IN PHOTOS: Ramadan moves with faith, tradition, and commerce in Cotabato 

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Behind the glow of Cotabato City’s colorful Ramadan lights is a story of tradition, perseverance, and a city in motion

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – As the sun set over Cotabato City, just over a week before Eid’l Fitr, the call to prayer echoed through many communities, signaling the end of the day’s fast. 

At the mosques of Cotabato, people gathered for prayers and the rhythmic recitation of the Quran. 

As night fell over the city, lights flickered on, illuminating a crowd at the Bangsamoro Government Complex on Thursday, March 20, while music filled the air. Children laughed and played outside the seat of the regional government.

CAPTIVATING. The Grand Mosque of Cotabato stands with its golden domes and intricate architecture, a captivating symbol of Islamic design. Photo by Herbie Gomez/Rappler

Nearby, a bustling trade fair came to life, a marketplace where tradition meets commerce. Young people gathered in cafes, their conversations shifting between small talk, faith, and even politics. 

In Cotabato City, the heart of the predominantly Muslim Bangsamoro region, Ramadan is both a month of religious observance and a period of movement and continuity, marked by hours of fasting, increased prayer, and spiritual reflection.

CROWD DRAWER. Bright lights shine over the Bangsamoro Government Complex grounds in Cotabato City on March 20, 2025. The festival of lights draws visitors. Photo by Herbie Gomez/Rappler

BLESS BARMM. A ‘#Pagpalain BARMM’ message glows at the Bangsamoro Government Complex in Cotabato City. Photo by Herbie Gomez/Rappler

Outside the Cotabato City Hall, vendors prepared iftar meals, the scent of spices mingling with the cool evening breeze. Families approached, exchanging greetings as they passed around dates, rice cakes, and steaming bowls of porridge — gestures of generosity that reinforce faith and community.

Cotabato’s festival of lights, now a seasonal fixture, attracts a diverse crowd. Christians and indigenous groups walk through the market stalls, sampling delicacies and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere. 

ILLUMINATE. People gather at the Bangsamoro Government Complex grounds in Cotabato City on March 20, 2025, as a festival of lights illuminates the place. Photo by Herbie Gomez/Rappler

In a region long shaped by conflict, the scene offers a rare moment of convergence, which is an unspoken acknowledgment that faith, identity, and commerce are forces that can unite the Bangsamoro.

For small business owners, Ramadan is not just a period of reflection but also an economic opportunity. For Muslim families, it is a time to pass down traditions, reinforcing that faith is lived, not just observed.

BARMM CENTER LIGHTS UP. People stop to see the BARMM regional center as it lights up during Ramadan. Photo by Herbie Gomez/Rappler

SLOGAN. An ‘I love BARMM’ slogan stands and lights up the Bangsamoro Government Complex in Cotabato City. Photo by Herbie Gomez/Rappler

This is Ramadan in Cotabato City, a month of discipline and reflection, lived in the rhythm of prayers and the breaking of fasts. And behind the glow of the city’s colorful Ramadan lights is a story of tradition, perseverance, and a city in motion.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has declared April 1 as a regular holiday to mark Eid’l Fitr, which signals the end of Ramadan. – Rappler.com