Malacañang Confirms No Long Weekend for Ninoy Aquino Day
Malacañang has announced that there are currently no plans to create a long weekend for workers and students in observance of Ninoy Aquino Day. Officials reported during a recent briefing that the Office of the President has yet to decide whether to shift the holiday from August 21, Thursday, to August 22, Friday.
“We will try to reach out to the President. But as of now, there is no update yet if the holiday will be moved,” a Palace spokesperson said, emphasizing the government’s current stance on the holiday schedule.
August Holidays Under Proclamation No. 727
August features two significant holidays declared under Proclamation No. 727, issued last October by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. August 21 marks Ninoy Aquino Day, a special nonworking holiday honoring the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., a prominent critic of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Meanwhile, August 25 is National Heroes Day, a regular holiday commemorating the valor of Filipino heroes who fought for the nation’s freedom.
Public Awaits Possible Holiday Changes
The public remains alert for any last-minute announcements regarding holiday adjustments, recalling last year’s unexpected change. In 2023, President Marcos moved the Ninoy Aquino Day observance, a decision that sparked disappointment among historians and Aquino family supporters.
On August 15, 2024, President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 665, officially moving Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21 (Wednesday) to August 23 (Friday) to promote a longer weekend and boost domestic tourism.
Criticism Surrounding Holiday Rescheduling
Some sectors criticized this sudden move, arguing that such changes should comply with Republic Act No. 9492, the “Holiday Economics” law, which mandates that holiday adjustments be announced at least six months in advance. Community members and historians condemned the change, describing it as an attempt at historical revisionism.
The August Twenty One Movement, formed in response to Ninoy Aquino’s assassination in 1983, expressed strong disapproval, viewing the rescheduling as disrespectful to Aquino’s legacy.
The Significance of Ninoy Aquino Day
The observance of Ninoy Aquino Day has been a sensitive issue since the Marcos administration began in 2022. Established by Republic Act No. 9256 in 2004 under then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the holiday honors the assassination of Senator Aquino, a pivotal event that triggered the 1986 People Power Revolution and eventually ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Following the revolution, Aquino’s wife, Corazon Aquino, became the country’s 11th president, serving from 1986 to 1992. Their son, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, later served as the 15th president from 2010 to 2016.
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