Philippine Presidential Palace Announces Next Friday as Official Holiday to Celebrate Eid al-Fitr

The Presidential Palace of the Philippines announced Friday night that April 21, 2023 (Friday) is a legal non-working holiday (Regular Holiday) to celebrate Eid'l Fitr.

"In order to place the religious and cultural significance of Eid al-Fitr at the forefront of national consciousness and for the entire Filipino nation to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in peace and harmony with their Muslim brothers and sisters, it is necessary to declare Friday April 21, 2023 as a national official holiday," the announcement read."

Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, with the Muslim community celebrating three days after the month-long Ramadan fast.

The fasting ritual during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims must stop eating and drinking during the dawn and sunset every day, because they will use Ramadan as a time for reflection, forgiveness and charity.

Another important celebration is Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar to commemorate Ibrahim (Abraham)'s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.

Eid al-Fitr also marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth pillar of Islam.

Muslim Filipinos make up about 6 percent of the population.

In honor of the country's Islamic traditions, the government made Eid al-Fitr a fixed holiday in 2002 in accordance with Republic Act No. 9177 and Presidential Proclamation No. 1083. The holiday was determined by the use of the moon-based Islamic calendar by seeing the new moon in Islam's Shawwal month.

The wage algorithm is as follows:

During the statutory holiday period, the employee's salary algorithm for the day is as follows:

No work-daily salary x 100%

Work-Daily Salary x 200%

Overtime-hours worked x hourly rate x 260%

If there is a statutory holiday employee's rest day, the salary algorithm for that day is as follows:

Work-Daily Salary x 260%

Overtime-hours worked x hourly rates x 338%