Marcos鈥� Eid鈥檒 Adha message: Reflect on nation-building
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — File photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday urged Filipinos to reflect on the kind of offering that truly strengthens a nation, as he joined the Muslim community in commemorating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
In his message, Marcos cited the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who was commanded by Allah to sacrifice his beloved son as a test of faith.
READ: Palace declares June 6 a regular holiday to commemorate Eid al-Adha
“The story of Prophet Ibrahim endures because it leads us to the edge, to that thin border between obedience and resistance, where the soul must decide what truly matters,” Marcos said.
“What stays in us is not the moment of sacrifice, but the silence that came before it. In that hush, we recognize something achingly familiar: the private reckonings, the sleepless discernments, and the places where we are caught in between,” he added.
He noted that the story of Prophet Ibrahim illustrates how surrendering certainty and pride brings people closer to the Almighty.
“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, where truth becomes a force that can shape the public good,” he said.
“As this solemn celebration coincides with the culmination of the journey of renewal—the Hajj— let us reflect on what kind of offering truly strengthens a nation,” he added.
The president also said the true value lies not in the quantity of what is given, but in what is restored—dignity in the face of disregard, justice in times of neglect, and compassion in place of indifference.
“May the spirit of this sacred remembrance inspire Filipinos of all faiths to respond to what our times ask of us, and to leave behind not only victory but renewal. In doing so, we affirm that sacrifice, at its best, does not vanish but uplifts, and leaves something stronger,” he added.
Malacañang declared June 6 a regular nationwide holiday in observance of Eid al-Adha.
READ: Palace: June 6 and 12 are holidays
Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s two major holidays, falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. It commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command./mcm
