Ninoy Aquino Day was set to remember the late senator Ninoy Aquino Sr. However, the recent news of the holiday being moved out of its intended date has garnered mixed reactions from respected figures and normal citizens alike. On August 21st (41 years ago)m Sen. Beningo Aquino Sr. was assassinated as he got off a plane on August 21st.
Why is there a Ninoy Aquino Day? The holiday was intended to be a commemoration of the widely recognizable figure. However, on August 15, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. moved Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21 to August 23, 2024.
Also Read: PBBM moves Ninoy Aquino Day 2024 Observance to August 23
According to Proclamation No. 665, the reason for the move was to provide a longer weekend and promote domestic tourism. For many citizens, however, their preferred reason is to simply realize the “long weekends.”
Many individuals share their unfavorable reactions and honest thoughts about the sudden move. For them, moving Ninoy Aquino Day out of its intended date minimizes its importance and degrades it as a regular holiday. Critics have also added that moving the holiday to its intended date also increases its importance, making people even forget the day’s intention.
Novelist Inez Ponce de Leone of Inquirer Philippines shared the following quotes:
“When August 21 is moved in favor of some abstract economic notion of getting more money out of weekends, it becomes an excuse to party, a means of escape, a date we simply name because we expect to have a three-or-four-day weekend. The dates one day become numbers, and we, the people, will forget why the dates are remembered at all.”
Filipino journalist Dr. Randy David also commented last Sunday about the significance of Ninoy Aquino’s assassination, why it happened, and what it represents in the Philippines’ history.
“Ninoy’s assassination awakened the middle class from its stupor. It stirred the business community, long accustomed to playing it safe under any administration, into action.” David wrote in an article.
Retired judge Meinrado Paredes also shared his thoughts about how moving the holiday minimizes the impact and importance of Ninoy Aquino Sr. He told SunStar Cebu that “changing the date of this significant occasion appears to lack sufficient justification and could potentially undermine the importance of the day.”
Also Read: LIST: August 2024 Holidays in the Philippines
According to the Official Gazette Holidays of 2024, the Philippines has two official holidays with significant importance. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman also criticized the holiday transfer. He added that the transfer will also impact the importance of the upcoming National Heroes Day of 2024.
Lagman shared a Facebook post stating that “Ninoy Aquino’s death must be celebrated on the day of his assassination.”
As of this article’s writing. “Ninoy Aquino” is trending throughout social media, with many users publishing posts to commemorate the late senator. Many of them chose to pay tribute to Ninoy on the intended day.
Tied a yellow ribbon at Olegna in honor of Ninoy Aquino Day.#NeverForget pic.twitter.com/iFhvR6TIvj
— FABGELOUS 💓 CANDY WHOREHOL (@fabgelous) August 21, 2024
Sa kabila ng paglipat ng paggunita sa Araw ng Ninoy Aquino mula Agosto 21 patungong Biyernes, Agosto 23, itinuloy pa rin ng pamilya at mga kaibigan ang pag-alala sa yumaong senador. #AbanteNews#Teletabloid@jonassulit pic.twitter.com/2A77eCUEmC
— Abante News Online (@AbanteNews) August 21, 2024
And, it was during the M/artial Law era that Manila sound flourished. To think we have another Narcos (unfortunately) as pres when our boys released their own remake. And today marks the 41st death anniv of Ninoy Aquino. They'll perform SS on tv, for the first time on EB. A year+ https://t.co/Ji9VV2ioLT
— Irish🐼🐲 | I met REYSTER & VINCI (my miracles) (@gloriousirish17) August 21, 2024
Ikaw ang tunay at totoong Lakas ng Bayan, maraming salamat sa mga pinaglaban mo noon para bansa at demokrasya ng ating bayan. Idol nandito ako para ipag laban din at ipag tanggol ang ating kalayaan at demokrasya ng Pilipinas.
— Jowell Ian P. Madarang 🇵🇭 (@ian_jowell95) August 21, 2024
"The Filipino is worth dying for"
-Ninoy Aquino pic.twitter.com/WrKlc4MTO6
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