STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON ON THE CELEBRATION OF EID AL-ADHA

Eid Mubarak to our brother Muslims as you mark Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice! May the divine blessings of Allah bring you hope, faith and joy!

The Feast of the Sacrifice, the holier of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide yearly, shows that the Christian and Muslim faith are both anchored in the Holy Word of God, although we only have different names for the God we believe in. In today's celebration, our brother Muslims honor the willingness of Ibrahim or Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command. But before he could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead.

It is but right that we join our Muslim brothers in celebrating their feast because we are all citizens of this great nation and hence, should always be supportive of one another. This is why I have always advocated for good governance in Mindanao and to provide opportunities for development in the Southern Philippines to achieve lasting peace.

I am confident that with the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and with proper support, Mindanao is already one step closer to achieving peace and progress.

Once again, Eid Mubarak to our Muslim brothers!