July 23 declared ‘special working holiday’ in Batangas
LUCENA CITY––Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas has declared July 23 a “special working holiday” for the province in celebration of the 157th birthday of hero and patriot Apolinario Mabini, a native of Tanauan town.
“With all his credible achievements, it is but fitting and proper that the province of Batangas commemorate and remember the natal day of an outstanding, true-blooded Batangaueño, whose unparalleled contribution to the nation’s history is worth remembering,” Mandanas said in a proclamation issued July 21.
The proclamation was posted on the Facebook page of the Batangas Public Information Office.
On April 10, 2007, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9430, declaring July 23 each year as “Apolinario Mabini Day” and a “special working holiday,” but only in Tanauan City.
Mabini was tagged in history books as a “sublime paralytic” because of his polio.
Despite this disability, Mabini engaged in the revolution against the Spanish and American colonial masters, which earned him the historical moniker as one of the “brains of the revolution” against Spain; and a tireless advocate for independence against American rule.
Mabini, born on July 23, 1864, died on May 13, 1903 at 38 years old in Manila, two months after he returned to the Philippines from Guam, where he was exiled by the American colonial authorities.
In a separate order, Mandanas also declared July 23 a “special working holiday” in Batangas City in celebration of its 52nd Foundation Day.
President Duterte signed on August 22, 2019, Republic Act 1137 that declared July 23 of every year a “special working holiday” in Batangas City.
The distinction between the “special working holiday” and “special non-working holiday” is the rate of pay an employee will get should he decide to work on that specific day.
The Department of Labor and Employment rules that workers get no pay if they don’t work on a special non-working holiday unless a company orders otherwise. If they work on that day, they shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their basic wage on the first eight hours of work.
For work performed on a special working holiday, an employee is entitled only to his basic rate. No premium pay is required since work performed on this day is considered work on an ordinary working day.
