Corys funeral, Aug 5, a special non-working holiday

MANILA – Malacañang has declared Wednesday, Aug. 5, as a special non-working holiday in commemoration of the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. The private funeral of Aquino will be held on Wednesday. She will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park. According to deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, the declaration of Wednesday as a special non-working holiday will allow the nation to witness the moments before Aquino is brought to her final resting place, radio dzMM reported. A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial. Fajardo earlier announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cut short her United States trip in order to make it to Aquino’s funeral service on Wednesday. Arroyo will leave New York for Manila on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines). The chief executive declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) over the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850. Aquino, 76, succumbed to colon cancer on Saturday at 3:18 a.m. Her wake is at the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) gymnasium in Mandaluyong City. The public viewing at LSGH began at 5 p.m. of Saturday and will continue until Monday. The daily viewing schedule will be until 4 a.m., and will resume at 7 a.m.

No classes in Metro Manila on Monday

No classes in Metro Manila on Monday

MANILA -- Education officials on Saturday announced the cancellation of classes in all levels in Metro Manila on Monday, July 27 in anticipation of President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address and Iglesia Ni Cristo’s grand anniversary. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Emmanuel Angeles told radio dzMM they had decided to cancel classes on Monday due to the traffic that will be caused by the 95th celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo. “Inaasahan natin ang mga taga Iglesia ni Cristo from provinces na pumunta sa Manila for their anniversary, so malamang na magkaroon ng problema sa trapiko,” Angeles said in an interview over dzMM. Angeles said the cancellation is only for schools in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, Teresita Domalanta, National Capital Region chief of the Department of Education also announced the suspension of classes in the elementary and secondary levels. “Dahil po sa dalawang malaking okasyon sa darating na Lunes, nagpasya kaming isuspindi muna ang klase,” she said. President Arroyo is scheduled to deliver her 9th and last State of the Nation Address at 4 p.m. Activists have also organized various anti-SONA protests which will culminate on Monday. Earlier, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila announced the suspension of their classes. According to a media advisory sent by the PUP Public Affairs Office, the suspension of classes applies to all its campuses and branches all over the country. “PUP President Dante Guevarra wants the politically-oriented and socially aware PUP students to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to listen to the great speech of the President of the Philippines,” the advisory stated. For its part, San Sebastian said demonstrators are expected to converge near their front gate at Legarda corner C.M. Recto. "This convergence may possibly bring an unfavorable scenario that may endanger the students, teachers and employees of SSC-R Manila," the school said.