MANILA – As Muslim communities celebrated Eid’l Adha yesterday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to contemplate the nature of offerings that genuinely fortify a nation.
In a statement, the Chief Executive emphasized that the significance of offerings lies not in the quantity given, but in what is restored: “The dignity where there was dismissal, fairness where there was neglect, and compassion where there was indifference.”
President Marcos further noted that the Feast of Sacrifice becomes evident when individuals are prompted to relinquish what they once believed they could not part with, similar to the actions of Prophet Ibrahim.
“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. 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 said.
President Marcos further said that what people brings closest to the Almighty is the giving up of certainty and letting go of pride.
“Eid’l Adha invites us to embark on a more difficult journey — not towards a place, but towards a state of heart,” he said. “When the people fully lay down their temporal concerns, they 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 added: “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.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio hoped that the spirit of Eid’l Adha would serve as a reminder to Filipinos of the essence of courage, generosity, and compassion for others.
“Sa okasyong ito, nawa’y magsilbing paalala sa ating lahat ang kahulugan ng sakripisyo, pananampalataya, at kabutihang-loob — mga bagay na mahalaga hindi lang sa ating pananampalataya kundi maging sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay bilang isang sambayanan,” the Vice President said in a statement sent to Panay News.
“Ang diwa ng Eid’l Adha ay nagsisilbing paalala ng lakas ng loob, pagbibigayan, at malasakit sa kapwa — mga katangiang lubhang mahalaga sa kasalukuyang panahon,” she added.
Eid’I Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is a major holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide for three to four days with most of them attending the special prayers at major mosques and Islamic centers throughout the world./PN
