BY ARGYLL GEDUCOS
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President Duterte has declared Friday, July 31, a regular holiday across the country in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Based on Proclamation No. 985 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos made the recommendation that July 31 be declared a national holiday.
Eid’l Adha is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year and is considered to be holier than Eid’l Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan.
The feast honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. It also marks the culmination of the Muslim’s annual pilgrimage to Mecca or the Hajj.
It is one of the greatest feasts of Islam and Republic Act (RA) No. 9849 provides that it would be observed as a regular holiday.
Proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha are issued after the approximate days of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.
The NCMF is the body that makes the recommendation based on Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body.
The Philippines has been observing Eid’l Adha as a national holiday for nine years. In 2002, RA 9177 declared Eid’l Adha only a regular holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Last year, Duterte declared Aug. 12, 2019 a holiday in observance of the Feast of Sacrifice.
Meanwhile, Muslim religious leaders in Davao City have ruled out the holding of the usual outdoor congregational prayer as they celebrate Eid’l Adha Friday.
Aleem Mahmod Mala Adilao, chair of the Ulama League of the Philippines in the Davao region, said that the Eid’l Adha prayers will be held in their respective mosques.
However, Adilao said only 50 percent of the mosque’s capacity will be allowed, as they need to adhere to protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease.
Unlike in the past Muslim feasts, Islam believers in Davao City gather at the Tionko Football Field for the congregational prayers.
The religious leader said that as part of the practice during Eid’l Adha, they butcher cow and goats and share a meal together.
“Sa ngayon dahil pandemic, wala na munang salo-salo. Medyo hindi masaya kagaya ng dati dahil sa bawal pa ang mass gathering,” said Adilao.
He said the food will instead be distributed to every household. (with a report from Keith Bacongco)
