Amid forecasts of rains, the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday became the venue of a joyous celebration as the Muslim community marked the end of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.
Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported Friday several Muslims trooped to the open space at Quirino Grandstand as early as before 6 a.m. to pray and mark Eid'l Fitr.
Thousands of other Muslims also trooped to the Golden Mosque in Manila's Quiapo district before dawn Friday to mark Eid'l Fitr, where the imam there stressed the need for peace, unity and forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the Manila Police District said the celebrations had been peaceful, with no untoward incidents recorded as of 8 a.m.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will be affecting Mindanao while moderate to strong southwesterly windflow prevails over Northern and Central Luzon.
"Mindanao, Northern and Central Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.
President Aquino, through Proclamation 26, declared September 10 a regular holiday in order to promote cultural understanding and integration. In issuing pay rules during the Eid’l Fitr, Labor department Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz quoted Aquino as saying in the proclamation that “the entire Filipino nation should have full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr."
