President Marcos joins Muslim community in celebrating Eid’l Fitr

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos joined yesterday the Muslim community in the Philippines and abroad in celebrating Eid’l Fitr or the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.

In his message, the President said the entire nation gives importance to the occasion “for we recognize the Islamic faith and embrace it as part of our own collective consciousness.”

“With our many faiths informing all our actions and bridging all our differences as a diverse set of peoples, we can transcend any challenge and still remain unified under the banners of camaraderie, respect and love,” Marcos said.

He also expressed hope that the Muslims here and overseas would deeply instill and apply in their daily lives the teachings and values during the observance of Ramadan.

“As you culminate the holy month of Ramadan by celebrating the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, may you sustain the values, teachings and practices that you have wholeheartedly discerned and embodied throughout this time,”  the Chief Executive said.

“Let this form the foundations of your characters as you continue to fulfill righteous deeds and strive to live a virtuous life moving toward,” he said.

Marcos has declared April 21 a regular holiday througout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr through Proclamation 201.

The proclamation, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 14, said it is necessary to declare April 21 a regular holiday throughout the Philippines “in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.”

Eid’l Fitr, also known as Festival of Sweets, is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam.

The religious holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. — Emmanuel Tupas