Muslim Faithfuls Gather for Eidel Adha Prayer at Pikit Plaza

I can still recall that Cat, BME and I had mentioned about posting this event in Cat's blog 'Padayon Pikiteno' sometime mid-December, or at least days before that tragic news about her brother (Toto) came about. And so, in deference and respect to the 'mourning at the Payag', this posting was delayed on purpose; nevertheless it is hoped that its significance does not fade out as it was allowed to be overtaken by some events.

And so, here is that part of Pikit, Nort Cotabato in that Eidel Adha congregational prayer on December 28, 2008..


Facing west, towards the tennis court (as Muslims, in prayer, face towards the Holy Kaaba in Mecca), below is the left portion of the congregation..


the center portion..


and the right portion..


The event was doubly significant as Eidel Adha coincided with the feast of the Immaculate Conception - which also meant that these two major Faiths of the world (Islam and Christianity) have good reasons for the celebration and magnitude of the merry-making that was in Pikit last Dec. 8.

In my own terms, I tried to figure out what could have enticed Cat and BME (and other friends from the Payag too) to see a group of Muslim faithfuls gather in such multitude at the Pikit Municipal Plaza (which I estimated to be between 4 to 5 thousand). I surmised that the reasons for such could be the following: 1) some kind of longing to see the place; 2) seeing a multitude of Pikitenyos portrays the festive mood; 3) in such a multitude of Pikitenyos, it's good to imagine that you are one of them. 4) the people and the background, as well, give a complete sense of feeling like you are one with the people and the place, and 5) people have not gathered at the Plaza in such big number in the recent past (3 or 4 yrs. ago and beyond).

We hope it will always be like this one, or see more of this kind in the future. Well, they say that it is always better said than not at all, and so, no matter how belated it is, I say: "Happy Eidel Adha and Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception to all."