extended weekend

Today is Monday, August 20. Supposed to be, there are classes and office work but because of the Proclamation 1353, that holidays are to be move on the nearest Monday; people would enjoy the extended weekend today and go back to school and work tomorrow on a Tuesday. If I may say, this maybe good for the people to have extended weekends, take longer vacations, spend more time with their families, extra study time for students, etc. but, there's a big BUT! The holiday, the special event that we should actually be commemorating is actually set aside. Well, the goverment would still have the said celebration by having a mass and offering flowers in the statue of Ninoy but, I wonder if people especially the students would still remember the significance of August 21, who is Ninoy Aquino? why are we commemorating his death? or they are celebrating because there's no need to wake up early and go to school. Just a thought... -my

MALACAÑANG PALACE
Manila, Philippines

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 1353

DECLARING MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2007, AS SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007 AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2007 AS REGULAR HOLIDAYS, ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

WHEREAS, R.A. No. 9492 dated July 24, 2007, entitled “An Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays Amending for the Purpose Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292, as amended, otherwise known as The Administrative code of 1987”, was issued to declare certain days (specific or movable) as special or regular holidays;

WHEREAS, August 20, 2007 (Monday), may be declared as a special (non-working) day while August 21, 2007 (Tuesday) may be declared a working day, provided that all activities and celebrations in observance of “Ninoy Aquino Day” shall remain to be observed on August 21, 2007;

WHEREAS, November 30, 2007, Friday (Bonifacio Day) need not be moved to the nearest Monday as provided under RA No. 9492 because the day falls on a Friday, and thus already serves the purpose of RA No. 9492;

WHEREAS, December 30, 2007, Sunday (Rizal Day) need not be moved to the nearest Monday as provided under RA No. 9492 because December 31, 2007, is already a special (non-working) holiday under RA No. 9492.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDUARDO R. ERMITA, Executive Secretary, by authority of Her Excellency, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, do hereby declare the following:

SECTION 1. August 20, 2007 (Monday), shall be a special (non-working) day throughout the country.

Sec. 2. August 21, 2007 (Tuesday), shall be a working day throughout the country. All activities and celebrations in observance of “Ninoy Aquino Day” shall, however, remain to be observed on August 21, 2007.

Sec. 3. Bonifacio Day shall be observed as a regular holiday on November 30, 2007 (Friday).

Sec. 4. Rizal Day shall be observed as a regular holiday on December 30, 2007 (Sunday).

Sec. 5. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate implementing guidelines for this Proclamation.

Sec. 6. This Proclamation shall take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 6^th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.

By authority of the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary