Palace declares Black Saturday special non-working holiday

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang has declared Black Saturday, which falls on April 7, as a special non-working day throughout the country.

The Palace released to the media on Monday proclamation No. 360, which declared Black Saturday as a special non-working day.

President Aquino signed the proclamation last March 29 which noted that the government “traditionally” declares Black Saturday a special non-working day because it falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

“The observance of Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions,” said the proclamation, adding that people should be given “the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest.”