February 25 is regular working day – Palace

People marching during the EDSA People Power in 1986 (Photo courtesy of www.gov.ph)

MANILA – Malacanang has clarified that February 25, EDSA People’s Power Revolution anniversary, is a regular working day.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

, February 25 has been declared working holiday based on the Proclamation No. 831 issued by President Benigno Aquino III on July 17, 2014.

”Based on the Proclamation No. 831, the 25th of February is working day for everybody. Holiday is for students only,” Coloma clarified in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan.

On Wednesday, the Philippines will be celebrating the 28th anniversary of the bloodless revolution held along the 27-kilometter Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

Called EDSA People’s Power, the revolution ended the oppressive regime of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who ruled the country for almost 20 years.

President Aquino will spearhead the EDSA People’s Power Revolution anniversary on Wednesday.

The President is the son of former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Sr. who was shot dead at the airport upon his return to the Philippines from exile in the United States on August 21, 1983.

The death of Ninoy sparked series of demonstrations and the economy went down to depressing level, prompting Marcos to call presidential snap election on February 7, 1986 against Ninoy Aquino’s widow, Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino.

Marcos won in what was described as the most corrupt and deceitful election in the Philippine history.

The Filipinos had reached the height of their patience and solidified their discontentment in the Marcos leadership with their presence on the street that forced Marcos to leave Malacanang.

In the morning of February 25, 1986, President Cory Aquino was proclaimed as the 11th President and first lady President of the Philippines.