NOYNOY MARKS 50TH BIRTHDAY. Presidential aspirant Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III speaks during his pre-birthday celebration held at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City last Saturday.

Muslims greeted Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III for his 50th birthday Monday, with the Muslim Alliance for Noynoy Aquino (MANA), saying they support him for his pro-peace process stand on the Mindanao conflict.

Aquino was born on Feb. 8, 1960.

Lawyer and former Speaker Paisalin Tago of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), MANA president, and his group organized the motorcade that will pass through Metro Manila’s Islamic communities.

It was MANA and the Muslims’ way of saying advance “Happy Birthday” to Aquino, Tago said, as they wished him good health and long life so he could fulfill his dream and vision for the country and all Filipinos.

“We also wish Sen. Noynoy Aquino that his special day on Monday onward will bring greater peace, joy and prosperity to our country,” said the MANA founding leader.

The motorcade with at least 57 vehicles started at 9:15 a.m. at the Islamic Center on Palanca Street in Quiapo, Manila, and ended at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“Our motorcade, which also shows a snowballing support for Noynoy Aquino by the Islamic communities in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, has been planned to visit as much as possible all Muslim populated areas in the metropolis,” Tago said.

The motorcade passed by Litex Market and Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, both in Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City; Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan; Maharlika Village and Bandara Inged in Bicutan, Taguig City; Baclaran in Pasay City; and the Port Area in Manila.

Over at Maharlika Village in Taguig, Tago said they stopped at the Blue Mosque for the mid-day Islamic Dhuhr prayer.

"We also prayed to God to grant Noynoy good health, wisdom, and courage to face all the trials that come with the political exercise. We hope he will become the final peacemaker for Mindanao," he said.

The activity had for its theme, “Paglalakbay para sa Pagbabago at Kapayapaan; Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap.”

Among other MANA officials are former ARMM assemblyman Abraham T. Burahan, executive vice president, and former ARMM speaker and vice governor Ibrahim P. Ibay, national treasurer.

Tago said they formed MANA (meaning legacy) in recognition of the contributions of Noynoy's parents to the struggle of the Bangsa Moro.

“It was through the exposé of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. of the Jabbidah Massacre that sparked the formation of the Moro National Liberation Front,” said Tago.