April 2, 25 declared non-working holidays for Bulacan, Isabela City

Malacañang has declared April 2 and 25 as non-working holidays for the province of Bulacan and  Basilan’s former capital Isabela City, respectively.

Residents and employees working in Bulacan will have an extended Holy Week break after Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued on March 20 Proclamation 454 declaring April 2 a special non-working day in the province to commemorate the 230th birth anniversary of poet Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Bulacan be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation stated.

The Palace also issued Proclamation 453 in time for the 17th founding anniversary of Isabela City on April 25.

Balagtas, also known as Francisco Baltazar, considered one of the greatest Filipino literary laureates, wrote the epic “Florante at Laura” while in prison.

He dedicated this masterpiece to his muse, Maria Asuncion Rivera, who was referenced in the epic as Selya.

Balagtas was born April 2, 1788 in Bigaa, Bulacan. The town has since been renamed Balagtas in his honor. —Virgil Lopez/LBG, GMA News