National Heroes Day

The celebration of National Heroes Day was fist signed into law through Act No. 3827 of the Philippine Legislature on October 28, 1931. The Act declared the last Sunday of August of every year as an official national holiday.

President Corazon Aquino’s Administrative Code of 1987  adopted this in Book 1, Chapter 7, which provided for a list of regular holidays and nationwide special days, setting National Heroes Day as a Regular Holiday celebrated on the last Sunday of August. The Administrative Code provides that the list of holidays and special days may be “modified by law, order or proclamation.”

On July 24, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act No. 9492, which amended Book 1, Chapter 7 of the Administrative Code. Per RA 9492, the celebration of National Heroes Day thus falls on the last Monday of August.

President Benigno S. Aquino III‘s Proclamation No. 84, s. 2010 continued this, setting National Heroes Day on August 29, 2011, i.e., the last Monday of August. On this day, President Aquino lead a ceremonial wreath-laying on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to honor the unnamed heroes who have died for the country.

For a full transcript of President Aquino’s speech during the ceremony, please click here.

Source:  www.gov.ph