A long list of possible public holidays in Cebu is on its way as the month of August 2019 will be the celebration of the Founding Anniversary of the province. This year, three (3) public holidays are set on the calendar in the country (one being for final confirmation) and added another one day holiday in Cebu Province on August 6.
August 2019 Holidays in Cebu: 4 to date and a long holiday weekend
August 6, 2019, Tuesday, is a Special Non-Working Day in the Province of Cebu in pursuant to Republic Act No. 8952. The law was enacted in 2000 during the administration of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
The day is also a holiday in Cebu City and Mandaue City as well as in Lapu-Lapu, Danao, and Toledo.
Republic Act No. 8952
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES H. No. 8048
Second Regular Session }
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8952
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7698 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 2. August six of every year is hereby declared a special nonworking public holiday for the Province of Cebu including its highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Mandaue and its component cities of Lapulapu, Danao and Toledo.”
SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved, August 31, 2000.
On August 1, 2016, Governor Hilario P. Davide III and Vice-Governor Agnes Magpale led the opening rites attended by all town mayors and vice mayors and district representatives of the province.
Interestingly, Cebuanos had been celebrating August 6 as their province’s foundation day since 1993 – or years before RA 8952 was enacted. At that time, Cebu’s provincial council stressed that King Philip II’s appointment of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as governor of Cebu on August 6, 1569 “marked the foundation, although loosely, of a province of Cebu.”
It must be remembered that the Philippines was named after King Philip II.
TBA: Eid’l Adha (or Feast of Sacrifice) in August
The Malacañan Palace is yet to make an official announcement proclaiming August 11 or 12 (Eidul Adha) as a regular holiday throughout the Philippines.
An excerpt from the Proclamation No. 555 states that:
“SECTION 2. The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on the actual dates on which these holidays shall respectively fall.”
ALSO READ: Save The Dates: 2019 Public Holidays in the Philippines
A long holiday weekend
Cebu will also benefit a long weekend this August for the remaining holidays this month. August 26 fall on Monday, giving more time for employees to have a long weekend.
The whole Philippines will commemorate the death anniversary of former senator and independence icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. on August 21.
On August 26, meanwhile, is the National Heroes Day. It is declared a regular holiday, together with the August 21 and other holidays this year, in pursuant to the declaration of Proclamation No. 555. The National Heroes Day celebration falls on the last Monday in August.
