Palace: Jan. 27 Muslim holiday only, not nationwide observance

FILE: Facade of the Malacañang Palace as seen from Pasig River. (Photo by Architect Jorge Ramos (d. 2015) for the underlying copyrighted work (Malacañang Palace). Image is by Official Gazette of the Philippines, originally uploaded on Commons by User:P-JR – Commons:File:Malacañang Palace (Cropped).jpg, Public Domain)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang clarified that Monday, Jan. 27, is not a national holiday but only a Muslim holiday in observance of Isra Wal Miraj, the Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad.

In a statement Sunday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the holiday covers only the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and “other Muslim areas defined in the Muslim Code.

”

However, for Muslims working in areas where the holiday is not recognized, such as the National Capital Region (NCR), Bersamin clarified that they would be excused from work.

Al Isra Wal Mi’raj is one of the most revered events in Islam, symbolizing the miraculous journey of the Prophet Muhammad to the heavens.