Feast of Eid’l Adha ushers in long weekend of reflection in GenSan
In a letter dated November 23, 2009 to the Honorable Pedro B. Acharon, Jr., City Mayor of General Santos City, Field Director Guialil R. Kanda of the Office of Muslim Affairs of Regional Office No. XII-A, informed him that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued Proclamation No. 1808-A declaring November 27 and 28, 2009 as Regional Holidays in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
This is in celebration of the Feast of Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), one of Islam’s only two major festivals, commemorating the prophet Abraham‘s willingness to sacrifice his firstborn, Ismael.
The letter continues that “said proclamation effectively amends Proclamation No. 1808, dated April 12 2009″.
Mr. Kanda then proceeds to explain in the letter that Proclamation No. 1808-A, “does not amend Presidential Decree No. 1083 where Muslims are granted the privilege of observing Muslim holidays by virtue of P.D. No. 1083 and Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 81-1277″, in select areas in Mindanao including GenSan.
This means, that all government offices in the city, will have no work on November 27 (Friday), corresponding to the “10th day of lunar month of Dhu-Al-Hijjah”, 1430 H.“
And since Monday, November 30, 2009 is also the “Bonifacio Day” in honor of National Hero, Andres Bonifacio, the generals will once again enjoy a 4-day long weekend, which Bariles think is appropriate for the times considering the stress and depression most of us have been undergoing after news of the massacre of the Maguindanao Martyrs came out.
It would be a good time for the generals to reflect on the repercussions from that dastardly and barbaric act upon 13 of GenSan’s resident media personnel and gather to pay tribute to them (and the rest of the victims and their families) through their colleagues’ plans to conduct the wake collectively at the GenSan Oval Plaza Covered Court.
These holidays, the Feast of Sacrifice and the “Bonifacio Day”, are very appropriate, coming right after the deaths of our Maguindanao Martyrs and Heroes, whose lives were sacrified as if by fate, to pave the way for a long-lasting peace in the land
May their deaths not be in vain.
Photo by Mohammad Alsaihati.
Tagged Bonifacio Day, Eid'l Adha, Feast of Sacrifice, Guidalil Kanda, maguindanao martyrs, Maguindanao Massacre, Mayor Jun Acharon, muslim holiday, National Heroes Day, office of Muslim Affairs
gensanite11/25/2009 at 10:20 AM
my 2 cents…
this could’ve been one very long weekend, but GMA took back the holidays (27th and 28th), and declared it just for ARMM, and not for the whole country – as was originally declared last easter sunday… well… this was the third time this happened this year… why declare a holiday, then take it back? such irresponsibility… tsk, tsk, tsk…
orman11/25/2009 at 11:58 AM
work pa rin ako on friday kasi nasa manille ako… huhuhuhu!
fahdingding11/25/2009 at 2:08 PM
Nataon pa naman sa Eid’l Adha! Sana yung mga may sala ang isacrifice!
Rey11/25/2009 at 2:09 PM
As a Filipino Citizen, Deep within my heart I felt badly concerning the Maguindanao Massacre. I believe this is just one of the effects of the kind of government we have in our country. There is no bad in the system neither in the constitution itself. Only how our government servant leaders implement each of the laws within the constitution will later give the result. Someone said, “A Choice Has Consequences, it’s either good or bad.” Graft and corruption is just one piece to bring great destruction like this. God’s Word says, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” I am hoping that situations like this will be taken seriously first from the good end of the government servant leaders and second to the constituents/people of the Philippine Republic. It is not just bringing solutions to the current situation but a great preparation in the coming future for the next generation. Medical cliche says, “Prevention is better than cure”. You don’t need to wait things like this to happen and patch up some “solutions”, before it happens things must be done ahead. Lastly, God is Love and part of it is His vindication over justice. God bless Philippines.
fahdingding11/25/2009 at 4:33 PM
To all Muslims (Only by NAME) who are responsible for the “MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE…
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“O men, what I say to you, you must hear and remember… All of you are equal. All men. whatever nation or tribe they may belong to, and whatever station in life they may hold, are equal.
Even as the fingers of the two hands are equal, so are human beings equal to one another. No one has any right, any superioity to claim over another. You are as BROTHERS.
So has Allah made the lives, property and honour every man sacred. To take any man’s life or his property or attack his honor, is as unjust and wrong.”
BrAvO SiX11/26/2009 at 10:19 PM
EID MUBARAK!
another 10 days off here..! yohooooo!