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Filipino Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos declares June 6 a regular holiday for Eid'l Adha
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared Friday, June 6, 2025, a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid'l Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice. Marcos signed Proclamation No. 911 following the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) based on the 1446 Hijrah Islamic Lunar Calendar. 'Following the 1446 Hijrah Islamic Lunar Calendar, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has recommended that June 6, 2025, Friday, be declared a national holiday, in observance of Eid'l Adha,' the proclamation stated. Eid'l Adha is one of the two most significant holidays in the Islamic calendar, alongside Eid'l Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. The celebration honors the story of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Traditionally, animals such as sheep, goats, cows, or camels are slaughtered as part of the commemoration.
Filipino Times
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos calls on Filipino Muslims to uplift others, live with compassion in Eid'l Fitr message
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joined the Filipino-Muslim community in celebrating Eid'l Fitr on Monday, March 31, marking the end of the month-long Ramadan (Festival of Breaking the Fast). 'In spirit, the Festival of Breaking the Fast is more than a celebration; it is a testament to our desire for shared humanity, strengthening bonds of family and friendship, as well as unity among our peers,' said Marcos. He emphasized that the essence of the occasion lies in the capacity to help and uplift those in need and 'help find joy in those who seek it.' 'Only through living with compassion and inclusivity can we appreciate and understand what Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sought to accomplish—a life where harmony and love prevail upon us all,' Marcos said, adding that Filipinos should not forget their shared responsibility to one another. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) announced on Sunday that Eid'l Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, would be celebrated today, March 31, following the successful sighting of the crescent moon. The Bangsamoro Grand Mufti echoed the declaration, stating that the moon was sighted by the official Moon Sighting Team deployed to strategic locations. Eid'l Fitr, observed on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar, marks the conclusion of a month-long period of fasting, prayer, and reflection. It is a time for families and communities to unite in prayer, express gratitude, and celebrate together.
Filipino Times
30-03-2025
- Climate
- Filipino Times
PH Muslim leaders declare March 31 as Eid al-Fitr celebration following moon sighting
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has officially announced that the celebration of Eid al-Fitr will take place tomorrow, Monday, March 31, 2025. This declaration follows the successful sighting of the new moon (hilal), which marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The moon sighting was conducted in coordination with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Darul Ifta, various Ulama groups, non-government organizations, and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The moon sighting in Bauang, La Union, was confirmed by PAGASA Weather Specialist Salvador G. Quirimil. Eid al-Fitr, a significant religious holiday for Muslims, is celebrated worldwide to mark the conclusion of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The holiday is a time for Muslims to come together with family and friends for prayers, feasts, and acts of charity, expressing gratitude for the strength and patience exhibited during the month-long fast. In recognition of this important occasion, Malacañang has declared April 1, 2025, as a regular holiday in observance of Eid al-Fitr, allowing Filipino Muslims across the nation to join in the celebrations. In a statement, the NCMF extended its Eid al-Fitr greetings to all Muslim Filipinos, wishing them a blessed and joyous celebration. 'Eid al-Fitr Mubarak to all,' the agency said. The confirmation of the moon sighting and the official announcement of the Eid al-Fitr date follow a tradition observed by Muslim communities in the Philippines and around the world. Local Muslim leaders and scholars have long played a key role in coordinating the moon sighting efforts, ensuring that the timing of the celebration aligns with Islamic teachings.
