A worker adorns the Golden Masjid arch in Globo de Oro in Quiapo, Manila on Monday, February 26, 2024. The Muslim community is preparing for Ramadan, which will commence on March 10 and end on April 8, 2024.

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday expressed his solidarity with Muslims as Islamic communities around the world begin Ramadan, a time of “reflection and spiritual growth” that the chief executive hopes could “strengthen kinship” among Filipinos.

Ramadan has a “special significance” in the country as “it reminds us of the rich diversity of our cultural and religious tapestry in the Philippines,” Marcos Jr. said in his Ramadan message this year.

“It is with no doubt that our Muslim brothers and sisters have made invaluable contributions to our nation's history and heritage, shaping our beloved motherland into the diverse and united country that it is today,” he said.

“It is my hope that this month-long celebration will strengthen our kinship, open our hearts to forgive past grievances, and embrace a spirit of harmony that will redound to our collective progress,” he said.

“Together, let us build a future where love and understanding prevail and where the light of hope shines brightly for all,” he added.

Ramadan is a time when “Muslims around the world observe fasting from dawn till dusk, abstaining from worldly pleasures as a means of purifying their souls and deepening their connection with Allah,” the President said.

“I am in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters in the country and all over the world on the occasion of Ramadan,” he said.

“Truly, this demonstration of faith speaks volumes of their deep introspection and shared devotion, allowing them to create a stronger bond in their communities through their beliefs,” he said.

Last week, Malacañang dismissed as fake a document that supposedly showed that Marcos Jr. has declared March 11 — the start of Ramadan — as a holiday.

The Palace has yet to comment why the start of the Muslim holy month was not declared a holiday.