Editorial

The Philippine government must stop proclaiming the death anniversaries of modern-day heroes like the late Sen. Benigno (Ninoy) S. Aquino, Jr., as non-working holidays. The first reason for this website’s opposition to such presidential proclamations is that the Philippines has already the National Heroes’ Day, which is celebrated every November 30th, the birthday of Andres Bonifacio, one of the founders of the 11892-1898 Philippine revolutionary movement, the Katipunan. The second and most-important reason is that many Filipinos earn barely the equivalent of two American dollars a day and having too-many long weekends is bad for those eking out a marginal living on a day-to-day basis.

There are all the good reasons for making the death of Senator Aquino a day to remember his ultimate sacrifice. But his martyrdom could not be greater than those of other national heroes such as the Cavite’s and Bicolandia’s Thirteen Martyrs, who were executed by the Spanish colonial authorities by firing squad. For a reference material about the Bicolano martyrs, please go to: Correcting Bicol History and Remembering the Bicolano (and Filipino) Heroes Exiled to Africa

This website shares also the opinion of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban), who criticized the transfer of Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21 (Thursday) to August 18 (Monday) on order of Malacañang which has the effect of diminishing the significance of the historic event. We think, however, that the Ninoy Aquino Day should be a working holiday, where people can pour more of their sentiment for the martyr Ninoy Aquino by working hard on nation-building chores during his death anniversary.

Senator Pimentel rejected the justification by the Palace that the change of date of the celebration that it is in accordance with the administration’s policy on “holiday economics” to encourage the people to take advantage of the long weekend by going to tourist spots or visiting their relatives or friends in other places.

“I do not agree with that reasoning because the meaning of the event – the martyrdom of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. – is diluted by transferring the actual celebration of the event to another date,” he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued an order advancing the date of commemoration of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino from August 21 to August 18, which was declared a non-working holiday.

“I think the President is playing up to the crowd by saying we have an additional holiday. But the net effect is the transfer destroys the meaning and solemnity of the occasion,” Senator Pimentel said.

“People should be reminded of an event that took place on a particular day and celebrate it accordingly even at some sacrifice.”

Senator Pimentel said the President should discontinue her practice of cavalierly transferring the observance of holidays such as Labor Day, Independence Day and Bonifacio Day (AKA National Heroes’ Day) to other dates so as not to trivialize the meaning of the events. # # #