PBBM: Dignity, fairness, compassion can strengthen a nation

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

In his Eid al-Adha message, Marcos said he hopes the occasion inspires Filipinos of all faiths “to respond to what our times ask of us, and to leave behind not only victory but renewal.” (PCO file photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday called on his fellow Filipinos to contemplate on the sacrifices that can be made for nation-building.

In his Eid al-Adha message, Marcos said he hopes the occasion inspires Filipinos of all faiths “to respond to what our times ask of us, and to leave behind not only victory but renewal.”

“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 said.

“The measure is not in how much is given, but in what is restored: the dignity where there was dismissal, fairness where there was neglect, and compassion where there was indifference.

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Marcos said Eid al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith and obedience when he sacrificed his son Ishmael to Allah.

He noted that what is left is not the moment of sacrifice, but the silence that came before it, allowing everyone to recognize “something achingly familiar: the private reckonings, the sleepless discernments, and the places where we are caught in between.”

“This sacred day calls us to remember that devotion reveals itself when we are asked to release what we once believed we could never give. 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,” he said.

Marcos said the observance of Eid al-Adha is an invitation for everyone to embark on a “more difficult journey” towards a state of heart, adding that the best offering does not vanish but uplifts and leaves something stronger.

“Beyond the event lies a deeper truth that what brings us closest to the Almighty is the giving up of certainty and the letting go of pride,” he said.

“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.”

Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice marks the culmination of the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.

It is the second of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam, along with Eid al-Fitr.