MANILA, Philippines鈥擯resident Benigno Aquino III has declared Oct. 15, 2013 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice or Eid鈥檒 Adha.
Mr. Aquino signed Proclamation No. 658 on Oct. 3 but it was made public only Friday.
The President based the proclamation on Republic Act No. 9849, which provides that Eid鈥檒 Adha shall be celebrated as a regular holiday.
Eid鈥檒 Adha is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam, but the date of the festival is based on the declaration made by Saudi Arabia鈥檚 highest religious body.
The other, Eid鈥檒 Fitr or the Feast of Breaking the Fast, is celebrated by all Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Eid鈥檒 Adha is the 10th day in the month of Hajj, or Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, wherein Muslims pay homage to Abraham鈥檚 supreme act of sacrifice that signifies mankind鈥檚 obedience to God.
This year, Malaca帽ang said that the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos had recommended that the observance of Eid鈥檒 Adha be held on Oct. 15, 鈥渁nd the Eid鈥檒 Adha prayer be performed on the final declaration of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.鈥� Michael聽 Lim Ubac
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