February 25, 2013 a Special Holiday

There's a lot of queries searching whether February 25, 2013 will be declared a national special holiday, in commemoration of the EDSA People Power. If that happens, February 25 will be a special non-working holiday for everyone. The declared 2013 national holidays currently treats February 25 as a special holiday only for schools (see List of 2013 Holidays). It's a national holiday, yes, but only for schools.

The President has the discretion to issue a proclamation declaring February 25 as a special holiday, even if the EDSA People Power Anniversary is not one of the holidays specifically provided by law. To recall, in 2009, February 25 was treated as a national holiday through a presidential Proclamation, but only for schools (see List of 2009 Holidays). The same is true for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

There was, however, a time when February 25 was treated a special non-working holiday throughout the country, and not only for schools. Back in 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation 1463, containing the list of regular and special holidays. February 25, although not included in the list, was already contained in a separate issuance, Proclamation 1462, declaring February 25 a special non-working holiday.

So, will February 25, 2013 be declared a special non-working holiday to cover everyone? There was an instance in the recent past that February 25 was declared a special holiday for schools and for everyone. Declaring February 25, a Monday, as a special holiday would have created another long weekend. Nevertheless, it's too late for the declaration at this point. February 25 is already tomorrow. Maybe next year?