears to some Muslim women of the 180 families seeking shelter in the Iligan City National School of Fisheries, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) reported on their website.

Muslim women broke down in tears, as their Christian counterparts embraced and handed them flowers | Full story: https://t.co/IMAZ3ZK9pi pic.twitter.com/7d9fXctdfY

— OPAPP (@peacegovph) June 25, 2017

"The OPAPP is currently conducting a series of 'social healing' activities in Lanao del Norte that aim to restore trust and respect among the different ethno-religious groups in the affected areas," the article said.

With the ongoing crisis in Marawi proving to be a challenge for Maranao unity, the residents who have spent a month in the facility took part in an OPAPP-hosted celebratory program welcoming the end of Ramadan.

Another "social healing" activity was conducted in the region which holds informal conversations between small groups facilitated by imams, ulamas and other Muslim leaders and volunteers, the office added.

The 8-hour humanitarian truce for the solemn observance of Eid al-Fitr clocked out at 2 p.m. on Sunday. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News