GMA declares long Lenten holiday

Pack your bags for a long Holy Week holiday.

Workers in both government and private sector offices nationwide will enjoy a long holiday in observance of Holy Week and the Fall of Bataan.

President Arroyo has issued Proclamation 583 declaring April 7 to 10 as special non-working days nationwide.

April 9 marks "Araw ng Kagitingan" (Day of Valor) — in remembrance of the surrender of Bataan to the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Araw ng Kagitingan and Good Friday fall on the same day this year, so the President declared in her proclamation that "all activities and celebrations for the historical milestone in observance of Araw ng Kagitingan shall be observed on April 7."

Maundy Thursday falls on April 8 and Easter Sunday is on April 11. Both are regular non-working holidays in the Philippines. Black Saturday, which falls on April 10, is also a special non-working holiday.

By authority of the President, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo issued the proclamation on March 18 and the proclamation was officially released by the Palace Press Office yesterday.

"Our people must be given the full, uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest," the proclamation said. "It is important that (these) events must be observed with meaningful and appropriate activities."

The President, who celebrates her 57th birthday on April 5, is expected to join the First Family for their traditional Lenten retreat in Baguio City. — Marichu Villanueva