Vice President Leni Robredo said the observance of Ramadan amid the coronavirus pandemic serves as a reminder that Muslim Filipinos belong to a community bound together by acts of “kindness, justice, and collective resolve.

This was the Vice President’s message on Thursday, May 13, during the celebration of Eid’l Fitr or the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting when Muslims are prohibited from eating or even drinking water from sunrise to sunset as they exercise patience and self-control.

Ramadan is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts, and shopping for the family, but Robredo said families and friends were forced to spend time apart to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Today is more than a feast that marks the end of a period of fasting; it is a continued reminder that we are a single community,” said Robredo. 

“While the pandemic and its many challenges may prevent us from coming together as we did in the past, today we are reminded that we are a community not just through proximity, but through the numerous acts of solidarity, kindness, justice, and collective resolve that we practice every day,” she added. 

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The Vice President hopes that the community would find ways to cherish these bonds while still observing physical distancing protocols. 

“As you each end your fasts, cherish these bonds and remember that as we maintain our physical distance, the spiritual ties that bind us tighten with every act of communal responsibility. I look forward to the day when we can reclaim our lives fully, and emerge stronger under a better normal for every Filipino,” said Robredo.

Muslim Filipinos are celebrating Eid’l Fitr amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, with total infections in the entire country already breaching the 1.1 million mark as of Wednesday, May 12. 

Lanao del Sur’s COVID-19 task force suspended mass gatherings and congregations during Eid’l Fitr to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Malacañang declared Thursday as a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr. The feast is traditionally celebrated for 3 days. – Rappler.com