Palace declares Feb 23 holiday for students

MANILA, Philippine - Malacañang on Thursday declared February 23 as a special holiday for all private and public schools to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution in EDSA. A radio report quoted Press Secretary Cerge Remonde as saying that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had already signed Proclamation 1728, declaring the holiday on Monday next week. "The historic event which restored and ushered political, social and economic reforms in the country, serves as an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere as we continue to chart our collective effort as a nation and as a people," the President said in issuing the proclamation. Remonde said that after reaching a consensus with the Department of Labor and Employment and the labor sector, the President decided to exclude workers from the holiday. Remonde said some workers, especially those being paid on a daily basis, would rather work on that day to earn extra money. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV