By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined Muslims in celebrating Eid’l Fitr on Saturday, urging fellow Filipinos, across faiths and cultures, to exemplify the virtues nurtured during Ramadan beyond the sacred month to build a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
In his official message, the President honored the sacrifices and discipline of Muslims in deepening their faith and solidarity with each other.
As the month of prayer, fasting, reflection, and generosity ends, Marcos Jr. stressed that the values of compassion, humility, patience, and charity cultivated during Ramadan “must not end with the breaking of the fast.”
“They must travel beyond the self. They must strengthen families, restore hope in communities, and remind us that a nation is built not only through laws and institutions, but through people who choose kindness, responsibility, and solidarity with one another,” he said.
The Chief Executive described Ramadan as a reminder of “a truth long lived by our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
“We see it in homes that make space for others, in acts of charity that restore dignity, and in communities that endure hardship with patience and grace. We see it in the quiet fidelity to duty even when no one is watching,” he said.
The President likewise expressed hope that Eid’l Fitr would “bring comfort to those who carry heavy burdens, renewed strength to those who serve, and joy to every Filipino home.”
“May it deepen understanding across faiths and cultures and continue to unite us in our shared aspiration to build a Bagong Pilipinas where dignity is upheld, opportunity reaches every Filipino, and peace flourishes through justice and mutual respect.”
Earlier, Marcos Jr. declared March 20, 2026 a regular holiday nationwide through Proclamation No. 1189 in observance of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, which started on Feb. 19.
However, the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ on Thursday evening announced that the crescent moon was not sighted, prompting Muslims in the country to observe Eid’l Fitr on March 21.
-jpv
