EID’L FITR INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL and EXHIBITION celebrates the end of RAMADAN launched at The Podium, Ortigas Avenue yesterday, August 2,2013.
Eid'l Fitr International Art Exhibit with works of world-renowned crafstmen and National Artist Abdulmari Imao,Toym Imao, Jamila Tamano , Dominic Rubio, Jovan Benito, Rameer Tawasil, Kublai Millan, and Aljo Pingol. And featuring fashion creations by Pitoy Moreno.
The Eid'l Fitr Festival is organized by the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. led by its Chairperson , former Senator Santanina Razul.
This will feature a variety of activities from country displays by the different Islamic embassies in the country; institutional exhibits by Local Government Units (LGUs), government agencies, and donor agencies working on peace and development initiatives; trade fair of products from Mindanao; fashion exhibit on traditional Muslim attires; interactive Salam Villages; and cultural presentations.
DOT
joins Filipino Muslims in Eid’l Fitr Festival
The
Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) have stepped
up support for this year’s Eid’l Fitr celebrations from 9-11 August 2013 at the
Atrium/The Block of SM North, Quezon City and in other areas of the country.
Eid’l Fitr (also known as Eid-al-Fitr, Id-Ul-Fitr, Eid) is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal signaling the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer. Eid literally means festivity and after a month-long sacrifice, Eid’l Fitr (festival of fast-breaking) is looked forward to as a period of merriment, sharing, and forgiveness.
In 2002, the Eid’l Fitr was recognized as a national
holiday by the government, making the Philippines the first predominantly
Christian country worldwide to have done so. The proclamation was enacted to
promote peace and harmony among all major religions in the country.
“The DOT is one with our Muslim brothers and sisters in
this year’s celebration of Eid’l Fitr.
As in the past, our participation is a constant recognition of the close
affinity with the Muslim community and deep appreciation of our cultural
diversity that lends more beauty to our country. The Eid’l Fitr celebration
provides opportunities to showcase the best of Muslim culture and traditions,
as well as enable guests and even strangers to experience the practice of
thanksgiving and sharing. The
Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, a milestone achievement forged under President
Aquino’s administration, is one among the many reasons why this year’s
celebration is more meaningful,”
DOT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. said.
The DOT has rallied various tourism-oriented
establishments to support the festival.
Among the mall chains with sale and activities are SM (Bicutan, Quiapo,
Davao, Lanang, GenSan), Robinsons (Robinsons Place and Starmills in Pampanga)
and Ayala (Glorietta 2 in Makati City, Trinoma in Quezon City and Market!
Market! in Taguig City). On the
other hand, restaurants offering Halal food are the following Hotel and
Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) members: Bacolod Chicken Inasal in Greenhills,
Coffee Shop of Bayview Park Hotel, Café in the Park of Century Park Hotel,
Riviera Café of Heritage Hotel, Market Café of Hyatt Regency Hotel and Casino
and Circles of Makati Shangri-La.
The TPB, as the marketing arm of the DOT, intends to
institutionalize annual support to the Eid. TPB Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III
said, “Festival support is just one aspect. What is more important is capacitating local government and communities
to enhance existing and develop new tourism products. Our industry is likewise excited by the prospects of a
peaceful Mindanao. Our brand campaign will ring truer as this unfolds.”
“We are thankful for the support of these
establishments who have responded to our call for participation. The success of
Eid’l Fitr is also a testament to the government and people support for the
peace process towards the sustainable development of Mindanao. Tourism is a vehicle to achieve
inclusive growth and Mindanao can very well capitalize on its rich natural and
cultural resources. We
enjoin every Filipino to take an active role in making the entire country a
peaceful, more fun, and must-experience destination in Asia,” Secretary Jimenez added.
More photos @Facebook;
The denuded portion of a tropical jungle inside the Bataan National Park (BNP) is slowly getting back to its natural form with trees starting to grow once again.
“Gas Up for a Tree” is PTT’s corporate social responsibility project that aims to reforest 50 hectares of denuded forest within the BNP, particularly within the ancestral lands of the Magbukun tribe, one of 18 Aeta tribes in Bataan.
The mission is to be there up in the mountain and do what is right to do – plant a tree! An advocacy activity leads and inspires people to help in preservation and protection of the environment between people and nature.
Secretary Nereus Acosta,Chief Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection; Wisarn Chawalitanon, President and CEO of PTT Philippines; and Paul Patricio J. Senador, president of PTT Philippines Foundation led other volunteers in planting new trees at the denuded portion of BNP located in Morong, Bataan.
Since the “Gas Up for a Tree” project was launched in May, there are about 2,000 trees now growing in the denuded area of BNP, Chawalitanon said. He added that they expect to plant at least 10,000 trees by end of September and eventually reach the 30,000 target by year 2015.
“This is our way of giving back to Mother Earth and to the Philippines for embracing us (PTT) with the Filipino community,” Chawalitanon said.
More than 100 Aeta families from Magbukun tribe also benefited from the project as they were given livelihood as managers of a seedling nursery and caretaker of the trees.
