JEDDAH – There has been a 50 percent increase in the number of Filipino pilgrims that have arrived in the Kingdom to perform Haj, according to Philippine Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay. Garibay said around 6,000 pilgrims arrived, compared to last year's estimated 4,000. The Philippine Consulate's Administration Officer R.J. Sumage said the pilgrims arrived in batches and the first group landed in the Kingdom on Sept. 26. Sumage said Commissioner Edilwasif T. Baddiri of the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) was among those who arrived early. Sumage said the last group of Filipino pilgrims arrived early Thursday morning. The group included Haj Attorney Mehol K. Sadain and other commissioners. Sadain, former commissioner of the Commission of Elections (Comelec), was appointed the new secretary of the NCMF by President Benigno Aquino in April. The national theme for this year's Haj is “Pilgrimage for Peace”, which according to Sumage is in line with the Philippine government's signing of a landmark framework agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). After the pilgrimage Garibay said the consulate would host the traditional Haj night on Oct. 31 in honor of the pilgrims.
