Robin, Nagprotesta sa Ka'aba 'Prop' sa Pet Show

Nagprotesta si Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla sa hindi angkop na paglalarawan sa banal na Ka'aba bilang pet stroller o cart sa isang pet fashion show sa isang mall sa Quezon City kamakailan.

Sa isang liham sa management ng mall, ipinahatid ni Padilla na ang Ka'aba ay isang pinagpalang istraktura na may malaking kahalagahan sa pananampalatayang Islam - at bilang sagradong lugar sa panahon ng mga relihyosong paglalakbay.

"Bagama't malinaw mula sa audio ng nasabing video na walang intensyon na bastusin ang banal na Ka'aba, ang akto ng paggamit ng sagradong istraktura bilang pet carrier ay nakasakit po sa damdamin ng mga may paniniwalang Islam," ani Padilla sa kanyang liham.

Tagapangulo si Padilla - isang Muslim - ng Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.

Ipinaalala rin ni Padilla na ang Ka'aba ay binuo ni Propeta Abraham at ng kanyang anak na si Propeta Ishmael upang maging bahay ng pananampalataya para sa buong sangkatauhan.

"Ang pangyayaring ito nawa ay maging oportunidad upang mas mapalawak pa ang kaalaman ng bawa't isa tungkol sa iba't ibang pananampalataya, tulad ng napakagandang intensyon sa likod ng pagkakatayo ng banal na istraktura na ito," aniya.

Iginiit ni Padilla na hindi maitatanggi na bahagi ng tungkulin ng event organizer at management na "siguraduhin ang social at cultural sensitivity sa mga pampublikong kaganapan" tulad ng nasabing pet show.

"Dahilan dito, naniniwala po akong nararapat lamang ang public apology para sa Muslim community mula sa grupo o mga grupong bahagi ng pangyayaring ito," aniya.

"Sa diwa ng pag-unawa at paggalang sa mga paniniwala ng bawa't isa, taos-puso akong umaasa na ang iyong opisina ay magiging mas maingat sa mga programang maaaring makasakit, o may posibilidad na makasakit, sa anumang relihiyon sa ating bansa," dagdag ng mambabatas.

Robin Protests Use of Ka'aba 'Prop' in Mall Pet Show

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla protested the improper depiction of the Holy Ka'aba as a pet stroller or cart in a recent pet fashion show held at a mall in Quezon City recently.

In a letter to the mall's management, Padilla said the Holy Ka'aba is a blessed structure that bears great significance in the Islamic faith, and is a sacred site during religious pilgrimages.

"While the audio from the said video is proof that the contestant was acting in good faith and that there was no intention of offending anyone, we cannot undermine the fact that the act of using the blessed structure as a pet stroller had hurt the Muslim community," he said in his letter.

Padilla, a Muslim, chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.

He also reminded the mall management that the Ka'aba was built by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael as a house of worship for all mankind.

"May this experience, however unfortunate, be an opportunity to widen perspective and promote understanding of various religious beliefs and practices, befitting the great intent for which this Holy structure is built," he said.

Also, Padilla stressed it is incumbent on the event organizers and mall management "to observe social and cultural sensitivity and appropriateness in every public event."

"It is in this regard that I believe the Muslim community deserves nothing less than a public apology from the group/s behind the event," he said.

"In the spirit of understanding and respect, I sincerely hope that your office will be more circumspect on programs that may offend or tend to offend religious faithfuls in our country," he added.