Declaring Eid'l Adha as a National Holiday
Proclamation No. 1808, issued on April 12, 2009, declares November 27-28, 2009, as national holidays in the Philippines in observance of Eid'l Adha, one of Islam's two major feasts. This proclamation acknowledges the importance of Eid'l Adha as a celebration within the multi-ethnic context of Philippine society and emphasizes the need for social justice and accommodation of diverse ethnic traditions. It aligns Eid'l Adha's recognition with other significant Christian holidays, reinforcing the country's commitment to honoring its rich cultural heritage. The proclamation was signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo.
April 12, 2009
PROCLAMATION NO. 1808
DECLARING EID'L ADHA AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY
WHEREAS, RA No. 9492 provides that Eid'l Adha shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao;
WHEREAS, Eid'l Adha is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam; SEIacA
WHEREAS, Eid'l Adha falls on November 27-28, 2009;
WHEREAS, the great feasts of the Christian Church such as Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, and All Saints' Day are national holidays;
WHEREAS, to guide our search for peace, one principle is that our society is a multi-ethnic one which should be founded on social justice for all and the institutionalized accommodation of ethnic traditions. Christian and Muslim are but a few of names to which the Filipino responds, in a wondrous testimony to our rich and varied heritage as a nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare November 27-28, 2009, Friday and Saturday respectively, as national holidays.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunder set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE on Easter Sunday, this 12th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.