Hundreds of Filipino Muslims have left Manila this week for a visit to the Muslim holy cities of Makkah and Madinah

By Rexcel Sorza, IOL Correspondent

ILOILO CITY, Philippines, November 18 (IslamOnline.net) – Following the lifting of a ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on people from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-stricken countries, hundreds of Filipino Muslims have left Manila this week for an Umrah, a visit to the Muslim holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the Philippine Office of Muslim Affairs said Tuesday, November 18.

"About 300 to 500 pilgrims have been registered by our office. They have left within the last seven days for their Umrah," Nasser Sharif of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday.

They belong to the first groups to leave after Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on people from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-stricken countries.

Sharif said more are expected to leave the country for the same purpose as millions observe the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

"You know the ban for people from countries affected with SARS has just been lifted, and so there is this big number of pilgrims leaving these days," Sharif said of the groups that have left by batches for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

However, he added that the exact number of Filipino pilgrims could be more than what the office has registered.

Sharif said there are many others who do not register with their office and perform the Umrah and Hajj "independently". Many are availing of the services provided by private travel agencies.

"Of the number of pilgrims who go on either Umrah or Hajj, or both, every year, OMA manages to account for only about 35 percent," Sharif said, noting that their office also expects to attend to at least 4,000 Filipinos who would go to Hajj in January 2004.

Savings

Sharif further said that many Filipinos have been saving up and leading austere lives to afford for the pilgrimage and umrah.

"That’s also why most Hajj pilgrims are elderly because all through their lifetime, they work hard to fulfill this pillar of Islam," he elaborated.

The OMA is the government agency tasked with coordinating, supervising and administering the pilgrimages.   

This function has afforded a great number of Filipino Muslims performing Hajj at a lower cost.

Sharif says it would cost a Filipino pilgrim $1,200 to go to Makkah. The fee includes airfare, accommodation, transportation and meals.

OMA serves not only pilgrims coming from the Philippines but also Filipino Muslim expatriates from Saudi Arabia. In the enhancement of responsive foreign relations, this function has served as an instrument or bridge between the Philippines and the Saudi government.

Since 1978, when the OMA's program was launched, the government, through the former Philippine Pilgrimage Authority from 1978 to 1986 and through the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment, has continuously been providing assistance to Muslim Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims.