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MONDAY, August 31, the last Monday of August is declared National Heroes Day or the Cry of Balintawak also called Cry of Pugadlawin, and is therefore a non-working holiday.

Through Proclamation 1699, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared since December 24, 2008 regular holidays and special non-working holidays for 2009.

The proclamation also is based on Republic Act 9492, which moved holidays, except those religious in nature to the nearest Monday. 

Supposedly celebrated every last Sunday of August, by RA 9492, the celebration is moved to the following day, the nearest Monday. 

The National Heroes Day commemorates the time when supreme leader Andres Bonifacio declared the uprising against the Spaniards in the historic Cry of Balintawak which is situated in Pugadlawin, otherwise called the Cry of Pugadlawin.

Bonifacio’s declaration of the uprising, made symbolic by tearing to pieces the Spanish issued cedullas (residence certificates) also signaled the formal start of countless sparks of rebellion organized by the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Katipunan).

The uprising was triggered by the brutal rule the Spaniards imposed upon the Filipinos.

All of these, Bonifacio stated in his general proclamation issued August 28 when he wrote:

This manifesto is for all of you. It is absolutely necessary for us to stop at the earliest possible time the nameless oppositions being perpetrated on the sons of the country who are now suffering the brutal punishment and tortures in jails, and because of this please let all the brethren know that on Saturday, the 29th of the current month, the revolution shall commence according to our agreement.

For this purpose, it is necessary for all towns to rise simultaneously and attack Manila at the same time. Anybody who obstructs this sacred ideal of the people will be considered a traitor and an enemy, except if he is ill; or is not physically fit, in which case he shall be tried according to the regulations we have put in force. Mount of Liberty, 28th August 1896 - ANDRES BONIFACIO.

By the celebration, the country’s leaders also hope that the younger generation look up to the event as a venue for realizing the way of freedom and democracy. (PIA)

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