PH Embassy in Riyadh, Consulate General in Jeddah Cooperate with NCMF in Assisting Filipino Hajj Pilgrims

24 August 2017 — As the hajj pilgrimage activities came to a close, the more than 5,000 Filipino pilgrims who went to Makkah and Madinah this year to undertake their pilgrimage benefitted from the close coordination among the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the coordination was evident during the hajj night hosted on Friday by the Consulate General for the pilgrims before their return to the Philippines.

“Overall, this year's hajj pilgrimage for the Filipino-Muslim participants went smoothly as a result of the close coordination between and among the Embassy, the Consulate General and the NCMF,” Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan V. Alonto said. 

“Hajj night is traditionally the culmination of hajj festivities for Filipino pilgrims, both to bid farewell to them as they prepare to go back to the Philippines and to also listen to their stories, happy and sad, during the hajj,” Consul General Edgar B. Badajos said. Hajj pilgrimage activities officially came to a close on 23 August.

One unfortunate story in this year's hajj is the passing of three Filipino pilgrims due to natural causes.

“The Consulate assisted the fatalities and their families through the prompt issuance of the No Objection Certificate for the Burial of Remains,” Consul General Badajos said.

According to Consul General Badajos, the pilgrims--two male and a female--died of natural causes. 

One of the male pilgrims died at the Al Noor Hospital in Makkah due to peptic ulcer and coronary heart disease, while the other male pilgrim was admitted at the intensive care unit of the same hospital due to complications from diabetes on 17 August, but later passed away.  Both were buried in Makkah within the day of their death.

Meanwhile, the female pilgrim passed on due to cardiac arrest after departing from Manila on 24 July. The plane she was on made an emergency landing in Bangladesh where she was pronounced dead by airport medical authorities. Her remains were flown to and buried in Madinah.

“We closely monitored the situation of the 5,700 Filipino Hajj pilgrims and the 115 officials from the NCMF led by Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan, who are currently in Makkah,” Consul General Badajos added. “We we are ready to assist them should the need arise.”

For the Filipino pilgrims, their participation in this year's hajj is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Every Muslim is expected to perform hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her own lifetime. END