Palace declares 8 local holidays

MANILA, Philippines — The birth anniversary of Josefa Llanes-Escoda, the civic leader and World War 2 heroine after whom the shoal that is subject of recent tensions between Filipino and Chinese sailors was named, has been declared a local holiday.

Proclamation 680, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the authority of President Marcos, declared Sept. 20 a special non-working day in Dingras town in Ilocos Norte to allow its residents to commemorate the birth of Escoda, who was born in 1898.

Escoda, founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and an advocate of education and women’s rights, provided various forms of support to Filipino prisoners during the second world war.

The Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, internationally known as Sabina Shoal, was named after her. The coral reef formation is located 75 nautical miles from the Philippine baselines and is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Despite its location, the shoal is among the areas being claimed by China in its so-called ten-dash line.

China resorted to aggressive acts to assert its maritime claims in the South China Sea, triggering tensions in the strategic sea lane.

Malacañang also declared Sept. 21 a special non-working day, through Proclamation 681, in San Mateo, Rizal, which will mark its 452nd founding anniversary.

Proclamation 687, meanwhile, declared Sept. 23 a special working day in Maria Aurora town in Aurora province for the commemoration of the birth anniversary of Maria Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first daughter of President Manuel Quezon and Aurora Aragon Quezon.

The Palace also declared Oct. 4 a special non-working day in Mountain Province to celebrate the Provincial Indigenous People’s Day through Proclamation 682.

It also declared Oct. 7 and 23 as special non-working days in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur and Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, respectively, through Proclamation Nos. 683 and 684. Zamboanga del Sur will mark its 33rd Araw ng Guipos while Narvacan will celebrate the Aldaw Ti Wayawaya-lli A Narvacan.

Marcos likewise issued Proclamation 685 to declare Oct. 24 a special non-working day in Pili in Camarines Sur to allow its residents to celebrate the Cimarrones Festival.

He also issued Proclamation 686 declaring Oct. 25 a special non-working day in Lemery, Batangas, which will celebrate its founding anniversary.