Happy Birthday Dr. Jose Rizal

Through Proclamation No. 154, President Noynoy Aquino has declared June 20, 2011 a special non-working holiday. It is the Philippines National Hero, Jose P. Rizal 150th Birthday.

I don’t have any updates on the events for his birthday.  Meanwhile, I follow this Twitter personality @parengjoserizal and obviously, we know for a fact that he’s fake, but his tweet is worth one to follow, because his political and social thoughts are just like the real Dr. Jose Rizal. Thanks Dr. Rizal for teaching us that pen is powerful than sword as to blogging in this advanced genre.

Rizal’s birthday, June 19 falls on a Sunday this year but the National Historical Commission of the Philippines requested the holiday to be moved on June 20 (Monday).

Here’s the full text of the Proclamation courtesy of the Government’s Official Gazette:

MALACAÑAN PALACE

Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 154

DECLARING MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011, AS SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

WHEREAS, Sunday, June 19, 2011, marks the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, our national hero;

WHEREAS, to give all Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate Rizal’s patriotic deeds and sacrifices for the country, rekindle their admiration and respect for him, and to celebrate this milestone with appropriate ceremonies, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) requested that Monday, June 20, 2011, be declared as special non-working holiday instead of June 19, 2011, which falls on a Sunday.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Monday, June 20, 2011, as special (non-working) day throughout the country.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 26th 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

Photo Courtesy of Vibal Foundation Organization