JEDDAH, 10 January 2005 — A 75-year-old pilgrim from the southern Philippines province of Lanao del Norte died of illness on Saturday and was buried yesterday in Makkah, a report to the Philippine Consulate General said.

Binumbar D. Maguindanao, a member of the Maranao tribe from Baloi town, died of bronchial asthma and acute exacerbation, said the report of Moharrim M. Mohammad, head of the supervisory group and medical team advance party of the Philippine Haj Mission in Makkah.

Maguindanao died at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Al-Noor Hospital in Makkah, Mohammad said in a letter to Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot.

The ill-fated pilgrim was buried yesterday after Lomondot gave his nod. Her son Macmod Maguindanao, who also served as her mahram or male guardian, did not object to her being buried in the holy city, said Mohammad.

“We are saddened by the sudden demise of our fellow pilgrim. (But) this is the will of Allah,” Dr. Abdurahman U. Amin, chief mission consultant and adviser said.

“She died in peace while performing her religious duty,” Amin added.

Maguindanao was among an estimated 3,000 Filipino Muslims joining this year’s pilgrimage.

The amirul haj or chief pilgrim, Sulu Rep. Hussin Amin, arrived with a number of VIPs on Wednesday and were met at the Haj terminal by a welcoming party led by Lomondot, and consulate administrative officer Taha Guinomla.

Amin’s delegation includes Rep. Mujib Hataman of Basilan, Speaker Hatimil Hassan of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional legislative assembly, and Gov. Benjamin Loong of Sulu.

Also with them are ARMM Assemblymen Abraham Burahan, Alawiya Saaduddin Jr., Abdulmalik Adiong, Harisul Samanul, Maulana Omar and Assemblywoman Juliet Tammang; Mayor Najib Maldisa of Mimbung, Sulu; Mayor Fradzmer Ilaji of Pandami, Sulu; Dr. Nelsa L. Amin, head of the medical and dental mission; Ustaz Alhag Abdulbaki Aboubakar, grand mufti; Ahmad Sali, head of the supervisory team; and Dr. Abdurahman U. Amin, chief consultant and adviser.

Packed lunch courtesy of Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association of Western Region (APO-AAWRKSA) were been distributed to the pilgrims upon their arrival at the airport, welcoming officials said.

Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla has expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to the Filipino Muslim pilgrims by the Saudi government.

“I am so gratified and impressed by how the Saudi government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah gave their full support and cooperation to the Philippine government to ensure the success of this year’s pilgrimage,” he said.

Guinomla said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia likewise extended their felicitations and gratitude in a verbal instruction to be conveyed by Amin himself to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah.

Amin is the deputy majority leader of the Philippine House of Representatives.

Guinomla added that after the Haj, a reception will be tendered on behalf of the pilgrims at the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah. (With a report from Rodolfo Estimo Jr. in Riyadh)