Still Waters
mavila@theguidon.com
These days, celebrating Independence Day is like celebrating a birthday on February 29. Because it is held on a leap year, people born on the 29th usually celebrate on the date nearest it on regular years. Republic Act (RA) 9492, or the act rationalizing the celebration of national holidays in the Philippines, does the same by holding the non-working holiday on the Monday nearest the actual date.
But unlike February 29, Independence Day (June 12) is a date that appears in the calendar every year.
It’s odd and confusing that we do not observe the holiday on the date itself. While it’s great that people get long weekends and a bit more rest, the holiday’s significance seems secondary to convenience and economic growth.
Has the country become so profit-oriented that we set aside historical importance to gain cash? Perhaps. Inflation certainly hasn’t given any reason not to worry about the peso’s current state.
Regardless, it is still disappointing that the Philippines is willing to set aside celebrating on the actual date just to attract more local tourists.
And has anyone ever considered the possibility that people might mix up dates, as well? Someone might mistake Independence Day for a holiday celebrated every second Monday of June, as opposed to a holiday celebrated every June 12.
Even more confusing – in the case of Independence Day, at least – is the fact that all celebrations commemorating the holiday are still held on the actual date, when most people are at work or in school.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the purpose of declaring a non-working holiday is to let people take time off work to commemorate the occasion? It’s doubtful that they would be thinking about observing Independence when there’s nothing happening to remind them about it.
Why is there little importance placed on national holidays? We can’t say that we don’t know much about our country’s past. Law states that schools teach Philippine history as part of the curriculum. Our own core curriculum has History 165 and 166, which cover significant parts of Philippine past.
Is it because our country is embroiled in other issues that the past is overshadowed by the present? Maybe. But isn’t that reason enough to look back and remember how far we’ve come? Perhaps looking back might give us motivation to go forward.
Whatever the reason, the problem still remains. National holidays don’t get as much attention as they used to. And the fact that the law keeps moving the dates around doesn’t help matters any.
It may seem like a minor detail, but the date matters. The historic event happened on that specific day, and there is no time better to celebrate it than on the date itself.
Unfortunately, RA 9492 won’t let us. As long as the law is in effect, then we have no choice but to depend on our memory to remind ourselves when these special events really happened.
Years from now, let’s hope we still remember.
