Where the Day Actually Unfolds
On 7 November, the observances centre on Simunul in Tawi-Tawi, where Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum settled in 1380 and built the first mosque in the country — the Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Mosque. That island is where the special prayers, lectures, gatherings, traditional music and dances, and exhibits take place. Quezon City is not the site of the annual commemoration, and no Quezon City-specific events, markets, concerts or parades are documented for this day.
What the Day Marks, and Why It Matters in the City
Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Day is a special working holiday, recognised under Republic Act 12228 and observed annually on 7 November — in 2026 it falls on a Saturday. Because it is a working holiday rather than a regular public holiday, government offices, schools and businesses in Quezon City remain open. The day commemorates the arrival of the Arab missionary credited with introducing Islam to the Philippines in 1380, centuries before Spanish colonisation, with lasting influence in the Muslim-majority areas of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Maguindanao.
- Check the date: 7 November 2026, a Saturday.
- Expect normal operations at Quezon City offices, schools and businesses.
- Understand the centre of gravity: the mosque in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, is the focus of observances.
How the Day Is Marked Each Year
The typical observances — mainly in Tawi-Tawi — include special prayers, lectures and community gatherings, alongside traditional music and dances and exhibits. Schools, government agencies and local groups also organise forums and exhibits on Islam's role in Filipino identity, heritage preservation and interfaith understanding. If you want to engage with the day's substance from Quezon City, these are the forms the commemoration reliably takes.
- Special prayers and lectures at the mosque in Simunul.
- Community gatherings with traditional music and dances.
- Exhibits, forums and school or agency programmes on Islam in Filipino identity and interfaith understanding.
Planning Your 7 November in Quezon City
Since no Quezon City-specific programme is documented for this day, plan around what the city offers on any ordinary Saturday and treat the day itself as one of reflection and learning. Because it is a working holiday, you will find the city running as usual — which means markets, restaurants and transport are all available without holiday closures. Use the day to read up on the 1380 arrival, the mosque in Simunul, and the history of Islam in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Maguindanao before you go.
- Confirm with local Muslim organisations, universities and cultural offices in Quezon City whether any forums or exhibits are being held that week.
- Mark 7 November 2026 in your calendar — a Saturday, convenient for a full day of reading, reflection or community events.
- If the history draws you in, plan a future trip to Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, where the Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Mosque stands as the centre of the annual observance.
Start now: put 7 November 2026 in your diary, reach out to Quezon City's Muslim community organisations and universities to ask what they are planning, and let the story of a missionary who reached these islands in 1380 shape how you spend the day.