MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – The Islamic celebration of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr, which means “Feast of the Breaking of the Fast,” culminates the Muslim’s practice of fasting during the Islamic holy month. Fasting on Ramadan is fourth in the 5 Pillars of Islam – mandatory acts to be observed in Muslim life.

The celebration also marks the start of Shawwal, the 10th month of their lunar calendar Hijri.

To Muslims all over the world, it is a joyous occasion marked by feasts and celebrations, all in thanksgiving to God in enabling the faithful to perform their religious duties and to foster unity among Islam’s faithful. (READ: The deeper meaning of Eid al-Fitr)

Let’s take a look at some facts regarding this sacred Muslim feast.

EID MUBARAK. Muslims worldwide are expected to celebrate the end of Ramadan once the new moon that heralds the start of the first of Shawwal is sighted. Graphic by Ivy Pangilinan/Rappler

1. Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations.

The other Islamic celebration – Eid al-Adha – is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar. It means “The Feast of the Sacrifice,” as it commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son to God. Eid al-Adha marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth Pillar of Islam.

2. It has alternative names.

Eid al-Fitr is also known as Eid al-Saghir (The Lesser Feast), while Eid al-Adha is being referred to as Eid al-Kabir (The Greater Feast).

Eid al-Fitr is also known in different names across the Muslim world. Among the Muslim communities of Southeast Asia, it is also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya means “Celebration Day.”

3. It has no fixed date in the Western/Gregorian calendar.

The Islamic Hijri calendar bases its months on lunar cycles, as opposed to the Gregorian calendar that follows the solar cycles. An Islamic month begins with the first new moon following the sunset of the last day of the previous month. As a consequence, an Islamic Calendar does not follow seasonal changes and does not coincide with Gregorian calendar months every year.

Since it’s a lunar calendar, the Hijri calendar year is 11 or 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, and this retrogrades yearly. For example, the Islamic New Year in 2014 is on October 24. In 2015, it will be on October 13, and in 2016, October 1.

In terms of the Gregorian calendar, this year’s celebration started on the evening of July 27, with Eid day on July 28. Taking the Hijri calendar’s retrograde into account, the next two years’ celebration would be around July 17 and 6 respectively.

4. Its date varies even within the Islamic community.

Since new moons don’t occur at the same time all over the globe, various Muslim communities tend to have their own calculations and observation techniques to determine the date of this important feast.

Some traditional Islamic communities herald the beginning of an Islamic Month not with any first new moon, but with the physical sighting of the first crescent new moon. To them, the Eid al-Fitr begins with the actual sighting of a crescent new moon following the end of Ramadan.

There are other Muslim communities that utilize calculations in determining the beginning of Islamic months. In Saudi Arabia, for example, they use the Umm al-Qura calendar, a calculation of the Hijri calendar created by the Institute of Astronomical and Geophysical Research of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

5. It begins very early in the morning in communal prayer.

In keeping with the Sunnahs (teachings & practices of the Prophet Muhammad), the faithful start the feast day by bathing, wearing their finest clothes, putting on perfume and eating something sweet before going to a large Mosque or a designated open prayer area with their families to start the day in prayer.

As per the second Pillar of Islam – Salat (prayer) – the congregation faces towards the direction of Mecca. Eid Prayers consist of two units called Rakats, with around 6 or 12 Takbirs, a ritual prayer that states that God is the greatest.

Following these prayers would be Khutbas (sermons) by the Imam. Usually, the sermons revolve around thanksgiving to God, historical background or significance of the celebration, forgiveness among neighbors, and their responsibilities to the third Pillar of Islam: Zakat (almsgiving).

Again, in keeping with the Sunnahs, the faithful ought to leave the prayer area in a route different from the one they took when going to the area.

6. Eid al-Fitr greetings follow the prayer service.

Following the communal prayer service, the congregation rejoices and greets each other with the traditional greetings of Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid) or Eid Sa-id (Happy Eid). Greetings cards may also be exchanged between friends and family.

Depending on the locale, the greetings may not be in Arabic. In Malaysia for example, the faithful may greet each other with “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Selamat Hari Raya Aidalfitri,” meaning “Happy Celebration Day (of Eid al-fitr).”

7. There is a special Zakat for Eid Al-Fitr called Zakat al-Fitr or Fitrana

On this day, Muslims are especially reminded of their obligations to the poor. If financially capable, Muslims are to give the poor or charity groups the ritual Fitrana donations, traditionally paid for by the head of the family in behalf of its members. Donations could also be in the form of basic necessities such as food and clothing.

