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‘The most important moment of my life’: Filipinos begin Hajj after a two-year hiatus

Manila/Davao City: Bazr Suleiman was ready to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in 2020, when travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus swept the world, preventing him and millions of other foreign pilgrims from reaching Mecca for two years.

One of the five main pillars of Islam, the pilgrimage was restricted due to pandemic fears to just 1,000 people living in Saudi Arabia in 2020. Last year, the kingdom limited the pilgrimage to 60,000 local participants, compared to 2.5 million before the pandemic.

But this year, as it has already lifted most of its restrictions on the coronavirus, Saudi Arabia will receive 1 million pilgrims from abroad – 3,500 of them will come from the Philippines.

The Philippines is a Christian-majority country of 110 million, with a Muslim minority comprising about one-tenth of its population. Most Filipino Muslims live in the south of the country, in parts of Mindanao, Palawan and the Sulu Archipelago.

“It’s the most important moment of my life. I’ve been waiting for this,” Suleiman, a 59-year-old retired policeman, told Arab News.

Solomon begins his journey to Mecca and Medina on Wednesday, Islam’s two holiest sites, and flies over 8,500 kilometers from Parang, Maguindanao province, in the southern part of Mindanao.

“I want to meet my fellow Muslims from the other side of the planet,” he said. “I want to strengthen my faith.”

This year, a quota has been set for the Philippines of up to 4,074 pilgrims, but not all of them will be able to join the pilgrimage because the transportation industry has not recovered after two years of the pandemic shutdown and travel costs are high, Malu B Manungireng, who heads the Hajj office at the National Committee of Filipino Muslims, said, Arab News.

They (the pilgrims) may be ready, but the problem is their financial ability because the cost of performing Hajj is now $3,390. Before that it was less than $3,000.

“The quota given to us was 4,074, but we are analyzing the situation, which is why we reduced it to 3,500.”

Mike Pantillan, 58, who travels to Mecca from Cotabato City in Maguindanao, is supported by his family to perform the Hajj.

“There were donations from my relatives,” he said. “Because of my enthusiasm and thought of the unforgettable trip, there were nights when I couldn’t sleep.”

Pantelan has already processed all the documents, and has prepared himself physically, as he will be traveling this week.

He said: “It is an obligation for all Muslims who are able to perform Hajj.” “I’m doing this for God’s sake.”

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