On Holiday Economics

President Noynoy Aquino frowns on holiday economics. Does this mean that we're saying goodbye to extended weekends?

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed this Republic Act 9492 which is known as “An Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays". That's moving of the celebration of holidays to the nearest Mondays to encourage tourism in the Philippines.

A lot of people rejoiced to this. Especially those who doesn't have to work on holidays (that doesn't include call center agents like me and people who works in the malls :D). Students and teachers and government employees like this RA for sure since they have to spend longer weekends with their family and friends.

According to Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, “There is no stand there yet.”

They are yet to review the holiday economics. He said that PNoy is just not happy about June 12 (The Philippine Independence Day) being moved on a different day because for him, it's a sacred day.

Call center agents like me are actually looking forward to holidays since we get to enjoy double pays. No holidays for us unless our rest days fall on a holiday. But if we're asked to render overtimes during our rest days, we would more likely to report to work since we will be able to get higher pay for just a day.

But if we talk about nationalism, it's better that we celebrate holidays on the day that it's supposed to be celebrated. That's my stand. Yeah, I'm a bit nationalistic.

Well, I hope they could come up with a good decision for the betterment of our nation.

What about you? Do you like the holiday economics? Or would you rather celebrate holidays on the exact same days?

Commemorating Philippine Independence

Today marks the 112th Philippine Independence Day! Just in time for the President-elect Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III was proclaimed as the winner of this year's presidential election 3 days ago. I bet, it's about time for us to be free from the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime!

Today is a holiday but ever since GMA became the President, whenever the holidays fall on a weekend, she moves it on Mondays so everyone gets to spend long weekends with families and friends. A decision which President-elect Noynoy Aquino resent especially moving Independence Day. This is what he said:

“What we were yesterday, what we are today, and whatever we will be in the future are made possible only because of our freedom to live our lives to their fullest potential. No other day but Independence Day reflects the common aspirations of past, present and future generations of Filipinos... For those who willingly offered everything to country – even fight to death – Independence Day embodies our proud achievements as a people. As inheritors of the patriotic legacy of exemplary forebears, we now seem to take Independence Day for granted – which is absolutely deplorable and inexcusable.”

“Moving Independence Day is a sin”

Being the son of the 2 Filipino icons (the late Ninoy Aquino, Jr. and the late Pres. Cory Aquino), and have been through a lot during the Marcos regime, I can clearly understand President-elect Noynoy Aquino's sentiment.

Philippine Independence Day is the country's annual celebration of our freedom from the Spanish colonization in June 12, 1898 which was declared by General Emilio Aguinaldo. It was the day when the Philippines' flag was raised and our national anthem was sang for the first time. It's also the day that we remember those people who fought for their lives for our countries liberation from the colonizers.

Freedom is indeed the best gift that our ancestors have given us. It should always be remembered and cherished!

Resources:
http://www.asianjournal.com/aj-magazine/something-filipino/5752-the-112th-philippine-independence-day.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/independence-day
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/260703/philippine-independence-day-patriotism-or-tourism