Boracay’s Christians, Muslims live in peace

Unlike in several areas in the country and the world, Christians and Muslims are living peacefully in this island resort.
They have been engaged in dynamic business and religious pursuits since the Muslims, which have a mosque and a business center here, arrived in this prime tourist destination more than two decades ago.
A municipal councilor attributed this relationship that is in stark contrast to the common world view to a “secret.”
“The secret is simply effective communication,” said Sangguniang Bayan of Malay member Rowen Aguirre.
“We in the local government communicate with the Muslim community about what needs to be done” to maintain peace, said Aguirre, focal person for the island’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit this year.
Boracay is under the jurisdiction of the municipal government of Malay.
According to local officials, the smooth relationship between Christians and Muslims in Boracay is imperative in ensuring the success of the island’s hosting of two APEC ministerial meetings this May.
Delegates for the Senior Officials Meeting will meet from May 10 to 21 while those for the Ministers Responsible for Trade will meet from May 23 to 24.
Personnel of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center are currently closely coordinating with Muslim leaders to maintain peace and order during the APEC Summit, so far the biggest international event that Aklan will host.
That the two religions peacefully coexist in the island, officials said, may be a sign that a similar setup is possible in other parts of the country and the world.
In the 1980s, Muslims from Mindanao started migrating to this resort island for trade. Majority of them came from several war-torn provinces in the southern major island.