President Marcos hopes Ramadan strengthens kinship among Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — As he joined the Muslim community in observance of Ramadan or the holy month of fasting, President Marcos yesterday expressed hope that the religious occasion would “strengthen kinship” among Filipinos.

“It is my hope that this month-long celebration will strengthen our kinship, open our hearts to forgive past grievances and embrace a spirit of harmony that will redound to our collective progress,” Marcos said in his message.

“Together, let us build a future where love and understanding prevail and where the light of hope shines brightly for all,” he added.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world observe fasting and abstain from worldly pleasures “as a means of purifying their souls and deepening their connection with Allah,” the President said.

According to Marcos, Ramadan has a “special significance” in the country as it reminds the people of the rich diversity of cultural and religious tapestry in the Philippines.

“It is with no doubt that our Muslim brothers and sisters have made invaluable contributions to our nation’s history and heritage, shaping our beloved motherland into the diverse and united country that it is today,” he said.

Malacañang has belied a post circulating on social media that March 11 has been declared a regular holiday in celebration of Eid’l Fitr.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Official Gazette — the official publication of the Republic of the Philippines — said the document was fake and a “tampered” version of Proclamation 729 signed in 2019 by then executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Based on Proclamation 368 issued by Malacañang in October last year, the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha for 2024 will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar Hijra or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has been advised to recommend to the Office of the President the actual dates on which Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha holidays will respectively fall.