Malacañang has declared April 21, 2023, a regular holiday across the country for the observation of Eid'l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadhan.

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The Official Gazette announced this on its Facebook page on Friday evening, April 14, a week before the observation.

Based on Proclamation No. 201, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, it was necessary to declare the holiday to allow every Filipino to be one with the Muslim community in the celebration of Eid'l Fitr.

"In order to bring the religious significance of the Eid'l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness and to allow the entire Filipino nation to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid'l Fitr, it is necessary to declare Friday, 21 April 2023, a regular holiday throughout the country," the Proclamation read.

Proclamation No. 201, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (Eid'l Fitr)

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This is the second of the three long weekends Filipinos get to experience this month. The first was a five-day holiday during the Holy Week.

The Muslim world celebrates Eid'l Fitr for three days after the end of the month of fasting. It is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide as it marks the end of Ramadhan, or the Islamic holy month of fasting.

In the country, Eid'l Fitr has been recognized by the Philippine government as a regular holiday under Republic Act No. 9177, also according to Presidential Proclamation No. 1083, signed into law on November 13, 2002.

Some Filipino Muslims celebrate and observe Eid'l Fitr at the Manila Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila, while Muslim communities in Mindanao stage large public celebrations.

Eid'l Fitr, also the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, signifies the Muslims' successful journey towards spiritual purification through month-long fasting.