On Twitter, Jim Paredes of the disbanded APO Hiking Society slammed the Duterte administration for declaring August 21 as a regular holiday for Eid’l Adha.
Paredes, a rabid supporter of the Liberal Party and the Aquinos, described the relegation of Ninoy Aquino Day playing second fiddle to Eid’l Adha as a brazen attempt to downplay the hero’s death anniversary.
Jim @Jimparedes Today Is Ninoy Aquino Day. Changing it to a Muslim Holiday which actually falls tomorrow is a brazen attempt to downplay the hero’s death anniversary.
Nothing can diminish what Ninoy has done for this country. #NeverForget
Today Is Ninoy Aquino Day. Changing it to a Muslim Holiday which actually falls tomorrow is a brazen attempt to downplay the hero’s death anniversary.
Nothing can diminish what Ninoy has done for this country. #NeverForget
— Jim (@Jimparedes) August 21, 2018
August 21 happens to be Ninoy Aquino Day commemorating the the death of the opposition leader at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport.
You can’t blame Jim Paredes because as early as January 2, the list of holidays for 2018 has already been circulating on social media.
Notice that Eid’l Adha was earlier announced it falls on August 22, not August 21 for the year 2018.
However, Jim Paredes could have been unaware that the Islamic world uses the lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar.
Meanwhile, Ninoy Aquino’s cousin, Yusuf Ledesma @yusufledesma tweeted telling Jim Paredes to respect the Muslims like him who support Ninoy.
Sir nothing can diminish what Ninoy has done. But Eid was celebrated today throughout d country. D full moon was sighted early this month. If it wasnt then Eid would be tomorrow. Lets respect d Muslims like me who support Ninoy. I used to attend Ninoy's talks in d US
— Yusuf Ledesma (@yusufledesma) August 21, 2018
Jim replied that in other Asean countries, Eid’l Adha is celebrated today, August 22.
In other countries in ASEAN, it is celebrated TOMORROW August 22
— Jim (@Jimparedes) August 21, 2018
Yusuf Ledesma@yusufledesma explained that Eid’l Adha varies in different countries and even a cause of disagreement among Muslims because it all boils down on the visual sighting of the moon.
It differs across different countries sir it is a disagreement among them depending on d visual sighting of d moon. I received a text from mindanao at the start of this month of hajj that the moon was sighted early so aug 21 is eid in PHL
— Yusuf Ledesma (@yusufledesma) August 21, 2018
At this juncture, Yusuf Ledesma @yusufledesma introduced himself to Jim as Ninoy’s cousin.
By the way I was at the airport on aug 21 1983 itself waiting for Ninoy when Laurel told us he had been shot. The Aquinos are our cousins. U can ask tita Maur
— Yusuf Ledesma (@yusufledesma) August 21, 2018
Jim @Jimparedes replied he did not doubt his sincerity but insisted he found it strange that other Asean countries celebrate Eid’l Adha today.
Another netizen joined the conversation
JjGg Strike Gnalag @jasminegalang55 told Jim Paredes that Eid’l Adha is more important than the useless Ninoy Aquino Day.
Bakit pati okasyon ng may okasyon isisi nyo kung natapat sa araw na ito ang Feast of Sacrifice ng mga Muslims?FYI mas importante po okasyon na ito kesa sa walang kwentang death anniv na yan!wala ka tlg galang sa pananampalataya ng iba ano!tumatanda kang paurong
— JjGg Strike Gnalag (@jasminegalang55) August 21, 2018
Rey Delante @reydelante, an OFW based in the Middle East called Jim’s post an ignorant post.
@jim paredes this is an awfully ignorant post. There is no downplaying here. I live in the Middle East and we are on holiday from the 20th until the 22nd because of Eid. Do some research first Mr Paredes, this shows how dumb you can be at times. Stick to music.
— Rey Delante (@reydelante) August 21, 2018
Your thoughts?