A Catholic school will soon be lifting its controversial ban on the the hijab, after talks between Christians and Muslims in Zamboanga City.A joint statement by Pilar College and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said the decision was based on "common values" such as hospitality, communion, respectful service, openness to dialogue, and sensitivity to the signs of the times.
The statement did not specify when the ban will be lifted. It said the school will do so after introducing "programs toward the voluntary wearing of hijab".
Sister Maria Fe Gerodias explained that the school has banned the hijab for over a century -- not just recently, as reports said -- because some Muslims had experienced discrimination over the veil.
She said, "The Christians do not really understand very well the value and the need for the hijab. That's why we need to conduct a formative program, educative program, for our Christian parents, to educate students and teachers. And I think that's also needed for the Muslim communities, because they themselves have varying interpretations of the use of the hijab."
The NCMF, for its part, will assist the school in implementing the programs, and assign a qualified female representative to regularly participate in implementing the school's interfaith programs.