While majority of the world made their countdowns on the eve of December 31, Muslims already had their Islamic New Year called Amon Jadid on December 28 based on the lunar Hijrah calendar.

   Leaders such President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) Executive Director Datu Ali B. Sangki,ARMM Gov.Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan and UNESCO Commissioner Taha Basman all made their welcome to the new year adding a wish that may peace, love and faith continue to prevail among our Muslim brethren.

   Below are some of their quoted words taken from an article in Manila Bulletin Online.

"Because of Filipino-Muslims’ strict adherence to their faith, I am optimistic that the ever gracious, and ever merciful Allah would help us achieve our common resolve to have a peaceful and progressive Southern Philippines."
--- President Arroyo

"The Muslim New Year has come at time that the Christian World is set to celebrate its own New Year, two days after Amon Jadid. As we welcome these New Years, Filipinos should take the occasions as an opportune time to refresh memories on the message of peace and unity, precepts common to Islam and Christianity."
--- OMA Undersecretary Sangki

"The new year should be an opportunity for us to do something worthy – not only to ourselves and immediate loved ones — but to anyone or everyone in dire need of help. It is an auspicious time to begin a sublime and noble objective."
--- ARMM Gov. Ampatuan

"Let us welcome the coming of the year 1430 of the Hijrah and 2009 of the Gregorian with a resolve to intensify our common efforts to develop stronger bonds and harmony among peoples of various religious community."
--- UNESCO Commissioner and CMM President Prof. Basman