Eid Al-Fitr: June 5
Eid Al-Fitr: June 5
Eid Al-Fitr: June 5
Eid al-Fitr was originated by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is observed on the first day of the Islamic month
of Shawwal at the end of the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims undergo a period of fasting. According
to certain traditions, these festivals were initiated in Medina after the migration of Muhammad from
Mecca. Anas (R.A) reports: When the Prophet arrived in Madinah, he found people celebrating two specific
days in which they used to entertain themselves with recreation and merriment. He asked them about the
nature of these festivities at which they replied that these days were occasions of fun and recreation. At this,
the Prophet remarked that the Almighty has fixed two days [of festivity] instead of these for you which are
better than these: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. “Eid al-fitr” literally means “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” Eid al-Fitr
marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal,
the 10th month of the Islamic calendar (though the Muslim use of a lunar calendar means that it may fall in any season
of the year). As in Islam’s other holy festival, Eid al-Adha, it is distinguished by the performance of communal prayer
(ṣalāt) at daybreak on its first day. Eid al-Fitr is a time of official receptions and private visits, when friends greet one
another, presents are given, new clothes are worn, and the graves of relatives are visited.
June 12
Independence Day One of the most significant dates in the Philippine history is Independence Day because it
marks the nation's independence from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. Filipinos celebrate it annually on
June 12. The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896. In December 1897, the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, an
agreement between the Spanish colonial government and the revolutionaries, created a truce between the
parties. Under terms of this agreement, Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders went into exile in
Hong Kong. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong
Kong to Manila Bay leading the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. On May 1, 1898, the Dewey defeated the
Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay. Later that month, the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the
Philippines. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine independence from Spanish colonial
rule. Philippines independence was not recognized either by the United States of America or by Spain. The
Spanish government later ceded the Philippine archipelago to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris.
The Philippines Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty. When the Americans sought to
execute the terms of the treaty, a three-year conflict, now called the Philippine-American War, ensued. The US
granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946 through the Treaty of Manila. July4 , the date
intentionally chosen by the United States because it corresponds to its Independence Day, was observed in
the Philippines as Independence Day until 1962. The annual June 12 observance of Philippine’s
Independence Day came into effect after past President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Republic Act No.
4166 regarding this matter on August 4, 1964. This Act legalized the holiday, which is based on the
Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and Filipino revolutionary forces
from the Spanish colonization. The Philippines’ flag was raised and its national anthem was played for the first
time in 1898.
June 18
Ifugao Day. Ifugao was formerly known as a part of the old Mountain Province. It was created as an independent
province on June 18, 1966 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4695, otherwise known as the Division Law of Mountain
Province. Under this Law, Mountain Province was divided into four provinces namely: Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga
Apayao, and Mountain Province. The word "Ifugao" means hill. The Spaniards changed 'pugo' to 'pugaw' and was
finally changed by the Americans to "Ifugao". September 2, 1945 is an important day in the country’s history for it
was on this day that a momentous event took place in the town of Kiangan, Ifugao that led to the end of the Second
World War(WWII) in the Asia Pacific. The war began in 1940 and the Japanese soldiers invaded the Philippines.
The war spread to the world for nearly four years between the Allied and Axis powers killing millions of people and
destroying billions worth of property globally changing the lives of people. With the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and
Hiroshima in Japan led by the US who belonged to the Allied Powers, the Japanese Imperial declared its surrender
on August 15, 1945. The Japanese though signed the Instrument of Surrender though before the Allied Forces
aboard the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo, Japan on September 2, 1945. In the Philippines which is one of the
battlefields of WWII, several Japanese soldiers of the Shobo Group assigned in Luzon led by Japanese Imperial
Army General Tomoyuki Yamashita, also known as the “Tiger of Malaya”, refused to capitulate but instead
continued waging war. With the advancing combined Filipino and American forces, Yamashita tried to rebuild his
army but was forced to retreat from Manila to the mountains of Ifugao and the Cordillera. There at Mt. Napulawan in
Hungduan town, Yamashita’s troops made their last stand.
July 15
Cordillera Day. Executive Order No. 220 was issued by former President Corazon C. Aquino on July 15, 1987
that created the CAR which will be composed of the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province and
Baguio City from the Ilocos Region and the provinces of Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao from the Cagayan Valley
region. Under the said presidential issuance, the CAR was tasked to perform the activities of government in the
region, accelerate the socio-economic growth in the region and prepare the region for regional autonomy.
