Aquino leads nation in celebrating Eid'l Fitr
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the entire
Filipino nation in joining the Muslim-Filipino community in celebrating the
Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan).
"The bedrock of a robust society is an
empowered citizenry working together for the achievement of lasting peace and
meaningful reform, and there is no doubt that our Muslim brothers and sisters
contribute greatly to this foundation," the Chief Executive said in his
message to the Muslim-Filipino community.
"The compassion, discipline, and solidarity
that you demonstrate everyday are not just an affirmation of your strong faith
in Allah and your commitment to Islam, but also a testament to your proactive participation
in nation-building," the President said.
As they culminate the holy month of Ramadan,
President Aquino called on our Muslim-Filipino brothers and sisters to keep at
heart the spirit of bayanihan, and sustain the culture of dynamism in their respective
communities.
"Throughout our history, Islam has served
as a guide for many Filipinos, offering pathways of discernment for individuals
and communities of this faith," the President said.
"May its teachings hold true to the
collective conscience of the Filipino people, and may you always be guided by
integrity and excellence in your deeds, as we aim to fully realize our
country’s transformation," he said.
The President has declared August 20 as a
regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of
Ramadan).
He issued the declaration through Proclamation
No. 455 signed on August 13 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., in
line with Republic Act No. 9177 that declared Eid’l Fitr or Feast of Ramadan as
a regular holiday throughout the country.
Eid’l Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim World for
three (3) days after the end of the month of fasting.
Ramadan is the month when Muslims observe a
strict fast for a period of 12 hours daily, from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan is also a month of sacrifice and
purification as the Muslims worldwide fast, pray and act with kindness towards
the poor and less fortunate. (js)
Aquino declares August 30 as special non-working
day in Mandaue City in celebration of its 43rd Charter Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
August 30, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working) day in the
City of Mandaue in celebration of its 43rd Charter Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration,
through Proclamation No. 426 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on July 10 to give the people of Mandaue City the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Mandaue became a chartered city on August 30,
1969 by virtue of Republic Act No. 5519. It is one of the highly urbanized
cities in the central Visayas region. (js)
Aquino government assures normal operations of
the Department of Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies
despite ongoing search and rescue operations for Secretary Robredo
The Aquino administration assured the public
that the normal operations of the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and its attached agencies are unhampered by the ongoing
search and rescue operations for Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo and his companions following an aircraft mishap off the coast of
Masbate on Saturday afternoon.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made
the assurance to the public, in a statement issued on Monday, amid reports that
the search and rescue operations will be expanded up to the nearby islands due
to the possibility that the DILG chief and the two pilots were “brought by
strong current somewhere.”
"We advise the public that the priority of
the authorities at this time is the ongoing search and rescue efforts for
Secretary Jesse Robredo and his companions," Lacierda said.
"We assure the public that the normal
operations of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and its attached
agencies, continue. The President will be making further announcements
concerning the Department at the proper time," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the vigil for the rescue of
Secretary Robredo and his companions continues at the National Shrine of the
Divine Child in La Salle Greenhills, Mandaluyong City.
"There will be a mass at 5 p.m. (Monday)
and the vigil will continue after. As with previous days, the vigil is open to
any member of the public who wishes to attend to express solidarity with the families
of those still missing," the Palace spokesperson said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III has ordered the
military, police and concerned government agencies to intensify the search and
rescue operations to vigorously find Secretary Robredo and two others who went
missing after their Piper Seneca plane that was supposed to bring them to Naga
City from Cebu City crashed off the coast of Masbate City. (js)
Search and rescue operations for missing
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo remains top concern of
President Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III remains “very
concerned” on the plight of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo whose chartered plane he took with three others to Naga City from Cebu
City crashed off the coastal waters of Masbate City on Saturday, Transportation
and Communication Secretary Manual Roxas II said on Monday.
In a press conference at the Command Center in
Masbate City, Roxas said the President chose to remain in Masbate City since
Sunday to personally oversee the search and rescue operations of Robredo and
his companions: Captain Jessup Bahinting, the pilot and CEO of Aviatour Air
that owned the aircraft, and Kshitiz Chand, the Nepalese copilot.
“Concerned na concerned siya (President Aquino)
Patuloy niya sinusubaybayan, mino-monitor at sinunundan lahat ng mga
developments dito sa search and rescue operations na ito.,” Roxas said.
He added that the President saw Robredo not only
as a Cabinet Secretary and government worker but a true ally and supporter of
his advocacies.
“To quote him (President Aquino): 'Sec. Jesse is
not just a kawani sa gobyerno or katrabaho niya. Di lamang personal friend but
parang comrade at kasama. Kasama niyang handa na ma-persecute, makulong at
sumama sa lahat ng mahahalagang isinulong na adbokasiya para sa kabutihan ng
ating bansa,'" Roxas said.
“So emotionally engaged siya dito sa search and
rescue na ito. Kita niyo naman ang pangulo, very somber, very serious, very
professional and very thorough sa kanyang mga tanong sa military and civilian
leaders so very, very concerned siya,” he added. (rck)
Aquino visits wife of DILG Secretary Jesse
Robredo in Naga City
President Benigno S. Aquino III left Masbate
City, where ongoing search and rescue operations for missing Interior and Local
Government Secretary Jesse Robredo are in full swing, to visit the Secretary’s
wife, Maria Leonor, in Naga City, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II said
on Monday.
Roxas said that the President flew to Naga City
to personally brief Maria Leonor on the status of the search and rescue (SAR)
operations for her husband whose plane crashed off the coast of Masbate City on
Saturday.
“He (President Aquino) is flying to Naga to
personally brief Ma’am Leni on the ongoing SAR efforts,” Roxas said in his
twitter account (@MARoxas).
He appealed to everyone not to draw any
conclusion with the President’s trip saying the President only wanted to
personally brief the family on SAR operations.
“Please don’t speculate. His (President Aquino)
trip does not indicate any new developments or information other than that he
wants to personally brief the family on the ongoing efforts,” Roxas said. (rck)
