Nov. 16 declared as National Holiday by Malacanang

abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 11/10/2010 12:34 PM | Updated as of 11/10/2010 1:06 PM

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Malacañang on Wednesday has declared November 16, Tuesday, a National Holiday in celebration of the Islamic religious holiday Eid’l Adha.

The announcement of the holiday was made through Proclamation Number 60, signed by the President on Tuesday.

The date is a nonworking holiday.

The proclamation said the date was confirmed by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

Republic Act 9849 stipulates that Eid’l Adha (sometimes spelled Eid al-Adha, Eid ul Adha or Eid-u’z-Zuha, meaning the Feast of Sacrifice), one of the major religious feasts in Islam, shall be observed as a national holiday.

The holiday commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his own son, Ishmael (or Ismail), upon the command of Allah.

The feast starts at the end of the Hajj (the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to the Holy City of Mecca).

It is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the Zhul Hijja, the 12th and last month of the lunar Islamic calendar.