The Palace said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the proclamation on February 23. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released the document to the public on Thursday evening – to the surprise of many who have either planned or unplanned their weekend.
READ: LIST: Regular, special non-working holidays for 2023
A netizen with a Twitter handle @E4thofjuly shared publication material from an unknown source with the hashtag #WalaNamangBiglaan.
The tweet, which received over 30,000 views, says: “HALAday – Biglaang holiday kaya hindi nakapag plano ng gala o sa bahay na lang, hindi mo alam ang gagawin sa energy mo.”
(HALAday – A sudden holiday or no time to make outdoor plans, so you stay home, not knowing what to do with your energy.)
😂😂😂
ctto pic.twitter.com/xrs0qJMGMa
— Teacher E (@E4thofjuly) February 23, 2023
Meanwhile, a commuter said on Twitter she was asleep when the public announcement was made.
“[…] Kagabi lang pala in-announce holiday borlogs nako agad paguwi ko kagabi.. hindi ako informed kaya pumasok tuloy ako kanina sayang pamasahe,” the account with username @Lyoonhan with hashtags #WalaNamangBiglaan and #HALAday
(The holiday was announced only last night I was already asleep after coming from work… I was not informed so I went to work this morning, such a waste of fare.)
She tweeted her sentiment and a video of Antipolo’s Manila Light Rail Transit 2 (LRT) station. Her post has over 9,000 views so far.
Putangina kasi kagabi lang pala inannounce holiday borlogs nako agad paguwi ko kagabi.. hindi ako informed kaya pumasok tuloy ako kanina sayang pamasahe 😂#WalaNamangBiglaan #HALAday pic.twitter.com/wP2Y5sCiqj
— 🍓 Mari 🩷✨ (@Lyoonhan) February 24, 2023
Trending hashtags and words as of this writing are #LosAngele, #GoodJobPBBM, Edsa People Power Revolution, and #WalaNamangBiglaan, among others.
READ: What makes Tiktok Hashtags so powerful?
The historic event is commemorated every February 25, a special non-working day. This year’s 37th Edsa People Power Revolution anniversary falls on a Saturday.
But citing so-called holiday economics, Marcos decided to move its celebration this year to February 24, a Friday, supposedly to allow the public to enjoy a “long weekend.”
READ: Marcos declares February 24 a holiday in celebration of Edsa People Power Revolution
Also, on Friday, Malacañang clarified that with Proclamation No. 167, February 25 would no longer be a holiday which means it will already be a regular working day.
READ: Palace clarifies: February 25 is a regular working day
The world-renowned 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution is a bloodless uprising that gathered millions of Filipinos along the main arteries of Metro Manila which led to the ouster of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of the present Chief Executive.
READ: Edsa People Power after 36 years: Who played key roles? (Part one)
The assassination of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983, sparked widespread demonstrations which served as among the catalysts for the revolution that clamored for a change in government.
READ: 36 years later: The key figures in Edsa People Power (Part two)