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Padilla wants end to Muslims, IPs discrimination
Padilla’s Senate Bill 1272, which seeks to celebrate Feb. 1 as National Hijab Day, was also supported by Senator Francis Tolentino during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs. (File Photo: Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)
MANILA – Senator Robin Padilla said on Thursday he wants to end discrimination against Muslims and other indigenous peoples (IPs) as he also pushes to establish a National Hijab Day.
Padilla’s Senate Bill 1272, which seeks to celebrate Feb. 1 as National Hijab Day, was also supported by Senator Francis Tolentino during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.
Tolentino lauded the initiative to recognize and celebrate with the Muslim community.
Padilla said every February 1, Muslim scholars and leaders will discuss in key cities and other venues their religion and the wearing of Hijab, which he pointed out that even Saints and nuns also wear Hijab.
“Some people may act that way because of what they watch on TV or in the movies – or even in news shows that may be biased. That is why the National Hijab Day is important – so that non-Muslims will understand why Muslim women wear hijab,” he said in Filipino.
A hijab, a veil used by Muslim women that covers the head and chest, is worn in the presence of adult males outside of the women’s immediate family.
This piece of clothing is said to be an expression of the Islamic faith and had been a source of discrimination and prejudice against Muslim women.
“Even Virgin Mary and Catholic nuns wear hijab, which means Islam and Catholics have similarities,” Padilla said.
The senator believes that education and information dissemination will end the ignorance which is behind the discrimination against Muslims and other groups in the country.
“When there is discrimination, there is ignorance. Many people who discriminate think they are knowledgeable but they are fools,” Padilla said, adding he has experienced being a victim of discrimination not just because of his Muslim faith but also because of being an ex-convict or a former prisoner. (Leonel Abasola/PNA)
John Christopher Victorio
September 22, 2022 at 11:34 PM
A good way to value our first people in this land. I highly appreciate Senator. Padilla’s proposed law as it denotes discrimination among citizens in our country. I mean, this should end, let us not be divided by these differences and stereotypes.
RJ Guam
September 23, 2022 at 12:49 AM
Remember that we are not the judge of life, we should never discriminate somebody of what does she/he do in his/her life. We should always value all the person because with god, we are valuable to him and he never judge us and hoping that we are not itself a judger person
Joana Mendoza
September 23, 2022 at 10:17 AM
Thumbs up SENATOR PADILLA. Isulong mo ang batas patungkol sa ating pagka pilipino.OK ako jan sa NATIONAL HIJAB DAY na yan upang magkaroon ng kaalaman ang mga pilipino kung para saan ba ginagamit yan at upang mamulat ang ibang tao tungkol sa kahalagahan ng mga IPs.Mabuhay ka!!
Abundio Mendoza
September 23, 2022 at 10:26 AM
Salute to you sir.Inuuna ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino.Oras na talaga na maalis ang diskriminasyon tungkol sa mga IPs dito sa Pilipinas.
Domenic San Luis
September 24, 2022 at 11:39 PM
Yess Sana mawala na ang Diskriminasyon hindi lang sa Indigenous people and Muslim pati na rin sa iba pang grupo. Lahat ay dapat may pagtrato ng tama.Tama na magkaroon na ng National hijab Day para magsilbing paalala sa lahat na hindi dapat sila dinidiscrimimnate dahil lahat tayo ay pilipino iisang kulay at dugo na dapat nagtutulungan at nagmamahalan.