Mayor Isko greets Muslim community on Eid’l Fitr

Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Monday joined the Muslim community in the observation of Eid'l Fitr or the culmination of the Ramadan.

“Ngayong araw, malugod namin kayong tinatanggap dito sa Kartilya. Hangad ko ang tagumpay ng inyong kahilingan sa ating may likha, naway biyayaan kayo ng inyong mga sakripisyong ginawa sa ilang linggong nakaraan tulad ng sinasabi ko sa hirap na pinagdaraanan ni Samira Gutoc na kasama ko sa pag-iikot sa buong Pilipinas,” Moreno said in front of hundreds of Muslims at the  Bonifacio Shrine or the Karitilya ng Katipunan park.

(Today, we welcome you here at Kartilya (ng Katipunan). I wish the success of your request to our creator, may you be blessed by your sacrifices made in the past few weeks like the hardship that Samira Gutoc is going through as we campaign all over the Philippines.)

“So, muli mga kapatid na Muslim, babae, lalaki, bata, matanda. Manatili at pumanatag kayo sa Maynila. Lagi kayong bahagi ng lungsod, bahagi ng pamahalaan. Pantay-pantay sa lungsod ng Maynila. Mabuhay ang ating mga kapatid na Muslim dito sa Maynila,” he added.

(So, again Muslim brothers, women, men, children, adults. Stay and calm down in Manila. You are always part of the city, part of the government. We are all equal in the city of Manila. Long live our Muslim brothers and sisters here in Manila.)

Like in his previous speeches in front of Muslims, Moreno apologized for the years of neglect for the followers of Islam.

The mayor also expressed that that through the city government’s “own little ways,” City Hall officials were able to make the Muslim community important and gave them a sense of belonging in Manila.

“Sa ating minamahal na ninuno sa lungsod ng Maynila, limang daang taon na ang nakararaan. Ang ating mga ninuno na si Rajah Bago, Rajah Sulayman, Lakandula sa Maynila,” he said. “At sana kayo ay magpatuloy na makapamuhay ng mapayapa, maunlad, at malusog, at alam ko naman yan ang dalangin nyo kay Allah na ang inyong mga pamilya, mahal sa buhay ay manatiling ligtas.”

(To our beloved ancestors in the city of Manila, five hundred years ago. Our ancestors Rajah Bago, Rajah Sulayman, Lakandula in Manila. And may you continue to live a peaceful, prosperous, and healthy life, and I know that is your prayer to Allah that your families, loved ones, remain safe.)

Moreno further emphasized that the city government have tried to correct “Manila’s history” for Muslim Filipinos.

“Katulad na naipangako ko kay Ghazali Jaafar na magtatatag tayo ng Muslim Cemetery sa Maynila. Ito ay dating pangarap lamang ng mga Muslim na kapatid natin sa lungsod na kung saan marami sa kanila ayon sa aking karanasan sa mahabang panahon dito sa city hall na nahihirapan ang ating mga kaanak kapag hihimlay na nila ang kanilang mga nasawing mga kamag-anak. Ngayon naitatag na, alay namin sa inyo,” he stressed.

(Just like what I promised to Ghazali Jaafar that we will establish a Muslim Cemetery in Manila. It used to be just a dream of our Muslim brothers and sisters in the city where many of them according to my experience for a long time here at the city hall that our relatives have difficulty when they lay down their deceased relatives. Now that it was established, we offer it to you.)

In June 2021, Moreno inaugurated the Manila City government’s first Islamic Cemetery and Cultural Hall inside the Manila South Cemetery.

If elected president, he vowed to finish the rehabilitation of Marawi City by December 31, 2022 and has assured the Bangsamoro people that he will support the continued operations of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Creating more jobs

Meanwhile, Moreno also pledged to provide work to millions of Filipinos who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Tulad ng nasabi ko nga kanina at sinasabi ko araw-araw, isa sa pangunahing gagawin ko is makapaghanap ng trabaho sa mga nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pandemya. Importante yun na makapag-trabaho na lahat dahil maraming nawalan ng trabaho,” Moreno said during his visit in Tanza, Cavite on Sunday.

(As I said before and I say every day, one of the main things I will do is find work for those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. It is important for everyone to be able to work because many have lost their jobs.)

He earlier issued a video statement in observance of International Day of Labor on May 1.

“Yun bang sweldo ng manggagawa sapat ikabuhay sa kanyang pamilya? Kaya sabi ko bababaan ko ang buwis sa kuryente, bababaan ko ang buwis ng krudo para mapamura ang presyo ng bilihin para ang tao na nagtatrabaho kahit eight-hour a day sya kaya niya buhayin ang pamilya nya, yun ang gagawin ko at regalo sa mga manggagawa,” he said.

(Is the worker's salary enough to support his family? So, I said I will lower the electricity tax, I will lower the fuel tax to reduce the price of goods for the person who works even if he is eight-hour a day so he can support his family, that's what I will do and give to workers.)

“At yung mga marapat na benepisyo sa pangkalusugan at pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak, yun makakamit nila sa akin,” he added.

(And the benefits for the health and education of their children, that's what they can get from me.)

Moreno also noted that he would support the proposal in Congress to increase the minimum wage in the country to P750 if the business sector agrees with it.

“Basta ngayon okay tayo diyan kung kakayanin ng mga negosyante. Pero kailangan natin tingnan mabuti. Imbes na puntahan natin yung negosyante at mahirap siya baka magsara yung negosyo. Pag nagsara yung negosyo zero naman tayo,” he pointed out.

(I agree that entrepreneurs can afford it. But we need to take a good look. Instead of going to the businessman and making it difficult for him, the business might close. When the business closes, we will be zero.)

“So, naghangad tayo ng malaki, tama lang at baka nababagay lang pero nawala naman yung pato na nangingitlog ng ginto. So, baka mamali naman tayo ng approach,” he stated.

(So, we wanted something big, right, and maybe it suits the policy, but the duck that was laying golden eggs might have disappeared. So, we may have the wrong approach.)

He also assured that he would focus on ensuring that workers will have permanent jobs “once everything settles down.”

“Kapag nakatawid na tayo, o saka dun na tayo sa permanent. Wala na yung mga contractual, kumbaga magkakaron na ng permanenteng trabaho. But for now, unawaan eh. Ngayon yung leader hahanap ng ibang paraan para sumapat yung kita ng tao,” Moreno said.

(When we already cross, we will work permanently. The contractuals are gone, as if there will be a permanent job. But for now, understand. Now the leader will find another way to make the people's income enough.)

“O saan 'yun, eh di sa kanyang gastusin para sapat na mabuhay. Yung may kaya kaagad gawin ang tao doon. Pag binabaan ko ang buwis ng krudo, binabawan ko ang buwis ng kuryente sasapat, aabot na yung kinikita ng empleyado o manggagawa tapos magmumura na ang presyo ng bilihan. Yun ang una kong gagawin kapakinabang ng tao,” he added.

(Or that it is not at his expense to live comfortably. Those who can get someone there right away. When I reduce the tax on fuel and the tax on electricity sufficiently, the employee's or worker's income will be reached, and the purchase price will be cursed. That is the first thing I shall do for mankind's good.) — Mel Matthew Doctor/RSJ, GMA News