MANILA — Malacañang declared May 3, 2022 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of the Eid‘l Fitr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, according to a document released on Monday.

"The entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in observance and celebration of Eid'l Fitr, subject to the public health measures of the national government," reads Proclamation No. 1356.

President Rodrigo Duterte urged Muslim to "give thanks to the Almighty" for giving them strength in their month-long fast, which was observed sunrise until sunset during Ramadan.

"Indeed, we have been sustained greatly by our faith in the past few years when our nation faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us therefore be truly grateful for the constant guidance and provision we have received all throughout this whole ordeal," he said in a message.

"On this solemn occasion, it is my hope that your spirits are truly refreshed and your strength for the coming days are fully renewed. May this event inspire you to remain models not only of the Islamic faith, but also of goodwill and compassion for all of humanity," added the President.

Beyond celebrating the end of Ramadan, Eid'l Fitr is a reminder of a community's solidarity, said Vice President Leni Robredo.

"Nawa’y palaging magsilbing inspirasyon sa atin ang diwa ng araw na ito: Pagkalinga, pagmamalasakit, at ang walang-kapagurang pagsisikap upang iangat ang buhay ng lahat. Eid Mubarak!" she said.

(May care, compassion and the untiring efforts to lift everybody's life, which are what this day is about, always inspire us.)

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Muslims will celebrate Eid‘l Fitr while Metro Manila and around 90 other areas are under the lowest pandemic alert level, which allows full onsite capacity for all activities, including religious gatherings.

"Hindi po namin halos maipalawanag ang kasiyahan namin sa mga ganitong bagay," said National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) commissioner Ulama sector Jamal Munib.

"After 2 years, at least ngayon nagkaroon na po ng mga pagtipon-tipon ang mga Muslim together with our mga neighbor, Christian. At least nagsalo-salo po sa ngayon lahat, ito po ang pinakamaganda dito," he said in a public briefing.

(We cannot explain our joy over this. After 2 years, at least Muslims can now gather with our neighbors, Christians. At least we can feast together, and that is the best thing here.)

The NCMF earlier requested Duterte to declare Tuesday a national holiday for Eid’l-Fitr, which is celebrated over 3 days.

The Office of the Bangsamoro Mufti declared the Eid'l-Fitr would start on Monday.

JUST IN: Bangsamoro Mufti announces that May 2 is Eid'l Fitr | via @erikreports pic.twitter.com/NQADCqSnAi

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 1, 2022

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Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said that despite carefully holding activities during Ramadan to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the holy month remained meaningful for all.

"Panalangin kong patuloy nating maisabuhay ang mga katuruan ng Ramadan, at mapanatili nating malakas ang ating... pananampalataya," he said.

Muslims make up around 6 percent of the Philippines' over 100 million population, where 8 in 10 are Catholics, according to government data.

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