June 20 is a Philippine Holiday!

Made extra special to commemorate Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal‘s 150th birthday, Malacañang recently declared June 20, 2011 as a Philippine Holiday – a special non-working holiday to be exact.

Although Rizal’s real birthday is June 19, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines requested from the Aqunio administration to commemorate Jose Rizal’s birthday as a Philippine Holiday on June 20 instead of June 19, a Sunday.

This led to President Aquino’s issuance of Proclamation No.154 which aims to give Filipinos a chance to remember the values imparted and sacrifices made by Rizal for the country.

This was a little surprising actually since the current administration is obersevably not too keen on having holidays based on its 2011 Philippine Holidays list declaration which was released mid of 2010.

Let us appreciate the works done, contribution, and precious memory left by our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on June 20, 2011, a Philippine Holiday.