August 22 not a national holiday – Palace

Employees and students will still have to go to work and school this Friday because August 22 is not a national holiday, Malacañang clarified on Monday.

 

"‘Yung sa darating na Biyernes ay regular na araw ng pagtatrabaho dahil hindi po ito kasama sa deklarasyon ng holiday," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an interview over state-run dzRB radio.

 

Under Proclamation 655, there are only two non-working holidays in August: Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21, Thursday) and National Heroes' Day (August 25, Monday).

 

Early on during his administration, Aquino stood by commemorating holidays on their proper dates, and shunned moving them to the nearest Friday or Monday, similar to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's policy.

 

Coloma further said that the President wants a simple commemoration of his father's death anniversary.

 

"Ang preference po ng Pangulo ay para sa isang tahimik at simpleng pag-alala sa alaala ng kanyang ama, si Senador Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr., isang pambansang bayani na nagbuwis ng buhay para sa demokrasya ng ating bansa," the Palace official said.

 

Ninoy was assassinated at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. His assassination triggered the first EDSA People Power Revolution in February 1986, which catapulted his widow, Corazon Aquino, to the presidency. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News