It may still be raining hard causing floods in different areas in Luzon, but it’s not the reason why there are no classes on Wednesday, August 21, 2013.
Aug. 21 is a special non-working holiday, commemorating the anniversary of the 1983 assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. which led to the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos.
On December 30, the Philippines will commemorate the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero.
The day is also the 100th anniversary of the transfer of Rizal’s remains from his sister’s home to Luneta.
Malacañang recently clarified the remaining Philippine non-working holidays for 2011 and they are December 25 (Christmas Day), December 30 (Rizal Day), and December 31 (New Year's Eve).
December 26 and January 2, which both fall on a Monday, are not holidays.
That said, we only have one long weekend left, that of the last 2 days of 2011 and the first day of 2012. December 30 and 31 are Friday and Saturday, and January 1 is a Sunday.
Planning a little out-of-town trip at the end of the year is still possible after all.
The Department of Education announced that this year's semestral break for students and teachers is from October 26 to November 2. Classes in all public elementary and high schools will resume on November 3, Thursday.
Private schools, however, may deviate from calendar. Many private schools resume classes on November 8, Tuesday, since November 7 was announced a holiday through Proclamation 276 in observance of Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), a Muslim religious holiday.
November 2, 2011 is not a holiday, according to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
After the president signed Proclamation No. 265 which made October 31, 2011 a special non-working day, people are now asking if November 2 is a non-working day as well.
November 1 is a public holiday in the Philippines as we celebrate All Saints Day. It falls on a Tuesday this year which made October 31, Monday, sandwiched between weekends and a public holiday. The reason why Malacañan decided to make October 31 a non-working day is "to give full opportunity to our people to properly observe the day with all its religious fervor which invariably requires them to travel to and from different regions of the country."
But if one would travel from Manila to as far as Mindanao to celebrate All Saints Day on November 1, would he be able to get back to Manila in time for a working day on November 2?
Not complaining, though. Just saying.
There's going to be a "long weekend" towards the end of August 2011. While August 27 and 28 are weekends, August 29 is National Heroes Day and August 30 is the end of Ramadan.
Just a while ago, Proclamation 234 has been issued declaring August 30, Tuesday, a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid'l Fitr.
I'm sure a lot of us will go on a short vacay because "long weekends" like these are becoming rare. Better plan your vacation early so you'll enjoy the 4-day weekend better.
No booking is needed for me, though. The mountains are spacious enough to accommodate flocks of hikers.
Mutya ng Pilipinas 2026 is officially underway, with 37 candidates now competing for this year's crowns. The candidates were formally in...
