Nov. 7 declared a holiday

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday declared Nov. 7 as a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, one of two feasts celebrated by Muslims.

President Aquino signed Proclamation 276 stating that Nov. 7, which falls on a Monday, “shall be celebrated as a regular holiday in accordance with Republic Act 9849 and based on the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.”

Nationwide prayers for Eid’l Adha will be held a day earlier, on Nov. 6.

RA 9849, declaring the 12th month of Islamic calendar as a holiday, was approved by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in December 2009.

Other holidays include Nov. 1 (Tuesday), in observance of All Saints’ Day, and Oct. 31 (Monday), which Aquino declared as a special non-working holiday.

The President issued Proclamation 265 declaring Oct. 31 a holiday to “give full opportunity to our people to properly observe the day with all its religious fervor which invariably requires them to travel to and from different regions of the country.”

Classes and work will resume on Nov. 2 (Wednesday), or All Souls’ Day since this date was not included in the list of holidays that will be observed on a yearly basis as per Proclamation 84 that President Aquino issued in December 2010.

During Arroyo’s time, holidays which fall on a Sunday are moved to Monday under the “holiday economics” policy apparently aimed at attracting more tourists.