Cordillera Day celebration is a testament of the resolute and steadfast struggle of the Cordillera people for self-
determination and national democracy. It is important to celebrate Cordillera Day because it is not only a
gathering to remember the past struggles, and the martyrs. Cordillera day is in itself a people’s action because
it is held where there are urgent issues. Cordillera Day also serves as a venue to renew and reaffirm our
commitment to continue defending the homeland against plunder and destruction.
August 12
Eid al-Adha is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow
Allah's (God's) command to sacrifice his son. Muslims around the world observe this event. Eid al-Adha or Eid
Qurban, also called the "Festival of the Sacrifice", is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide
each year, and considered the holier of the two. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an
act of obedience to God's command. But, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to
sacrifice instead. In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed ritually and divided into three
parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.
Eid-ul-Adha is the celebration of sacrifice, and it is important for two reasons. First, during Eid-ul-Adha we
remember the spirit of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and how he was willing to sacrifice the person
he loved the most, because it was Allah's command which he had to obey no matter what! Second, Eid-ul-
Adha ends the period of Hajj (the 5th pillar of Islam ). Every year, about 3 million people go to Mecca and
perform the pilgrimage together.
August 21
Ninoy Aquino Day is a national non-working holiday in the Philippines observed annually on August 21,
commemorating the assassination of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. He was the husband of
Corazon Aquino, who was later became Philippine President; they are treated as two of the heroes
of democracy in the country. His assassination led to the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos on February 25, 1986,
through the People Power Revolution. In 2004, the commemoration ceremony for the holiday was held and
events were attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fidel V. Ramos. The holiday was created by
Republic Act 9256, which was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 25, 2004,
twenty-one years after his death and the eighteen years after the People Power Revolution., and was
sponsored by Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia. The inaugural Ninoy
Aquino Day was celebrated in 2004 after the then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared it as a day to
commemorate his death anniversary. The holiday was also part of her “holiday economics” program to boost
tourism in the Philippines. The EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) holds activities on the day to
commemorate Aquino’s fight for democracy.
August 26
National Heroes Day- The celebration of National Heroes Day began during the American Colonial Period. The
Philippine Legislature, then dominated by Filipino leaders who represented the national aspiration for
independence, first enacted the holiday into law through Act No. 3827 on October 28, 1931. The Act declared
the last Sunday of August of every year an official national holiday. It is celebrated to pay homage to the
National Heroes of the country. Initially National Heroes' day was celebrated on 30th of November as it was
the birthday of Andres Bonifacio. Later this day moves to the fourth Monday of August, to pay tribute to all
other known or unknown men and women who sacrificed their lives for Philippine freedom. This is a perfect
day to remember the life and work of all these great people.
September 2
Victory Day- President Rodrigo Duterte has approved on October 30, 2018 Republic Act No.
11120 declaring September 2 of every year a special nonworking holiday in the province of Ifugao in
commemoration of the surrender of Yamashita in Kiangan. It also enjoins the Provincial Government in
coordination with the Municipal Government of Kiangan, the National Historic Commission of the Philippines,
the PVAO and the Military Shrine Service to lead appropriate and meaningful commemorative programs and
activities to be participated officials and employees of the national, provincial and municipal offices and
instrumentalities, and civic, religious, non-government, business and civil society organizations in order to give
significance and honor the heroes and heroines who contributed to the Philippine Liberation from the Japanese
forces. (JDP/DBC- PIA CAR, Ifugao)
September 13
SIPAT Day- Ganggangan was 24 years old and among the secretariat members when former President
Corazon “Cory” Aquino and Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) head, former rebel priest Conrado “Ka
Ambo” Balweg, met for the traditional "sipat" or exchange of tokens on September 13, 1986. It marked the start
of the end of hostilities in the mountains where the Igorots live. The tokens exchanged include a Bible, a rifle,
and a rosary from Aquino to Balweg. Cory received a spear, shield, bolo and a head ax from Balweg on
September 13, 1986 at Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain Province. The agreement led to the issuance of
Executive Order 220 on July 15, 1987 that created the CAR. Malacañang issued Proclamation 802 declaring
September 13, 2019 as special non-working holiday in the CAR in commemoration of the "Sipat"