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I don’t even remember exactly when PGMA started out this so-called “holiday economics“. All I can remember is that I sneered at it the first time I heard of it. I bet even Saint Valentine would refuse to have the well-celebrated Valentine’s Day be moved to the closest weekend each year.

And if Valentine’s Day — which is technically not even considered a regular holiday is not worthy of being “moved”, moreso on our regular holidays. As you may know, our regular holidays are mainly those that have significant, historical and sentimental value to us as a country. That said, it is only proper that we hold on to that tradition. While it may be true that long weekends make people go on out-of-town vacations and thereby spend more — which in turn help our economy, i don’t think that’s enough reason for us to do this at the expense of our long-held reverence for our holidays and the people/event these holidays represent.

One particular holiday I hold dear to my heart is the Philippine Independence Day. This year, it has been very frustrating to celebrate it on a different day. Many of the people I know aren’t even aware of the “new” date when it came. But more frustrating than this is that when the “true” date came, they were so occupied with work and all things mundane that they were totally oblivious that it was June 12. Apparently, switching holi-dates is more damaging than anyone else assumes. You switch holi-dates and you make people forget the holiday altogether. You make them go on vacation on a different date, and go to  work on the exact date. What do you expect to happen then? Bingo. Lost patriotism and sense of nationalism. If that ain’t a tragedy, I don’t know what one is.

Tomorrow is no exception. And so you ask, what do you mean tomorrow? What’s tomorrow’s holiday for? See. Exactly my point. As if it’s not difficult enough for some people to remember that August 21, 1983 was the exact date that Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was shot at the airport on his return from exile in the U.S. Switching holi-dates, certainly, do not help those people already suffering from “selective holiday amnesia”. To remember the holi-date is to remember what it’s for. And to switch it to another date is to kill the spirit of the holiday and to pour water on the few dying embers of nationalism and patriotism.

It is disappointing.

With that, I would like to make clear, that as protest against the “holiday economics“, I will write my tribute post “Remembering Ninoy” on August 21. I refuse to do it tomorrow. I refuse to ride this “cool” and “economically-motivated” guidelines. Instead of toying with the dates, why can’t this governent come up with significant economic reforms instead. Most of these holidays were already here long before we were born or even before PGMA became President. Show some respect. Leave the holi-dates alone.

Suggested Further Reading:

• I Am Ninoy