MANILA, Philippines — Taking the cudgels for Filipino pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, who could be stranded in Manila, President Benigno S. Aquino III has appealed to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud for his benevolence by granting 1,100 more hajj visas to enable the pilgrims to travel to the Kingdom and fulfill their Islamic obligation.

The President noted that Filipino registrants for Hajj 2011 have reached 5,282, thereby surpassing the 4,000 total contracted with Saudi hajj providers.

He said the pilgrims sought his help in securing the additional 1,100 visas for their pilgrimage.

"Your Majesty, most of these pilgrims traveled from far-flung communities and are now in Manila hoping to continue on their journey to the Two Holy Mosques," said the President.

"In this view, I seek Your Majesty's benevolence and indulgence to grant the needed additional hajj visas to allow all our Filipino Muslim pilgrims to perform their obligation to the Almighty, Allah (SWT)," Aquino said.

The President made the appeal in a letter to the King after the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) appealed for presidential intervention with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, for the pilgrims still without visas.

NCMF Secretary Bai Omera D. Dianalan Lucman cited the significance of a Christian president appealing to a Muslim head of state for the hajj of the latter's people.

"I and the rest of the NCMF leadership are really grateful to President Aquino for his quick response," she said.

She said the Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago hand-carried Aquino's letter to the Saudi monarch's Royal House in Riyadh, the capital.

A five-day ritual, the Mecca pilgrimage -- which is obligatory to every adult Muslim with financial capacity -- is expected to start on Nov. 4.

NCMF officials have been working hard to get the needed hajj visas, but still with no success, prompting the request for a presidential intervention.

Some of the pilgrims with no visas are getting apprehensive, trooping to the NCMF in Quezon City to inquire their status.

They are also at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila, awaiting their fate.

Aquino said the Philippine government through the NCMF manages yearly the hajj mission to give local Muslims the opportunity to participate in the "momentous occasion."

As a result of over-shooting the 4,000 quota, the President said over 1,000 pilgrims are now left with a dilemma.

Aquino thanked King Abdullah for the Kingdom's sustained support and help for Filipino pilgrims.

"I understand that this annual pilgrimage to the Two Holy Mosques is a significant milestone in the lives of Muslims all over the world, including the increasing number of Filipino Muslims," said Aquino.

He assured the King of the Philippine Hajj Mission's continuing cooperation with the Kingdom for a safe, orderly and meaningful pilgrimage.

The Saudi diplomatic mission in the Philippines, meanwhile, assured that it "is taking into its consideration the humanitarian aspect" of the plight of over 1,000 Muslim Filipinos from the remote provinces who come to Manila on their way to Mecca.