Mayor gets Moro sword from Muslim community

CEBU, Philippines - The Muslim community has given Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña a Moro kris as a gift.

Osmeña, who was declared honorary sultan by the Muslim community in Cebu, said the giving of the sword to him was in accordance with the Moro tradition.

Ayaon Punut, head of the Muslim community, handed the sword to the mayor. He said it symbolizes unity and strong relationship between them and Osmeña. Punut said they consider Osmeña as a king being a sultan.

"Yes, the Muslim kris  is the most famous weapon variation found in Muslim tribe and it is a symbol of man's status in society as well as being powerful," he said.

The mayor said he also wants the Muslims to feel that the city is a place for them not just for Cebuanos.

He said he wants members of the Muslim community to feel that they are secured in the city for having him as their sultan and mayor.

"I feel much honored and they bestowed upon me the blessing. I have accepted because I think it would help make the Muslim community in the city of Cebu feel more secured knowing the mayor is the sultan," he said.

Osmeña said Muslims and Christians will be treated fairly under his administration. The Muslim community in Cebu declared Osmeña as honorary sultan in 1988 during his first term as mayor.

"Long ago, I have been declared when they established the Sultanate of Cebu and they have declared me to be Sultan of Cebu. At first, I thought it was honorary things like you know, honorary mayor or something like that. No, I am Sultan of Cebu," he said.

Osmeña said the Muslims made a research on him and allegedly found him to be the third caliph to Muhammad. 

"This was during a very long ceremony on my first term. I did not brag about it but I ask them, how can this be, I'm a Catholic but my blood is Muslim. They researched, they said there is no Osmeña in Spain and Osmeña is a Muslim name. Osmeña is a holy man, he is the third caliph to the prophet Muhammad," the mayor recalled.

His good relationship with the Muslims started when he gave them cemetery. Since then, the Muslim community had been helping the city government in terms of maintaining peace and order. (FREEMAN)