BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 23) — September 1, or Baguio Charter Day, is a Saturday and is a non-working holiday, but this does not automatically entails that September 3 is another holiday, the chief executive clarified during a media conference Thursday.

City Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista said it is enough to declare Saturday as a non-working holiday, since school children, usually have classes on Saturdays to replace the weekdays they were out of school due to the past typhoons.

Following the presidential logic that once a public holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday is a holiday, in issuing Republic Act 9492 rationalizing the celebration of national holidays. If the holiday falls on a Tuesday, it would be moved to the Monday immediately following the holiday.

Two consecutive Mondays in August, the 20th and the 27th, were official non-working holidays nationwide, the first Monday replaced the death anniversary of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino which was on August 21, a Tuesday. The second is the National Heroes Day, the last Sunday of August, which was moved to Monday, August 27.

Citizen awardees to grace celebrations

Meanwhile Bautista said, activities of the Baguio Charter Day include a parade or a motorcade and mass wreath-laying by the Baguio Centennial Commission, which will not interfere in a program by the city government. He clarified that the commission does not have a direct hand in this year’s Baguio Day celebrations.

The traditional Baguio Day program will highlight the observance of the 98th anniversary of the city’s founding on September 1, Bautista announced last week.

The usual parade following the program, however, may be canceled due to the lingering inclement weather. It will be revived last year, as a rehearsal of sorts for 2009, when the city celebrates its centennial.

Baguio’s outstanding citizens will also be accorded honors during the celebrations. The citizen award will go to Dr. Leonora Fe Brawner, education; Edna Anton, journalism; Avmir Pangilinan, business; Edita Ibarra, government service; Onesima Bugnosen, community service; Ramon Toby de Lara Tamayo, environmental advocacy; Antonio Alex Ayo Manongdo, moral and spiritual advocacy for the youth; and Jane Lieu, advocacy for tourism.

Be-medaled international Wushu artist Eduard Folayang and Baguio Midland Courier staff member Flordeliza Agoot-Galao made it in the youth category. Folayang will be honored in the field of sports while Galao will be cited for journalism. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS