DFA: Nov. 7 passport appointments moved to Nov. 8-18

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said passport applicants with appointments on November 7 may be accommodated from November 8 to 18. "All applicants scheduled for an appointment for passporting on the said date will be accommodated anytime from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon), Monday to Friday, from November 8 (Tuesday) to November 18 (Friday)," the DFA said. Applicants must bring their original appointment form bearing November 7 as their date of appointment. Meanwhile, applicants who were scheduled to claim their passports on November 7 may get their passports anytime from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning on November 8. Monday, which marks Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), is a non-working day as decreed by Proclamation No. 276, which Malacañang issued last October 20. Republic Act No. 9849 states that Eid'l Adha should be celebrated as a regular holiday. Eid'l Adha is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam, President Benigno Aquino III noted in his proclamation. He also noted the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) recommended that the observance of Eid al-Adha be on November 7, and the Eid'l Adha prayer on November 6. Eid al-Adha, also known as the "Greater Eid," is an important religious holiday for Muslims worldwide. The holiday commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his eldest son Ishmael in obedience to a command from Allah - and Ishmael's acceptance of this command. - VVP, GMA News