Malacañang announces Christmas holiday schedule
Malacañang announced it was retaining the holiday schedule provided for under Proclamation No. 1841 of 2009 “Declaring the Regular Holidays, Special (Non-working) Days, and Special Holiday (for all Schools) for the Year 2010, saying the law was “relevant” for the occasion.
In an interview aired over dzRB on Sunday, Presidential Communication and Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said the government concurred with the law also known as the “holiday economics” law which provides that non-religious holidays be moved to the nearest Monday.
The rationale behind this law is to give Filipinos a longer weekend with which they can use to bond and strengthen family relationships as well as spur domestic tourism.
Under Proclamation No. 1841, December 24 (Friday) and December 31 (Friday) have been declared as “additional special (non-working) days” while December 27 has been declared a non-working holiday as it falls on the Monday nearest Rizal Day, a regular holiday every December 30.
With this holiday schedule, a pocket of three working days from December 28 (Tuesday) to December 30 (Thursday) remains for the remainder of the year after Christmas.
Herewith is the holiday schedule for December 2010:
Friday, December 24 – Additional Special (Non-Working) Day*
Saturday, December 25 – Christmas day; Regular Holiday; non-working day*
Sunday, December 26 – non-working day
Monday, December 27 – Monday nearest Rizal Day, December 30;
Tuesday, December 28 – working day
Wednesday, December 29 – working day
Thursday, December 30 – working day
Friday, December 31 – Last Day of the Year; Special non-working day*
Saturday, January 1 – non-working day
Sunday, January 2 – non-working day
Monday, January 3 – working day
Aquino upbeat on success of reform efforts
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed optimism on Monday that his administration will be able to attain its goal of progress and development for the country at the end of his term.
In his message at the awarding ceremonies for The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Malacañang Monday morning, President Aquino expressed confidence of achieving reforms at a faster pace as he enjoined the awardees to continue sharing their strengths and expertise in nation building.
“We would like to be able, at the end of our term… when we step down, to hold our heads up high and say when we look back that definitely we left something a lot better than what we found”, the President said.
“With all of your help and guidance…with your continued aspirations and strength that you share with us, undoubtedly we will reach it and hopefully at a faster clip than what we have managed to do these past six months”, he added.
The Chief Executive noted the awardees’ exemplary deeds which made a difference in uplifting other people’s lives.
This year’s TOYM Awards was anchored on the theme “Heroes Create Heroes”, inspired by the noble deeds of the late former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., father of President Aquino, who himself was conferred the TOYM Award for Public Service 50 years ago.
Ninoy’s heroism and love for country has inspired countless Filipinos to be heroes as well. This highlights the importance of role models, heroes in serving as inspiration for the younger generation to emulate.
The TOYM Awards recognizes outstanding individuals who, not only excel in their profession, but also in making a difference in the lives of the people in their community or to the country, as a whole.
The awards also aim to inspire many more young people, between the ages of 18 to 40, to become heroes for the Filipino youth.
This year’s TOYM Awardees are: Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara for Government Service (Legislative); Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV for Social Enterprise and Community Development, Therese “Gang” Badoy, Alternative Education and Youth Leadership; Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Government and Public Service (Public Accountability and Transparency), Maria Rochelle R. Gerodias for Arts and Music (Classical); Harvey S. Keh, Public Education and Good Governance; Efren G. Peñaflorida, Jr., Grassroots Education and Community Service; Edsel Maurice T. Salvana, Medicine and Social Activism; Beatrice “Bea” P. Valdes for Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship, and Jun S. Yupitin, Entrepreneurship in Pioneer Industries.
For more than half a century, the TOYM has become an institution, having honored countless young leaders who have accomplished considerable, tangible results in the pursuit of excellence. The award per se has become a veritable representation of what is best in man, celebrated through his indomitable spirit of service to others. (PCOO)
The Filipino child can dream again - Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday said it is time for the Filipino child to dream again as he vowed to work hard in giving them a bright future.
In his extemporaneous speech at the 20th anniversary of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the President said the children today are luckier compared to the children during the Martial Law years when he was barely 12 years old and aware that there was no promising future for them.
Speaking in the vernacular to some 500 children who attended the event at the Malacanang’s Heroes Hall, the President vowed that his administration will work hard to give the youth of today better lives.
“It is our obligation to give you a bright future,” he stressed as he asked the youth to be government’s partner in realizing a progressive Philippines.
He said it is important that the youth guide their guardians to take the righteous path to progress.
“Let us all work together for change,” he said.
The President said it is his government’s priority to give the youth quality healthcare, education and shelter.
He said he will make sure that the 40 percent of Filipinos who can’t afford to see a health professional will be able to access quality healthcare through the use of modern technology such as the internet.
Moreover, he stressed that education is the key to a better life thus the increase in the 2011 budget of the Department of Education.
“Education gives you the opportunity to improve your lives. The government is giving you the opportunity so I hope you use this opportunity wisely,” he said.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of children.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention and opened it for signature on Nov. 20, 1989 and came into force on Sept. 1990, after it was ratified by the required number of nations. As of Nov. 2009, 194 countries have ratified it, including every member of the United Nations except Somalia and the United States of America.
The Philippines ratified the Convention in Sept. 1990. (PCOO)
