INTRODUCTION
With pride and pleasure, let me offer my warm greetings to Muslims throughout the world, especially to our Muslim countrymen, as they celebrate Eid’l Fitr, popularly known in Muslim Philippines as the “Hariraya Puasa”.

I am happy that I have been accorded this distinct honor, just like last year, of keynoting this happiest day in the Muslim calendar.
RAMADAN AND THE LENTEN SEASON
As the faithful of Islam mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and thank Allah for having been given the opportunity to observe fasting and earn his reward and pleasure, it is but appropriate that the non-Muslim world pause and join their Muslim brothers and sisters pay tribute to the Islamic code of moral and spiritual discipline.

For Christians themselves share with their Muslim brethren the belief that fasting is a purifying experience. Christian precepts also hold that fasting represses vices, elevates the mind and cultivates the virtues that God rewards.

Indeed, there is a profound similarity between Christians’ Easter celebration and Eid’l Fitr. Easter Sunday marks the end of the Lenten season, which recalls Christ’s 40 days of tribulations in the desert. On the other hand, Eid’l Fitr is, the end of Ramadan, the 30-day period during which the Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.

There is, in other words, a very significant relation between the two great spiritual experiences, which should serve to bind together the faithful of both religions.
ISLAM’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO WORLD CIVILIZATION
This occasion presents no better time for us to reflect upon the significance of the Sawn-al-Ramadan, or the fast of Ramadan, to our search for national peace and unity.

And if we are to find the threads of unity, we should begin by recognizing the enduring contributions of Islam to world civilization in general and to Philippine culture in particular.

We learned from the rich literature of Islam — which has been acknowledged and elaborated in centuries of western historiography and literature — that Islam established the foundations of the Arab world with its centers in the holy cities of mecca and medina.

Islam, moreover, enriched world civilization as it spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula in all directions from the late 7th century to the 12th or 13th century, during which time it reached Southeast Asia.

Islam has made invaluable contributions to philosophy, theology, science, technology, medicine, literature, the arts, and in other areas of human knowledge.

When we think of medicine, we recall Hunayn ibn Ishaq, who was one of the earliest scholars on ophthalmology; al-Razi, whose work on smallpox and measles became part of western textbooks on medicine; al-Majusi, whose voluminous research on the capillary system remains an enduring legacy; Ibn-al-Nafis, the Cairo teacher of the 13th century, who pioneered in devising the theory of blood circulation.

When we talk of mathematics, immediately we remember al-Khwarizmi, who laid the foundation of Arab astronomy and higher mathematics. In astrology, we have Abu Mashur, the Khurasanian whose work on tides, the moon and other heavenly bodies was famous in medieval Europe.

In philosophy, we recall al-Kindi and al-Farabi, who reconciled Islam with Aristotelian and platonic philosophies. In theology, we think of the great al-Ashari and al-Ghasali, whose works enshrined the value of the Koran and Hadith in world civilization.

Indeed, we can cite the works of several others if we were minded to belabor the fact that Islamic civilization contributed substantially to the progress of the western world. But we speak of these positive reminders from world history only to promote better appreciation and understanding of Islam.
FILIPINO MUSLIM HERITAGE
Of more significance to us as Filipinos are Islam’s profound contributions to the Philippine heritage. Sadly, these contributions have not been accorded the national attention and importance that they deserve, and we are the poorer — and perhaps more fragmented — for such a failing.

When we look back on our political history, we cannot ignore the sultanate, the first truly unifying political structure that existed proudly in the Philippines even before the advent of colonialism.

In pre-colonial Philippines, we also had a flourishing foreign trade, in which the Muslims of the southern islands, as well as those in Manila under Rajah Sulayman, played a dominant and vital role as trade promoters.

If we look further into the dynamics of that progressive economic activity that brought in traders from Japan, China, Indochina, Central Asia, West Asia, Europe, and insular Southeast Asia, we have every reason to be optimistic about the plan to develop the new area of economic opportunity we call the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA), which groups Mindanao, Brunei, eastern Indonesia and east Malaysia.

That growth area plan is not something new; it is actually only a revival of the fourteenth century trade principally focused on spices among the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia. And we hope to capitalize upon a tradition shared in the past to unify us once more with our East Asian neighbors through economic cooperation for our mutual benefit.

More than this, the most impactful historical contribution of our Muslim countrymen lies in their unremitting struggle for freedom and independence from foreign intrusion and domination. Their history as courageous freedom fighters dates back from the 16th century, when they faced up to Japanese militarists.
WE MUST STAND UNITED
In the quest for nationhood and the defense of the motherland, the Muslim community, in concert with their countrymen in the north, have demonstrated single-minded determination.

Indeed, the interests of all Filipinos, regardless of religion, ethnic origin, class, or condition, converge on the altar of nationhood. And I have no doubt whatsoever that we are united as one in our new, contemporary struggle — that of ensuring progress and prosperity for our land.

If we add to our already complex society the variety of Muslim influences from Lanao to Tawi-Tawi, then indeed we cannot fail to see the remarkable fabric of Philippine culture, which has often been summed up in the statement: “unity in diversity and diversity in unity”.

We should be proud to be Filipinos having an indigenous Indo-Malay culture, which is enriched by the unique features of both Christianity and Islam, which our Christian and Muslim communities bring. Thus, it makes no sense for Christians and Muslims to engage in conflict, more so on the basis of religion, seeing that our secular and spiritual lives were joined centuries ago and continue to be intimately intertwined.
VERITIES OF RAMADAN
Finally, let me now reflect upon the ancient verities of Ramadan whose culmination is now marked by this most impressive and colorful festivity.

There are serious and solemn expectations associated with the month-long fast of Ramadan.

Like the Christian Lent, Ramadan is a time for self-denial and renewal. It is regarded as the holiest in the Islamic calendar because it brings deep spiritual experience to the Muslims through prayers and self-denial especially during the last ten days when the “Laylatul Gener” (Night of Power) is expected by every devotee.

I understand that this is the time when one seeks divine forgiveness for sins and spiritual power to overcome evil thoughts and intentions. It is the time when one expects to attain inner peace not only with the almighty but also with one’s self, and others, including friends and enemies.

Indeed, these thoughts, which are taken from the great teachings of Muslim scholars, are the keys to understanding and peace.

The expectations, in terms of self-renewal and transformation, are what endure through time. Our common aspirations for enduring peace, justice and progress are what flow into the eternal stream of historical consciousness, and create in Muslims and Christians, oneness in spirit and purpose with the peoples of the world.

The culinary feast and variety at the tables, which is one of the attractions of this celebration, are meaningless unless each person internalizes victory over greed, hatred, violence and evil, which, unfortunately, are common failings of mankind, and manifests brotherly attitudes to others and reflects them in his daily life.
HOPES FOR PEACE
Indeed, it is timely to reflect upon the profound meaning of Ramadan and Eid’l Fitr as our nation looks to the future in search of enduring peace and unity for the Filipino people.

It is our cherished goal and vision that the on-going development programs in our autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao receives sustenance and strength from the optimism that Eid’l Fitr symbolizes.

We also emphasize the same aspiration for the success of our peace process with other segments of society still outside the mainstream, as we rest our thoughts on the equally important tradition of self-abnegation and renewal throughout the whole period of lent, which culminates in the triumphant message of easter.

I am deeply inspired, as President of 65 million Filipinos, a great majority of whom are Christians and Muslims, that two great events — Lent and Ramadan — have converged at this time to provide brighter prospects for peace and unity. We have no reason to fail in this quest, which is to develop a truly happy and beneficent nation for all Filipinos and our friends, and the coming generations!

Mabuhay! Wassalam!