Ninoy’s birthday declared as ‘Araw ng Pagbasa’

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has approved a proposal seeking to declare Nov. 27 – the birth anniversary of his father former Sen. Ninoy Aquino – as “Araw ng Pagbasa,” a regular working holiday to be celebrated in all elementary and secondary schools starting this year.

The bill’s proponent, Quezon City Rep. Bolet Banal, released yesterday on his official Facebook account a copy of Republic Act 10556 signed into law by the President on May 15.

Banal said it is but fitting to commemorate Ninoy’s birth anniversary with a campaign to promote reading and literacy, as he noted the former senator’s penchant for reading.

He said the declaration of Araw ng Pagbasa is in line with the objectives of the Philippine Book Development Month celebrated every November in compliance with the Presidential Proclamation No. 1436 signed in 2008.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, the author of the Senate version of the bill, said that the Araw ng Pagbasa should emphasize reading as a source of people empowerment and a tool to widen one’s knowledge and imagination.

The law mandates the Department of Education to implement activities that reflect the meaning of the national day of reading.

“In addition to Filipino and English, the use of regional languages in the celebration shall be encouraged,” the law stated.

“In the event that the holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday shall be observed on the Friday of that week,” it added.

Banal said that prior to the filing of the bill at the House of Representatives, he had already promoted the initiative when he was still a Quezon City councilor.

Although declared a holiday, Nov. 27 would remain a working day for public and private workers nationwide.

Students are expected to participate in activities such as storytelling sessions that would be held in schools.