It is high-time to end the ignorance that is a major cause behind the discrimination against Muslims and other groups in the Philippines, Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla said.

Padilla, a movie actor and director, stressed this today Sept. 22 at the hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities and Muslim affairs where a bill seeking to establish a National Hijab Day was taken up.

"Pag may discrimination, ibig sabihin noon may kamangmangan ... Maraming tao akala nila they are knowledgeable but they are fools (When there is discrimination, there is ignorance. Many people who engage in discrimination think they are knowledgeable but they are fools)," Padilla said after hearing some resource persons' testimonies of the discrimination they experienced.

"Talagang tunay ang discrimination (Discrimination is real)," added the lawmaker, who himself has experienced being a victim of discrimination not just because of his Muslim faith but also because of being an “ex-convict."

Earlier, Padilla filed Senate Bill 233 that provides heavy penalties against discrimination including jail time of at least six years, and a fine of at least P100,000.

He also filed Senate Bill 1272, which commemorates Feb. 1 as National Hijab Day to ensure understanding and to fight discrimination through "awareness, education and empowerment.”

At the hearing, Padilla narrated he witnessed discrimination against Muslim women because of their wearing a hijab - when they were about to board a ship heading for Bohol.

Padilla narrated that the security guard on duty was rude to his companion who was wearing a hijab, but very courteous to those not wearing a hijab.

"Kasi baka di rin masisi ang ibang tao dahil baka tingin nila, baka napanood nila sa TV at pelikula, minsan hindi maganda. Pati sa news na sinasabi, lalo na pagka-biased ang balitang napanood mo, di maganda talaga. (Some people may act that way because of what they watch on TV or the movies - or even in news shows that may be biased).Kaya nakikita natin ang kahalagahan ng National Hijab Day para magkaroon ng araw ng pagpapaliwanag sa hindi Muslim kung ano ang suot ng Muslim na kababaihand (That is why the National Hijab Day is important - so that non-Muslims will understand why Muslim women wear hijab)," he noted.

Also at the hearing, women's rights advocate Samira Gutoc narrated being shamed in a part of Manila because she was wearing a hijab. She added some nurses in Zamboanga treat those wearing hijab differently.

For her part, lawyer Maisara Latiph said she experienced discrimination along Recto in Manila some 30 years ago, when she was still 17 years old. She also noted some schools had regulations that required them to remove their hijab.

Latiph also said even drivers of public transportation refused to let them ride because they were wearing a hijab. "Ito nararanasan namin araw-araw (We experience this every day)," she said.

Meanwhile, Ceazar Maranda, director of the Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, said he witnessed such discrimination in a mall along EDSA when he went there with his mother and wife.

He said that when his mother and wife entered the mall, the guard commented, "Mga Abu Sayyaf nakapasok dito (Abu Sayyaf terrorists have entered the mall).”

Maranda said he called the attention of a manager to point out the incident.

Also, Maranda pointed out that a major drugstore chain has refused to hire Muslims even as interns.

Latiph said it is high time to pass the bill for a National Hijab Day. "It is high time we pass this legislation that sends a message of unity and solidarity for people of different faiths in this country... Ito ay 30 years in the making (This is 30 years in the making)," she added.