President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared June 28, 2023, a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Marcos made the declaration through Proclamation No. 258.
The holiday will be observed throughout the country.
Eid’l Adha is one of the two important holidays in the Muslim calendar, the other being Eid’l Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
During Eid’l Adha, Muslims slaughter sheep, goats, cows, and camels to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son on Allah’s command.
According to Proclamation No. 258, Eid’l Adha is one of the greatest feasts of Islam being celebrated by worldwide.
“Following the 1444 Hijrah Islamic Lunar Calendar, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has recommended that 28 June 2023, Wednesday, be declared a national holiday, in observance of Eid’l Adha,” the proclamation said.
Republic Act No. 9849 has declared the “Tenth day of Zhul Hijja, the Twelfth month of the Islamic Calendar, a national holiday for the observance of Eidul Adha (Eid’l Adha), with a movable date.”
Eid’l Adha is the second of the two main holidays celebrated by Islam around the world.
In Muslim communities, part of the meat is consumed by the family that makes the sacrificial offering of an animal, while the rest of the meat is distributed to the poor and the needy. Thus, the event has been regarded as a festival of sharing.
Like Eid’l Fitr, it is distinguished by the communal prayer at daybreak on its first day. —NB/VBL, GMA Integrated News
