Mt. Pinatubo holiday in Angeles City today

ANGELES CITY, Philippines  – It’s a non-working holiday today in this city, the first day of the Mt. Pinatubo Commemoration Week marking the 20th year since the eruption took place on June 15, 1991.

City information officer Deo Sambilay said the city council passed last April a resolution declaring every June 15 a non-working holiday in the city in observance of the event.

There will also be no classes on all levels.

Commemorative activities have also been slated in other parts of Pampanga but work and classes were not suspended.

Mabalacat, Pampanga Mayor Marino Morales withdrew his memorandum declaring this day a non-working holiday after the municipal council failed to pass on time a resolution regarding this.

Pampanga third district Rep. Aurelio Gonzalez earlier filed House Bill 3948 which seeks to make every June 15 a non-working day in Pampanga being Mt. Pinatubo Memorial Day.

He expressed optimism that the bill would be approved by next year.

Meantime, another coffee table book titled “Mt. Pinatubo, a Volcano in our Backyard” by Robbie Tantingco was launched yesterday at the Holy Angel University.

The book features photos taken during and immediately after the eruption by tourism officer Guy Hilbero of Mabalacat.

Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said he has lined up a series of activities to mark the anniversary of the eruption and chose the theme “Turning Tragedy into Triumph” “to pay tribute to the city’s ability to rise after the calamity.”

In a related development, first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin has also filed recently House Bill 4803 titled “An Act Declaring Mt. Pinatubo a Major Tourism Spot.”

“The Department of Tourism (DOT), together with the private sector, non-government organizations and stakeholders shall join hands to create an atmosphere that would encourage investments and the development of a culture of tourism (relative to Mt. Pinatubo),” the bill said.

The bill mandates the DOT to implement projects to boost tourism near the Mt. Pinatubo area.