Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25) — February 25, the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that helped topple Ferdinand E. Marcos’ dictatorship in 1986, will be a regular working day, the Official Gazette said after Malacañang declared Feb. 24 as the new holiday this year.
The Official Gazette, which is managed by the Presidential Communications Office in Malacañang, clarified this through its Facebook page on Friday.
This was a day after the surprise announcement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — son and namesake of the late dictator ousted by the peaceful revolt — declared Feb. 24, a Friday, as a special non-working day through Proclamation No. 167.
The Official Gazette stated this was to apply “holiday economics,” where holidays are moved to allow for longer weekends to encourage domestic travel and increase tourism spending.
It added that the change was made “without diminishing” the significance of the event.
Declaring Feb. 25 as an ordinary working day, however, negates the holiday economics principle.
CNN Philippines is trying to get further clarification from Malacañang since the detail about Feb. 25 becoming a regular work day was not explicitly stated in Proclamation 167.
Filipinos took to the streets 37 years ago, with a multitude converging on EDSA for the peaceful four-day revolt. It marked the historic end of the elder Marcos’ over 20-year regime, which was marred by cases of human rights abuses and issues of corruption.
While the Marcoses have returned to Malacañang, a survey released by the Social Weather Stations on Thursday said majority of Filipinos believe that the spirit of the People Power Revolution remains alive in the country.