Filipino Times
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos declares April 1 as holiday for Eid'l Fitr
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared April 1 a regular holiday in observance of Eid'l Fitr, the Feast of Ramadan. Marcos signed Proclamation 839 following the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos' (NCMF) recommendation to declare the date a national holiday. The declaration aims 'to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid'l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.' Eid'l Fitr, one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, is observed by the Muslim community three days after the month-long Ramadan fasting. The other important celebration, Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice, is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar and commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son to God. Related Articles
Gulf Today
25-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Halal economy in Philippines experiencing notable growth
A priority project of the 'National Development Plan 2023-2028' of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Administration, a holistic halal economy is expanding in the Philippines. While in 2023 and 2024, the country was voted by the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index as the 'Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year,' the Department of Tourism (DoT) posted a 9.8 per cent increase in tourist arrivals from Islamic and Muslim-populated countries, which was over 10 per cent of the total tourist arrivals of 5,949,350 in 2024. Emiratis ranked 12th. This was from the presentation of the Philippines' DoT Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar and from the interview with National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Director Saleha Pangarungan Sacar, in the UAE recently, for the 35th anniversary of the UAE-based Prime Group of Companies, which has been assisting businessmen in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, comply with all the international certification requirements of the global halal industry. Meanwhile, Josh Mojica, a senior high school graduate from the Cavite Province south of Metro Manila and one of the individuals recognised at the 'Prime Group Gala Night' told Gulf Today that having his kangkong (water spinach) snacks halal-certified is a no brainer. 'There is no reason for our company to be nag-iinarte (bratty) and not submit to the halal requirements. It is simply moving forward,' said Mojica. He now owns and manages two halal-certified factories in his hometown, manpowered by 200 halal-certified employees for the local and international demand of the snacks that first became the sumptuous delight for his late maternal grandfather's birthday a few years back. The snacks became a viral sensation from December 2021 after 2022 presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson tweeted that he had ordered 500 packs from a high school student-turned kangkong entrepreneur whose inspiration was his maternal grandfather. Among his international chain of distributors are UAE-based Filipinos. 'I did not know the senator's identity; until a huge van parked in front of our house to pick up the orders,' Mojica said, adding that his best achievement is not becoming a jobs generator but having his 'hardworking single mommy' take her much-needed rest from back-breaking labour. On the developments of Philippines' halal economy, Director Sacar explained that NCMF, under the Office of the President, regulates all 12 halal certifying bodies in the Philippines which must guarantee that among employees of halal-certified business establishments are Muslims to make sure that halal business practices are enforced. Bodies had estimated that for the global halal food segment alone, this would reach $2.11 billion (Dhs7,749,764,000.00) this year and expanded to $3.97 billion (Dhs14,581,333,600.00) in 2034. Undersecretary Abubakar stated that with the 'DoT's more aggressive stand on Muslim friendly-tourism, the Mastercard-Crescent Rating awards have also given the Philippines a great promotion to our Muslim travelers looking for a new place to go to.' 'With the promotions set up in our Southeast Asian neighbours and our friends from the Middle East, we are projecting that visitors will steadily rise. As you see, it is not an exaggeration that the Philippines is becoming more a viable option and destination for our Muslim brothers and sisters,' said the former DoT-Zamboanga Peninsula regional director who has been pushing for the Halal Muslim-Friendly Tourism Mindanao Programme and doing so as well, by way of her Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth advocacy. From the June 2024 'Halal in Travel Global Summit' in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and as reported by the Philippine News Agency: 'Among the non-Organisation of Islamic Countries destinations, the Philippines has steadily increased its appeal to Muslim tourists by strategically developing their Halal Tourism portfolio, enhancing halal accreditation of hotels and restaurants, and conducting Halal awareness orientations. This effort builds on their achievement of winning the 'Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year' award in last year's Halal in Travel Global Summit.' According to Abubakar, one of the exciting projects DoT undertook was the December 2023 'Bismillah: Faith, Love and Flavours of Mindanao.' It was a showcase that there was only a dearth on the knowledge Muslim-Filipino-friendly cuisine. Diplomatic Corps members who savoured 'classic Muslim Mindanaoan dishes, reinvented into fine dining,' even went to visit Mindanao thereafter. Programmes to further spike Muslim-friendly interest in the Philippines such as trade exhibitions and shows have been pipelined for 2025. Islam was introduced in what used to be a pagan archipelago by Arab Sheikh Karimul Makdhum particularly in Sulu, in the 1300s before Spain conquered it by way of Roman Catholicism in the 1500s. Today, there are 7.6 million (6.5 per cent) Muslims, 9.7 million (8.3 per cent) Catholics and other faiths), and 6.6 million (5.8 per cent) Christians of the 116,500,000 Philippines population.
