File photo shows Muslims offering Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Eid al-Fitr festival marks the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (AFP PHOTO / Noel CELIS)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday encouraged the Muslim community to embody the values they learned during the month-long celebration of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr, which is the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, was moved from Friday, April 21 to Saturday, April 22 due to the crescent moon not being sighted.
READ: With no moon sighting, Eid’l Fitr now falls on April 22
“As you culminate the holy month of Ramadan by celebrating the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, may you sustain the values, teachings, and practices that you have wholeheartedly discerned and embodied throughout this time. Let these form the foundations of your characters as you continue to fulfill righteous deeds and strive to live a life moving forward,” said the President in a statement.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a daily fast, spending hours in prayer.
Marcos extended “salam” or peace to the Filipino Muslim community in his message.
“In the spirit of solidarity, the entire Filipino people also join the Muslim community in observing this solemn and festive occasion for we recognize the Islamic faith and embrace it as a part of our own collective consciousness,” he said.
The President also hoped that the Philippines would remain united amid different religions.
“With our many faiths informing all our actions and bridging all our differences as a diverse set of peoples, we can transcend any challenge and still remain united under the banners of camaraderie, respect, and love,” said Marcos.