President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to move the national commemoration of the murder of the late former senator Benigno “Ninoy’’ Aquino Jr. from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23 continues to be met with protest.
Aquino, a key opposition leader who fought the dictatorial rule of the President’s late father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was assassinated while disembarking from a plane at the then Manila International Airport upon his return from exile in the United States on Aug. 21, 1983. He was the husband and father of the late former presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III.
Commenting on the President’s action, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said: “The dates of national memorials must not be changed to dilute their significance and accommodate revisionism.”
Lagman issued the reminder that proclamations moving holidays should be made six months before the actual holiday, or risk violating Republic Act 9492.
Under RA 9492, or An Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays, Ninoy Aquino Day may be celebrated on a Monday nearest Aug. 21 if this date falls on a Wednesday or a Sunday, unless modified by law or proclamation.
“Ninoy Aquino’s death must be [marked] on the day of his assassination, which falls on Aug. 21,” Lagman said, adding:
“It is in the same manner that we cannot change the dates of Christmas Day on Dec. 25, New Year’s Day on Jan. 1, the culmination of the four-day Edsa revolution [that toppled the Marcos dictatorship] on Feb. 25, Labor Day on May 1, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8.”
It was on Thursday last week that the President moved the commemoration from Wednesday to Friday this week, to allow for a four-day weekend “to boost local tourism,” he said. The next Monday, Aug. 26, is National Heroes’ Day, a holiday.
Rocking the boat
History professor Xiao Chua wondered why the Marcos administration had to “rock the boat’’ all the time, “instead of the commemoration just passing by without an issue.”
“Instead of just letting it pass by, it seems that they are doing something to make people forget it. The more it becomes an issue,’’ Chua told CoverStory.
“The only consolation is that people talk about it more than just letting it pass by,’’ he said.
The August Twenty-One Movement (Atom) described Mr. Marcos’ proclamation as “excessive’’ but not surprising.
“Just as he imitated the management style of a former president who was both oppressive and corrupt, he also imitated the attack on a symbol of democracy and courage of Filipinos in the guise of domestic tourism,” Atom said in a statement.
“It seems that the Philippines is returning to the days when Aug. 21 was not a holiday. It was a time when Filipinos themselves decided that nothing should stop them on this day from commemorating the greatness and total sacrifice of one Ninoy Aquino,’’ the group added.
Despite Mr. Marcos’ proclamation, activities marking Ninoy Aquino Day on Aug. 21 will proceed as scheduled, including the celebration of Masses at the Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepcion in Concepcion, Tarlac, and at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque, where the Aquinos are buried; wreath-laying at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila; and film showings at The Aquino Museum and Event Center in Concepcion, Tarlac, and at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani auditorium in Quezon City.
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