MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called on the nation to embody the values of humility, patience, and generosity practiced during the holy month of Ramadan as the country observes Eid’l Fitr this Saturday.
In a statement joining Muslim Filipinos in the “solemn and joyous” conclusion of the fast, the President highlighted Ramadan as a vital period of prayer and reflection that strengthens the national fabric.
“It reminds us that the deepest joys are often those earned through sacrifice, and that discipline in faith strengthens not only the individual, but the entire community,” the President said.
The Chief Executive emphasized that the spiritual discipline cultivated over the past month should serve as a long-term guide for both individuals and the community at large.
“The virtues nurtured during this sacred month—compassion, humility, patience, and charity—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,” President Marcos added.
President Marcos lauded the Muslim Filipino community for their resilience and quiet acts of service, noting that their dedication to duty and faith contributes to the country’s peace and stability.
“We see it in the quiet fidelity to duty even when no one is watching. These are the virtues that preserve peace in our neighborhoods, sustain trust in our communities, and keep hope alive in difficult times. That is why, in honoring this day, we also uphold a tradition of moral steadiness that helps keep our nation humane, united, and worthy of the aspirations of its people,” the President remarked.
He expressed his hope that the festivities would bring comfort to the marginalized and renewed vigor to those in public service, eventually fostering a deeper interfaith understanding across the archipelago.
“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,” the President concluded.
While President Marcos earlier issued Proclamation No. 1189 declaring March 20, 2026, as a regular holiday to mark the end of Ramadan, the actual religious observance shifted following traditional astronomical observations.
The Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ announced on Thursday evening that the crescent moon was not sighted, leading the Muslim community in the Philippines to officially observe Eid’l Fitr on Saturday, March 21.| PCO
