2011 Philippine Holidays

At last, after so much speculation, Malacañang announced the holidays for 2011. Too bad though that there will be fewer long weekends next year as compared to this year. It will be an adjustment for the Filipinos who have gotten used to former President Gloria Arroyo's longer weekends.

According to Proclamation No. 84, the following regular holidays and special days for the year 2011 shall be observed in the country:

A. Regular Holidays
New Year’s Day – January 1 (Saturday)
Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Saturday)
Maundy Thursday – April 21
Good Friday – April 22
Labor Day – May 1 (Sunday)
Independence Day – June 12 (Sunday)
National Heroes Day – August 29 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Wednesday)
Christmas Day – December 25 (Sunday)
Rizal Day – December 30 (Friday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Sunday)
All Saints Day – November 1 (Tuesday)
Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Saturday) C. Special Holiday (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 25 (Friday)

"Proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul AdhaHijra, or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient, will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar," Proclamation No. 84 says.

Even though Proclamation No. 84 cites Republic Act No. 9492—which moves holidays, except those religious in nature, to the nearest Monday—Proclamation No. 84 returns the commemoration of holidays back to their original dates.

Only at least three holidays will give the public long weekends: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday; National Heroes' Day (August 29, the last Monday of August); and Rizal Day (December 30, Friday).

For students, there will be four long weekends after the EDSA Revolution Anniversary on February 25 (Friday) has been declared a special holiday for schools.

President Benigno Aquino III shall have the discretion whether or not to move holidays that are not religious in nature to the nearest Monday because RA 9492 says the said holidays can be moved "unless otherwise modified by law, and/or proclamation."

He said the legality of not moving holidays to the nearest Monday was settled when Aquino declared Aug. 23, 2010 (Monday) a regular working day even though former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had moved the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21, a Saturday, to the nearest Monday.

Under RA 9492, holidays that are not religious in nature can be moved to the nearest Monday "unless otherwise modified by law, and/or proclamation."

While I don't like the idea of longer weekends due to holiday economics because it will somehow affect my travel plans, I agree in restoring the exact dates of the holidays especially those with historical and cultural nature. Somehow, former President Arroyo's holiday economics affected the Filipino psyche in recognizing the importance of our history as an important part of the Filipino heritage.

Litratong Pinoy #4 Kalayaan

Minsa’y ako’y napag-iisip kung ang Pilipino ay tunay na malaya. Para kasing nawala na sa atin ang pagpapahalaga sa ating bayan at nagkakasya nalang tayong ipagbili ang ating bayan sa mga dayuhan para lang sa ngalan ng pagsulong ng ating ekonomiya. Pati nga ang tunay na Araw ng Kalayaan ay nagkaiba-iba dahil daw sa “holiday economics” na pasimuno ng ating mahal na Presidente at ng mga henyo ng Malakanyang. Subukang magtanong sa ilang ordinaryong Pilipino lalo na sa mga kabataan at malalaman ninyong marami sa kanila ang walang kamuwang-muwang sa kung ano ang kahalagahan ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Siguradong kokonting maaayos na sagot ang inyong makukuha. Ito ay nasubukan ko na.

Magkakasya nalang ba tayong bumili ng maliliit na watawat sa daan tuwing Araw ng Kalayaan? Hindi ba natin bibigyan ng kahalagahan ang mga taong lumaban para sa ating kalayaan noon at ngayon? Paano na ang kabataan bukas na mas marunong kung ano ang pinakabagong modelo ng cellphone kaysa kung ano ang kahalagahan ng Araw ng Kalayaan?

Nakakalungkot isipin na hangga’t hindi natin bibigyan ng kahalagahan ang ating sariling bayan at matutong mag-isip ng hindi pansarili lamang, tayo-tayo pa rin ang mahihirapan sa pagpapasulong nito.

Translation:

Sometimes I ponder if Filipinos are really free. It seems that we have lost giving importance to our country and are just content to sell our country to the foreigners in the name of economic progress. Even the right date to celebrate our Independence Day has been changed because of “holiday economics” as led by our beloved President and the geniuses in Malacañang. Try asking ordinary Filipinos especially the youth and you will see only a few of them knows the proper answer on what is the meaning of the Independence Day and the circumstances behind it.

Are we content on just buying flaglets in the streets every Independence Day? Can we not give importance to the people who died for our freedom yesterday and now? What will happen to the youth who knows more about the newest cellphone models than the true meaning of Independence Day celebration.

It is sad to think that until we do not give importance to our own country and learn not to think of one’s own self only, we, ourselves will find it difficult to find progress in our country.