MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang declared October 26, 2012 a regular holiday throughout the nation in observance of Eidul Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.The declaration was contained in Proclamation No, 488 signed by President Benigno Aquino III.

“Republic Act No. 9849 provides that Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a regular holiday,” the proclamation said. “Eidul Adha is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam, “it said. The date of the festival, the proclamation said, was based on the declaration made by Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) recommended that the observance of Eidul Adha should be on October 26, 2012 and that the Eidul Adha prayer be performed on the final declaration of the Saudi Government.