Manila: Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Saturday called on the public to contemplate and show compassion, as she joined the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan. "As the crescent moon rises, I join my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters across the world, including more than six million Muslim Filipinos, in observing the holy month of Ramadan," Pangandaman said in a statement.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pangandaman emphasized that Ramadan serves as a powerful reminder to answer Islam's call to "a life of peace, justice, and charity." She highlighted that the month-long observance is a sacred time for renewing spirituality through rigorous fasting, devout prayer, and reflecting on Allah's teachings in the Quran.

Pangandaman encouraged using this holy period as an opportunity to deepen faith and show compassion to all countrymen, regardless of their religious beliefs. She also urged the public to embrace shared humanity as they reconnect with families and communities, fostering a better and prosperous future for everyone.

During Ramadan, Muslims partake in fasting and abstain from worldly pleasures, which serves as a means of spiritual discipline and strengthens their connection with Allah.