April 21, which falls on the observance of the Eid’l Fitr or Feast of Ramadan, is a regular holiday, Malacañang announced on Friday, April 14.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos declared April 21 a regular holiday nationwide “to allow the entire Filipino nation to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr”, Presidential Proclamation No. 201 dated April 14 said.
The proclamation also said the declaration will “bring religious and cultural significance of Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.”
It said the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos had recommended the declaration of the holiday.
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.*