TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 16 (PIA) --  Malacañang has declared July 20 a regular holiday this year for the whole country.

Through Proclamation No. 1189, which Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed on July 15, the government has officially pegged the celebration of the Eid’l Adha for this year on that day.

Eid’l Adha is one of the two celebrations which the Muslim followers of Islam revere and is made among the country’s regular holidays.  

Eid’l Adha and Eid’l Fit’r are Muslim feasts which the whole Christian-dom also celebrate in unity with the Muslim brothers' culture and traditions.

Eid’l Adha commemorates the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice and is a celebration that revolves around the historical tradition of Abraham putting his son Isaac on the altar table of sacrifice as a way for Allah to test the former’s faith. 

On the other hand, Eid’l Fit’r celebrates the Feast of breaking the fast, which Muslim believers practice from dawn to sundown in the month-long Ramadan.

It may be recalled that Republic Act 9849 has mandated the celebration of the Eid’l Adha as among the country’s regular holidays.

However, since Islam festivals are determined by the lunar calendar, the date of the feasts has to be determined by a proclamation every year based on recommendations of Muslim scholars.

With this, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is tasked to recommend to Malacañang the dates of the two Muslim festivals for the current year.

 This year, the NCMF recommended July 20 as the date to be declared as regular holiday to observe Eid’l Adha.

 With the Presidential proclamation, Duterte also reminded everyone that the celebrations should be subject to the existing community quarantine protocols and social distancing measures. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)