Landing celebration a working holiday

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes yesterday required all regular employees and job order workers to attend the historical commemoration of the arrival of American liberation forces at the Talisay City National Historic Shrine Liberation Monument today.

"Since March 26 is declared as a special working holiday by virtue of Republic Act 10359, attendance is compulsory for regular employees and job order workers," said De los Reyes in his memo yesterday. The celebration will start at 6 a.m.

The measure declaring March 26 a holiday was passed by the House of Representatives in November 2012 and the Senate a month later. It was signed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

House Bill No. 3496, which declares March 26 of every year as a special working holiday commemorating the historic liberation of Cebu from the Japanese occupation during World War II, was introduced by former Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

Gullas said the declaration of local holidays through congressional legislations will permanently preserve and uphold the local historical and significant events that enrich the cultural heritage of local government units.

R.A. 10359 declared every March 26 of every year as a special working public holiday in Cebu to commemorate the historic liberation of the province from the Japanese.

At the height of the war, the American forces landed in the beaches of Talisay and joined the Filipino armies in fighting the Japanese.

In both the American and Japanese occupations, Talisay served as haven for colonial forces. During World War II, the city served as the center of guerilla intelligence operations for the Philippine residence movement in Cebu.

De los Reyes said that the city will celebrate the event with a re-enactment of the landing, parade, and tribute to the veterans.  (FREEMAN)