PNoy Declares Black Saturday a Non-Working Holiday

Great news for many employees in the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III declared April 23, 2011, Black Saturday, a nationwide, special non-working holiday.

In his proclamation, PNoy specified that Black Saturday has always been observed by the whole country as a special non-working holiday. He was quoted saying -

“The observance of Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions. Our people must be given the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest."

Aside from Black Saturday, the President decreed Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as regular holidays.

MALACAÑAN PALACE

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 150

DECLARING SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

WHEREAS, Saturday, April 23, 2011 falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday;

WHEREAS, Black Saturday, falling between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, has been traditionally declared a special (non-working) day throughout the country;

WHEREAS, the observance of Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions;

WHEREAS, our people must be given the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Saturday, April 23, 2011, as a special (non-working) day throughout the country.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seas of the Republic of the Philippines.

Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of April, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Eleven.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.

Executive Secretary