TRANSFER OF NINOY AQUINO DAY DILUTES MEANING
OF EVENT -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today criticized the transfer of Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21 (Thursday) to August 18 (Monday) on order of Malacañang which has the effect of diminishing the significance of the historic event.

Pimentel rejected the justification by the Palace that the change of date of the celebration that it is in accordance with the administration's policy on "holiday economics" to encourage the people to take advantage of the long weekend by going to tourist spots or visiting their relatives or friends in other places.

"I do not agree with that reasoning because the meaning of the event - the martyrdom of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. - is diluted by transferring the actual celebration of the event to another date," he said.

But President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued an order advancing the date of commemoration of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino from August 21 to August 18, which was declared a non-working holiday.

"I think the President is playing up to the crowd by saying we have an additional holiday. But the net effect is the transfer destroys the meaning and solemnity of the occasion," Pimentel said.

"People should be reminded of an event that took place on a particular day and celebrate it accordingly even at some sacrifice."

Pimentel said the President should discontinue her practice of cavalierly transferring the observance of holidays such as Labor Day, Independence Day and Bonifacio Day to other dates so as not to trivialize the meaning of the events.