PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law officially declaring November 7 of every year as a special national working holiday to recognize the arrival of Islam in the Philippines and honor the contributions of Muslim Filipinos to the nation’s history and development.
Under Republic Act No. 12228, signed on July 9, the date will be commemorated as Sheikh Karim’ul Makhdum Day, in memory of the 14th-century Arabian missionary who led the spread of Islam in the country.
Sheikh Makhdum and his group arrived in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, where they built the first mosque in the Philippines—now a historical and religious landmark.
The law emphasizes the government’s commitment to religious inclusivity, affirming the constitutional right to religious freedom and the significance of Muslim heritage in shaping Philippine society.
“It is the policy of the State to instill inclusivity to all regardless of religious beliefs,” the law states, while also recognizing the “indispensable contributions of Muslim Filipinos in the development of Philippine culture and civilization.”
As a special national working holiday, November 7 will not entitle workers to additional pay unless there is a favorable company policy or labor agreement in place.
The “no work, no pay” rule will apply by default.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) first declared November 7 a special public holiday in 2022, and the new national law expands that recognition nationwide.