MANILA, PHILIPPINES — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared June 28 a nationwide holiday for Eid’l Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
Marcos signed Proclamation 258 on June 13 to declare a nationwide holiday.
The proclamation was made public on Wednesday.
Eid’l Adha is usually a regular holiday for Muslim Filipinos. The holiday is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world. Eid’l Adha is considered holier than Eid’l Fitr.
About 6 percent of Muslim Filipinos in the Philippines, and the Republic Act 9849 stated that Eid’l Adha would also be declared a regular holiday for Muslims to celebrate in the Philippines.
According to RA 9849, the declaration allows Muslims to “pay homage to Abraham’s supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind’s obedience to God.”
According to the paper, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, which uses the 1444 Hijrah Islamic Lunar Calendar, recommended that the Palace make the announcement.
The holiday is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar, also known as the tenth day of Zhul Hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
During Eid’l Adha, Muslims will sacrifice a ritually accepted animal, usually a sheep, goat, camel, or cow. They do that to divide the flesh equally among themselves, people with low incomes, friends, and neighbors. The holiday is also a time for visiting friends and family to exchange gifts.
Eid’l Adha also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth Pillar of Islam. – WhatALife!/Zain
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