MALACAÑANG, Manila — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially declared Friday, March 20, 2026, a regular holiday across the Philippines in observance of Eid’l Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Through Proclamation No. 1189, the administration emphasized the importance of bringing the religious and cultural significance of the “Feast of Breaking the Fast” to the forefront of national consciousness, allowing the entire nation to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community.
While the government-mandated holiday is being observed today, the actual religious celebration of Eid’l Fitr has been moved to Saturday, March 21. The Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) confirmed that the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted during the official observation held on the evening of March 19. As a result, the Bangsamoro Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani, announced that the faithful would complete a 30th day of fasting this Friday.
This discrepancy between the holiday date and the religious celebration is common in the Philippines, as the lunar-based Islamic calendar depends on physical moon sightings which can only be confirmed the night before. By declaring the holiday on March 20, the government provided a bridge for workers and students to prepare for the festivities, which include the Salat al-Eid (morning prayers), family reunions, and the sharing of traditional dishes like beef rendang and pastil.
The Palace extended its “Eid Mubarak” greetings to the Muslim Ummah, recognizing the values of sacrifice, reflection, and charity that define Ramadan. President Marcos Jr. highlighted that such observances reinforce the country’s commitment to peace and harmony within its diverse religious landscape. The holiday also saw the suspension of the expanded number coding scheme by the MMDA to facilitate smoother travel for those visiting relatives during the long weekend.
As the 30-day spiritual journey of Ramadan concludes today, the official festivities will commence tomorrow morning. Across the country, mosques and open prayer grounds are being prepared for congregational prayers, while many families are already engaging in Zakat al-Fitr, a mandatory act of charity to ensure that the less fortunate can also partake in the joy of the upcoming festival.
