MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City residents and workers celebrate the first of the week's two holidays on Tuesday as the birth anniversary of former President Manuel Quezon is commemorated.
Students brush up on lessons for impending examinations while employees enjoying the free day advance house chores. Quezon City residents who work in another area, however, bemoan the missed holiday.
Hooray for QC day!
— Janyn Quimson (@janynqmsn) August 19, 2014 Local officials, meanwhile, held a ceremony at the Quezon Memorial Circle in the morning with Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte leading the rites.
QC Mayor Bautista and VM Joy Belmonte lead Quezon Day rites at the Quezon Memorial Circle. @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/xsCD6zCvnv
— janvic mateo (@janvicmateo) August 19, 2014 House Speaker Quezon City Rep. Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte and Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima also joined the event.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has lifted the number coding in the city, expecting lighter traffic as motorists opt to stay home for the day.
August 19 of each year was a non-working holiday in Quezon City, Aurora Province and Quezon Province through Republic Act 6741 signed by President Corazon Aquino on Aug. 4, 1989.
Workers in Quezon City, Quezon and Aurora provinces are entitled to holiday pay if they report for work Tuesday.
Related: DOLE: No work, no pay on Aug. 21
August is also the Quezon City Month of Heroes as the local government prepares for four commemorative events, namely President Quezon's 70th death anniversary on Aug. 1, his 136th birth anniversary on Aug. 19, the death anniversary of martyred Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on Aug. 21 and the 118th anniversary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin, which signaled the start of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish Rule. - Camille Diola