Muslims end Ramadan with morning prayer, celebration

Filipino Muslims ended the holy Islamic month of Ramadan on a festive note Tuesday, gathering in mosques and parks to spend the Eid’l Fitr with their families. In Manila, Muslim families gathered at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo and the Quirino Grandstand for the morning prayers to end Ramadan, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. Several of them brought their families and dressed in their best attire to mark the occasion. The Manila Police District deployed personnel from Police Station 5 and tourist police to secure the Quirino Grandstand where the Filipino Muslims gathered. Some 20,000 Muslims gathered at the Quirino Grandstand before dawn, even as police said the celebration was peaceful, the dzBB report said.

In Quezon City, dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported some 1,000 Muslim Filipinos converged at the Quezon Memorial Circle to mark the end of Ramadan. Many of them brought food which they ate after the morning prayers, the report said. Quezon City police also kept watch over the festivities. In Marikina City, dzBB’s Glen Juego reported some 500 Muslims gathered at the Marikina City’s public park also to mark the end of Ramadan. Malacañang had declared August 30 a holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr. — RSJ, GMA News