Working Holiday

I understand that February 25 in 2025 is special working holiday, with emphasis on “working”. (what’s a holiday if we’re working? Is that still a holiday?) Of course, who signs issuances of holidays? It’s the son of the man whose ouster is being celebrated on the day. He was even there on that day that their family and staff fled Malacanang to Hawaii. Wikipedia says that “they entered the United States with millions of dollars in jewelry, gold, stocks, and cash”. It must have been a scary and stressful time when they had to pack quickly while his father requested safe passage from former ally, Juan Ponce Enrile to avoid the revolting crowds. Now, 39 years after, they’re back to being allies again as Enrile has been Marcos’ Chief Presidential Legal Counsel since the start of his administration. I wonder how celebration would be like next year on the 40th anniversary, with Bongbong Marcos still the President.

If I were in his place, I would probably remember it as a dark day, very far from being a holiday. That was not just his father’s but their family’s and the cronies’ downfall. That must have been a difficult time for them. Well, they still had a lot of money, and they were exiled in Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, at the expense of the US Government, probably in comfortable lodging. Somehow, we have to give the President credit for letting the day remain a holiday. If he wanted, he could have canceled its status as a holiday. But, on the other hand, that may cause an uproar from many fronts, Martial Law victims, EDSA People Power veterans, the Catholic Church and probably other civil society groups. So, I believe, it has been a better choice to leave the holiday, a holiday.

Of course, public schools would have classes. They’re under DepEd, which is under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. But then, some local private schools suspended classes. It turns out that many Catholic schools all over the nation also did the same. They may call it modular, asynchronous, alternative learning or whatever, but they’re all the same. No classes. Most prominently, University of the Philippines which is the premiere state university not just suspended classes, but also suspended work. According to an article, UP “reaffirms its commitment to upholding democratic values, human rights, and the spirit of People Power. Let this occasion serve as a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and strengthen these principles within our campuses and beyond,” (www.philstar.com).

Just when we thought we wouldn’t get our no-classes holiday. Mayor Legacion suspends classes just days before February 25. All students in Naga, rejoice! People are encouraged to organize and participate in activities commemorating the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution which deposed the father of our current President. According to the issuance, face-to-face classes were suspended so that students could avoid the heavy traffic that may be caused by demonstrations by organizations which asked permission to do them on the said day. Citizens were also encouraged to celebrate the EDSA People Power Revolution and press freedom.

Okay, let’s unpack that. For most of my life, I have lived in and around Naga. Yes, there had been protest rallies, people marching on the streets, yelling chants of protests, converging in one of the plazas at Centro. Yes, to some extent, they slow down traffic, but not too much. They just pass through. They do not cause much of a disruption. Traffic could still continue pretty much normally even with them doing their protests. This is mainly because most of the time, if not always, there usually is a small number of protesters in these demonstrations. They don’t really come close to the big rallies in Manila. Consequently, and may I add, realistically, the protests wouldn’t really cause traffic jams that would impede transportation of students to and from schools.

There’s a tag on press freedom. Well, yes. The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution was a fight for freedom and that includes press freedom. But, I don’t think press freedom was at the forefront. What would be in that place is human rights. Then, what could come close as nominees could be social justice, peace and order, election integrity, good governance. Yes, I guess, you could say, the protesters in 1986 were also fighting for press freedom. But, what the heck, they were already exercising that freedom of expression by converging on the streets. But, I see, what you’re doing there. Tagging press freedom tags the issue with Spark in CSPC which directs attention against a particular government official. That’s a nice move there.

Don’t get me wrong. This column supports press freedom, especially of campus journalists. Stay away from those students. Before I forget, thanks for the no-classes holiday.

“…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!...” -John 16:33