DATU PIANG, Maguindanao —They sing Christmas carols at the top of their voices, belting out lines such as “Let earth receive her King” from the 1839 piece “Joy to the World.”
Some of the children even mix unusual lines in their rendering of Christmas songs. For those who hear them, forgiveness is readily given.
What is surprising to visitors of this sleepy town, which is a mixed community of religions, is that the carolers are not Christians, but Muslims.
Muslims do not celebrate Christmas and regard Jesus Christ as a prophet.
“One thing that amazes me is the caroling of Muslim children in the houses of the Christians,” said Fr. Eduardo Vasguez, parish priest of Sta. Teresita Church.
Vazquez said for the people of Datu Piang, it appeared that religion was not a hindrance to celebrating Christmas together.
Muslims make up the majority of the population here.
“This is something unique in Datu Piang. Generally the Muslims and Christians here are living harmoniously. Through the years, they have learned to respect and love one another. It has been a common scenario here to see Muslims and Christians attending wedding, fiesta, anniversaries, burials and other Christian events,” he said.
“It’s also very common to hear the Muslims saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to the Christians,” he said.
Muslims here and in other parts of Maguindanao also join their Christian neighbors in setting off firecrackers on Christmas Eve or on New Year’s Day.
In Jolo, Sulu, where a number of Christians also live, gunfire can be heard on Christmas and New Year’s.
It has become part of the tradition of local Muslims even if their religion does not teach them to celebrate Christ’s coming and the dawning of the New Year, one observer said.
