President Marcos called on Filipinos to embrace the message of Eid’l Adha by letting go of pride and choosing humility and faith in the face of personal and national trials.

In his official message for the Feast of Sacrifice, Marcos said the solemn Islamic observance offers a deeper lesson for everyone, regardless of faith, about surrendering pride and embracing the “more difficult journey” of the heart.

“Eid’l Adha invites us to embark on a more difficult journey—not towards a place, but towards a state of heart,” the President said on Friday, June 6.

“Indeed, when we fully lay down our temporal concerns, we leave a special place for the Divine to take root in our hearts and in our nation,” he added.

Marcos praised the devotion of Muslims who commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, describing it as a powerful symbol of obedience and faith that transcends religion.

“This sacred day calls us to remember that devotion reveals itself when we are asked to release what we once believed we could never give,” he said.

The President also reflected on the moment of silent discernment that often precedes acts of sacrifice, describing it as “achingly familiar”—a reminder of private reckonings and difficult moral choices faced by many Filipinos.

“What stays in us is not the moment of sacrifice, but the silence that came before it,” he added.

Marcos related the significance of Eid’l Adha to the Hajj pilgrimage, calling on Filipinos to focus not on how much is given but on what is restored.

“The measure is not in how much is given, but in what is restored: the dignity where there was dismissal, fairness where there was neglect, and compassion where there was indifference,” he said.

He urged citizens to leave behind “not only victory but renewal,” and to let truth and remembrance guide their service to the nation.

“In doing so, we affirm that sacrifice, at its best, does not vanish but uplifts, and leaves something stronger,” Marcos said.

Vice President Sara Duterte also joined the Muslim community in observance of Eid’l Adha, describing the celebration as a time to uphold values that transcend religion and speak to everyday Filipino life.

“Sa okasyong ito, nawa’y magsilbing paalala sa ating lahat ang kahulugan ng sakripisyo, pananampalataya, at kabutihang-loob — mga bagay na mahalaga hindi lang sa ating pananampalataya kundi maging sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay bilang isang sambayanan (On this occasion, may we all be reminded of the meaning of sacrifice, faith, and kindness—values that matter not only in our faith but also in our daily lives as a nation)," she said.

She added that the spirit of Eid'l Adha is a reminder of courage, generosity, and compassion for others—virtues that she said are especially important in the present time.

Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is among the most sacred Islamic holidays. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. In the Philippines, it is a regular holiday under Republic Act No. 9849.

The occasion coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and is marked by prayers, community meals, and acts of charity among Filipino Muslim communities, particularly in Mindanao and Metro Manila.

Proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha are issued after the approximate days of the Islamic holidays have been determined under the Islamic calendar or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos is the body that makes recommendations based on Saudi Arabia's highest religious body.

The Philippines has been observing Eid'l Adha as a national holiday for nine years. In 2002, RA 9177 declared Eid'l Adha only a regular holiday in the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.