Also in keeping with tradition, it is preferable to give Fitrana before the communal prayer service so that the poor can participate in the festivities.

8. It is a sweet, festive day for families.

Similar to the Christian Christmas feast, Eid day is a time of merriment, feasting, celebration, and the giving of Eidi (Eid gifts) among Muslims and their families. For most Muslims, the meal on this day is special, as it is their first daytime meal after a month of fasting during Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr is also known as “the Sweet Eid” due to the many sweet foods traditionally served in the feast. For example, it is considered customary to breakfast on sweet foods before heading to the Eid Services.

9. Eid al-Fitr is also celebrated the Philippines.

Presidential Decree 1083 was signed in 1977, which recognized Eid al-Fitr as a legal holiday for Filipino Muslims. And in 2002, Republic Act 9177 was signed, which upgraded its status to a national holiday throughout the country.

Eid al-Fitr in the Philippines is also known as Hari Raya Puasa. Filipino Muslims traditionally go back to their hometowns to celebrate the feast. For Muslims based in Manila, prominent services and celebrations are held in Quiapo’s Golden Mosque and around Rizal Park.

source: rappler.com

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Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma recalled Tuesday how Olongapo City recovered after the termination of RP-US Bases Treaty in 1991 and the devastating eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1992.

Eisma shared this with the youth of Olongapo during her speech after the 120th Independence Day flag-raising ceremony at SM Mall in the city.

“We bore the brunt of the Pinatubo eruption. And with the closure of the US Naval Base, there seems to be no hope, no dreams,” she said.

Photo credit: Olongapo City FB page

“But that did not stop the Olongapeños, who had the opportunity to define who they really are. We protected and preserved Subic so that we can prosper,” she added.

Eisma noted that from previously being dependent on the US Naval Base for their living, the Olongapo residents realized that they have only themselves to take care of each other.

She stressed that the same value should guide the youth in their duty to their country.

“Nobody is going to love our country except us,” Eisma said.

“True independence is being dependent on yourself. It is seeking your future and putting it in your own hands,” she added.

source: centralluzon.politics.com.ph

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The Subic Bay International Film Festival (SBIFF), which aims to provide a platform for local filmmakers to create their art and to refocus the attention of the international filmmaking industry to the Subic Bay Freeport, will take off here on June 22 to 24 with the screening of six feature films.

Festival directors Vic Vizcocho Jr., publisher of Subic Bay News, and Arlyn Dela Cruz-Bernal, news director of Radyo Inquirer and Inquirer 990 TV, said the Subic Bay Freeport has long served as a localé for both international and local films, and remains to be a rich source of stories that could be made into movies.

“This is our chance to give back to the community by creating what we call waves of opportunities to filmmakers,” said Dela Cruz, who also has seven films to her credit either as producer, writer or director.

“We want to bring back the interest in Subic Bay as a premiere destination for filmmakers, local and international, because we have so much to offer in terms of story ideas, manpower, resources, talents and locations,” Vizcocho added.

One of the highlights of festival, they added, will be an opportunity for filmmakers to present storylines that may qualify for financing through SBIFF initiative.

For the first year of the festival, six feature films will be competing for awards: “Boy Intsik”, a film by Joel Lamangan; “Balatkayo” by Neil Tan; “Araw sa Likod Mo” by Dominic Nuesa; “Isang Hakbang” by Mike Magat; “Rolyo” by CC Woodruff Jr.; and “Old Skool” by Cia Hermosa-Gorge.

Organizers said four of the full-length feature films are old titles made in the last three years and had received recognition in other film competitions, while two others are yet to be released.

Dela Cruz explained that the first year of the festival will not be a competition for newly-made films, but a venue for filmmakers “to be seen by another group of audience, and to undergo judging for the merits of their films by another set of jury.”

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Wilma T. Eisma welcomed the festival project for creating a vehicle for the development of local filmmakers and called on members of the film industry to help in promoting “malasakit” in the society.

“Filmmakers should go beyond box-office revenues because their influence on the social and cultural fabric of society is undeniable. It is a power they can and should use to build, not destroy; to grow, not to stunt the values and morals of our people,” Eisma noted.

“I ask the people in the film industry to harness the transformative power of malasakit in cinema because yours is, no doubt, a most compelling medium for positive change,” she added.

