Marcos Sr.'s birthday as a holiday in Ilocos

In-Young Hwang

Nov 20, 20221 min read

A CELEBRATED LEADER. On Nov. 9, 1965, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. stood before his supporters in Ilocos Norte. © Cornejo

On Sept. 7, Malacañang declared Sept. 12 as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte to commemorate the 105th birthday anniversary of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. according to Proclamation No. 53.

Under Proclamation No. 310, signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 4, 2017, Sept. 11 was declared a special non-working holiday.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the provincial board of Ilocos Norte, requested that Sept. 12 be declared a special non-working day as Sept. 11, the late President’s birth date, fell on a Sunday.

Ilocos Norte held a 4-day celebration that started Sept. 8, which included a shooting and debate competition, concert, and thanksgiving mass to commemorate the life and contributions of the late President as a World War II veteran, lawyer, and legislator.

Critics and human rights groups opposed the declaration of the holiday as it disregarded the period of the Marcos administration that led to thousands tortured and killed.

Former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., born on Sept. 11, 1917, served as the 10th president of the Philippines, who contributed to agriculture, industry, and education and declared Martial Law, which resulted in mass arrests and economic decline.