August 5: special non-working holiday nationwide

NEW YORK (via PLDT) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has decided
to cut short her trip in the United States and declared Wednesday,
August 5, as a special non-working holiday nationwide to give the
entire Filipino nation proper time and opportunity to grieve and honor
the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said former President Aquino, who
succumbed to colon cancer early Saturday in Manila will be laid to
rest on August 5.

Remonde read the proclamation which the President signed Saturday
(Sunday in Manila) during a media interaction with Executive Secretary
Eduardo Ermita and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo at
the Waldorf Astoria Hotel here.

"I, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo do hereby declare August 5,
2009, Wednesday, to be a special non-working holiday nationwide in
honor of the late former President Corazon C. Aquino," Remonde quoted
the President in her proclamation.

Under the Proclamation, the President said it is but proper to give
the entire nation "the opportunity to honor and show their respect,
appreciation and gratitude to the beloved former President in their
own respective ways."

Before leaving Washington, D.C. the other night, the President also
issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1850 declaring a 10-day period of
national mourning from August 1-10.

During the period, Ermita said the Philippine flag in all government
offices nationwide will be flown at half mast.

from: http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/today.htm#PGMA to cut short US trip