Entries in the film festival will be screened at a Harbor Point cinema here on June 22 to 24. The screening is open for free to the public from 10:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

The films will compete for the eight major awards: best picture, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay, best in cinematography, best in production design, and best in music. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Festival organizers and sponsors unveil the logo of the Subic Bay International Film Festival during its launch on June 8. L-R: Festival director Vic Vizcocho Jr., Olongapo Vice Mayor Jong Cortez, Director Arlyn dela Cruz-Bernal, SBMA deputy administrator Chot Kabigting (partly hidden), and Harbor Point manager Derek Quijano. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Festival organizers, along with film directors and actors, and project sponsors unveil the logo of the Subic Bay International Film Festival during its launch on June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Source: Subic News Link

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By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

Photo credit: IBTimes UK

Rains due to the southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat” will continue to affect the western section of Luzon and Visayas throughout the week.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said frequent rains are expected over Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur, which could result to flash floods or landslides over low-lying areas or mountainous slopes.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with occasional rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced over the rest of western Luzon, including Metro Manila and western Visayas.

The remaining areas in Luzon and Visayas and the whole of Mindanao will be mostly cloudy apart from early morning or afternoon rain showers and thunderstorms.

Due to the surge of “habagat”, a gale warning remains in effect as rough to very rough seas is expected over the western coastlines of Ilocos Norte, llocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas and Palawan.

Likewise, rough to very rough seas are forecast in the northern and eastern seaboards of Ilocos Norte, Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.

PAGASA advised fishing boats and other small sea crafts not to set sail into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
source: tempo.com.ph

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The Subic Bay Freeport has entered the next level in its cruise ship tourism program, as bigger and more luxurious vessels began making port calls here this week.

MS Ovation of the Seas, the latest in the Quantum-class cruise vessels of the Royal Caribbean International cruise line, arrived here on Friday for its maiden port call.

MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, docks at the Alava Wharf during its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma noted that the Ovation of the Seas was the biggest ship to ever dock in Subic in its long history as a naval facility.

“This ship is huge, even bigger than the so-called super-carriers of the US Navy that used to dock here when Subic was still a military base,” Eisma pointed out.

“So, as you can see, we have now taken this cruise ship program several notches higher. We started in February this year with Costa Atlantica, which has a passenger capacity of just over 2,000, and now we have this—Ovation of the Seas with almost 5,000 passengers and crew,” she added.

Subic residents and SBMA employees welcome the arrival of MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

“We are glad that in its own little way, Subic is able to help in the national government effort to raise tourist arrivals in the country and generate more income for local people,” she added.

The Ovation of the Seas is an 18-decker ship that measures 348 meters long, has a gross tonnage of 168,666, a maximum occupancy of 4,905 passengers and, along with its sisters Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Sea, is considered the sixth biggest cruise ship in the world today.

To accommodate cruise ship passengers who wanted to visit tourist attractions in Subic and nearby communities last Friday, organizers had to field more than 50 tourist buses, the SBMA said.

Dancers in colorful costume provide welcome gaiety at Alava Wharf during the arrival of MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Two days earlier, MS World Dream, owned by Genting Hong Kong Ltd., also docked at Subic’s Alava Wharf for a day-long stay in Subic.

World Dream, which has a capacity of 3,400 passengers, is listed as the 19th biggest among the cruise ships in operation today.

Eisma said more cruise ships can be expected here, as the Subic agency is undertaking facility development projects to further improve port services, allow the handling of bigger maritime vessels, and boost port income.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma welcomes a passenger from MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

She said the SBMA and the national government have allocated a total of P135.8 million for the port infrastructure development program.

“With the completion of these three port projects by next year, we expect to see more attractive and more efficient port facilities, more customers coming in, and more income for the port,” Eisma added.

According to SBMA Tourism Department manager Jem Camba, at least 20 cruise ship arrivals have been calendared here for this year. These include three arrivals each for the month of June, July and August.

A throng of mostly Chinese tourists disembark from MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Another Royal Caribbean vessel, the Voyager of the Seas, has been scheduled to arrive here in August.

Camba said that cruise ship arrivals significantly boost local income as cruise ship passengers visit local attractions in Subic, as well as nearby communities in Olongapo City, Zambales, and Bataan.

“Local communities, as well as business establishments in the Freeport, definitely earn a lot from the arrival of cruise ships because the passengers buy local products, eat at restaurants and sample local cuisine, and enjoy themselves at the various tourism establishments in and around Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” she said. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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