President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially declared June 28 as a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid'l Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
Proclamation 258, signed by President Marcos, was made public on Wednesday, solidifying the holiday declaration. Eid'l Adha is traditionally recommended as a regular holiday by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.
Eid'l Adha is one of the two major Muslim holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide and holds significant religious importance, considered holier than Eid'l Fitr. In the Philippines, where approximately 6 percent of the population follows Islam, the holiday holds special meaning for the Muslim Filipino community.
The declaration of Eid'l Adha as a regular holiday is in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 9849, which states that Eid'l Adha should be celebrated as a regular holiday. This holiday allows Muslims to pay homage to Abraham's supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind's obedience to God, as outlined in the legislation.
Eid'l Adha commemorates the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar and marks the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five Pillars of Islam.
With the official holiday declaration, Filipinos of all backgrounds are encouraged to extend their greetings and respect to their Muslim fellow citizens during this important religious occasion.
