Why February 18 Is the First Day of Ramadan this year but not a holiday in Philippines?

Why February 18 Is the First Day of Ramadan this year but not a holiday in Philippines? February 18, 2026, marks the start of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, but it is not declared a national holiday in the Philippines. Why Ramadan starts on February 18, 2026 *Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, which is about 10–11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. *This means Ramadan shifts earlier each year. *For 2026, astronomical predictions and moon‑sighting committees expect the first day of fasting to begin on February 18, 2026 (though in some countries it may be February 19, depending on local moon sightings). Why it’s not a holiday in the Philippines *The Philippines declares official holidays through Presidential Proclamations. For 2026, Proclamation No. 1006 lists regular and special non‑working holidays such as New Year’s Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Independence Day, and others. *While Eid al‑Fitr (the end of Ramadan) and Eid al‑Adha are recognized as national holidays under Republic Act No. 9177, the first day of Ramadan itself is not included in the official holiday list. In summary *February 18, 2026, marks the start of Ramadan based on lunar calculations. *The Philippines only recognizes Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha as national holidays, not the beginning of Ramadan. *This is why February 18 is significant for Muslims but not a declared holiday nationwide. #Ramadan2026 #Philippines #IslamicCalendar #RamadanFacts #EidAlFitr #CulturalAwareness #FaithAndTradition #WhyFebruary18IstheFirstDayofRamadanthisyearbutnotaholidayinPhilippines