President Rodrigo Duterte has proclaimed July 20, 2021, a national holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice. The Office of the President in the Malacañan Palace issued Proclamation No. 1189 on Thursday, allowing Filipino Muslims to enjoy Eid’l Adha “subject to current community quarantine and social distancing measures.”
July 20 declared regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has earlier recommended that July 20 be designated a regular holiday in honor of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Eid’l Adha is one of Islam’s two most important feasts, the other being Eid’l Fitr. According to Republic Act No. 9849, Eid’l Adha is to be observed as a regular holiday.
Proclamation No. 1189
Here is the signed copy of Proclamation No. 1189 from the Malacañang Palace, released yesterday, July 15, 2021.
Eid’l Adha marks the culmination of the hajj (pilgrimage) rites at Minā, Saudi Arabia, near Mecca, but is celebrated by Muslims throughout the world. Like Eid’l Fitr, it is distinguished by the performance of communal prayer at daybreak on its first day.
The festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar and continues for an additional three days.
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In Islamic festivities, Eid’l Adha marks the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismail or Ismael) as an act of obedience to God, before God then intervened, to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. It is one of the largest religious festivals for Muslims worldwide.
In the Philippines, Republic Act (RA) 9849 signed in 2009 says the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah or the twelfth month of the Islamic Calendar, is hereby declared as a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha.
