The Holy Month of Ramadan is marked with the sighting of the New Moon on the Ninth month of the year which in our present year (2009) falls on the 22nd of August. It is in this holy season wherein the the world unites with the Islamic world to celebrate oneness with Islam and the various muslim communities on the planet. And with the Bulk of the OFW force is located within the Muslim states of the world, it is only ideal that newbie OFW workers read these simple guidelines to know what to expect and what to see about this holy month.
1. Be Discreet in Eating your daytime meals – Filipinos tend to eat more than 3 times a day. During the Ramadan period, Muslims are involved with Fasting because they believe that this is a cleansing ritual to purge out all impurities within their bodies. Try to eat in a safe place, away from their eyes, as this would signify a sign of respect to this ritual.
2. Office hours may be affected – As ramadan enters, you will find that most offices may be changing their daytime schedules to adapt to the demands of the Ramadan Rituals.
3. Everybody is busy – Ramadan makes our Muslim brothers and sisters busy to catch up with the rituals and prayers which follow a certain time frame. Always be on alert and never delay them whenever they are rushing to take part in the prayers.
4. Stay at home – For non islamic OFW’s, it is better to stay at home and do somethine worthwhile or productive, than going out to have a great time in the city. Remember, Ramadan is a solemn season for the muslims, as a sign of respect, it would be better for you to just stay put.
5. Be prepared for the Eid al-fitr – This celebration marks the end of the Ramadan season. For the muslims, this is their “New Year” celebration where everyone is enjoying the food, company of others, praying, and celebrating in the streets after a month of cleansing.
So have a blessed Ramadan to all, and always remember to have peace and solemnity to reign your lives. Shokran!
Best Regards,
The PinoyME community
