EDSA Revolt Anniversary Not A 2024 Holiday
The EDSA anniversary was also a regular working day this year after President Marcos issued a last-minute proclamation declaring Feb. 24, a Friday, as special non-working day, supposedly as part of the government’s “holiday economics” policy.
The Feb. 25 anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt has been excluded by Malacañang from the list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2024, reportedly because the date falls on a Sunday.
Proclamation 368, signed on Oct. 11 by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of President Marcos, declared the following regular holidays: Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day), March 28 (Maundy Thursday), March 29 (Good Friday), April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan), May 1 (Labor Day), June 12 (Independence Day), Aug. 26 (National Heroes Day, last Monday of August), Nov. 30 (Bonifacio Day), Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) and Dec. 30 (Rizal Day).
Marcos, on the other hand, declared the following as special non-working days: Aug. 21 Ninoy Aquino Day, Nov. 1 All Saints’ Day, Dec. 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and Dec. 31 Last Day of the Year. Also declared as special non-working days are Feb. 10 (Chinese New Year), March 30 (Black Saturday), Nov. 2 (All Souls’ Day) and Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve).
The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient, the proclamation stated.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has been advised to recommend to the Office of the President the actual dates on which Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha holidays will respectively fall.
Meanwhile, Feb. 25, the anniversary of the EDSA people power revolution which toppled the dictatorship of Marcos’ late father and namesake, was not included in the list of holidays next year.
In a statement, the Office of the President said it maintains the respect for the commemoration of the EDSA people power revolution. However, such was not included in the list of special non-working days for 2024 as Feb. 25 falls on a Sunday.
“There is a minimal socio-economic impact in declaring such day as a special non-working holiday since it coincides with the rest day for most workers/laborers,” it said.
Feb. 25 was declared as special non-working day this year to mark the 37th anniversary of the EDSA revolt, which, according to a previous Palace statement, “ushered political, social and economic reforms in the country.”
Asked why Dec. 8 was included in the list even though it falls on a Sunday, the Palace said the holiday was set by the law, unlike the EDSA anniversary that is mandated only by an Executive Order (EO).
Former president Joseph Estrada issued EO No. 82 in 1999, which created the EDSA People Power Commission tasked to plan, organize and implement the EDSA revolution every Feb. 25.
In 2018, the EDSA anniversary was declared by the Palace as among the special non-working holidays even though it fell on a Sunday.
Earlier this year, Marcos issued a last-minute proclamation declaring Feb. 24, Friday, as special non-working day, supposedly as part of the government’s “holiday economics” policy. The EDSA anniversary this year was a regular working day.
