• February 25 is a regular working day, says Palace
• Palace announces official visit of French President to the country

“Isa lang paglilinaw hinggil sa kung holiday ba o hindi ang February 25. Batay sa Proclamation No. 831 na inilabas noon pang Hulyo 2014, ang darating na ika-25 ng Pebrero ay may pasok para sa lahat. Ang holiday o walang pasok ay para lamang sa lahat ng mga mag-aaral o estudyante,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

“So ito po ang paglilinaw natin, school holiday lang po, hindi apektado ang trabaho sa February 25. Regular working day po,” he added.

Last Tuesday, EDSA People Power Commission Commissioner Emily Abrera announced that the celebration will rather be “simple” to give way for a much grander 30th anniversary next year.

“Sa darating na Miyerkules, ika-25 ng Pebrero, ipagdiriwang ng bansa ang ika-29 na anibersaryo ng People Power Revolution sa ilalim ng temang ‘Ipagpatuloy ang Pagbabago’ na magsisilbing panawagan sa ating mga mamamayan na itaguyod at ibayo pang pasibulin ang naipunlang pagbabago sa lipunan,” said Coloma.

“Dalawampu’t siyam na taon matapos matagumpay na mapatalsik ang diktador at wakasan ang diktadurya sa bansa, patuloy nating isinasabuhay ang diwa ng EDSA sa pamamagitan ng pagsulong at pagpapatupad ng mga kongkretong aksyon upang maibsan ang antas ng kahirapan at pangunahan ang pagbabagong tatag ng mga komunidad na bumabangon mula sa trahedya at kalamidad,” he added.

The celebration will commence on February 24, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, where Former President Fidel Ramos will lead a wreath-laying ceremony. Ramos is one of the proponent of the revolt in 1986.

Followed by President Benigno Aquino III leading the 12 Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) Awards ceremony at the Heroes Hall, Malacañang.

On Wednesday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the People Power Monument followed by a mass to be celebrated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

While the Cultural Center of the Philippines at its main theater, Ballet Philippines will feature musical dance drama called ‘Manhid,’ a Filipino superhero. The play is set in a scenario where the EDSA People Power Revolution never took place. PND (ag)

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Coloma said President Hollande will be accompanied by more that 100 French delegates when he visits the country on February 26-27.

“Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ng isang nakaupong Pangulo ng Pransya sa ating bansa simula nang magkaroon ng ugnayang diplomatiko ang ating mga bansa,” said Coloma.

President Hollande’s visit is in response to President Benigno Aquino III’s invitation when the latter visited France last September.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs, economy and trade will be in the agenda during bilateral talks.

France is the country’s second biggest trading partner in the European Union.

Among other topics to be discuss are combating terrorism and climate change.

“Inaasahan ding kukuha ng suporta si Pangulong Hollande sa usapin ng climate change bilang paghahanda sa gaganaping ika-21 pagpupulong ng Conference of Parties or COP 21 sa Paris sa darating na Disyembre 2015 na lalahukan ng humigit-kumulang na 40,000 katao mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo,” Coloma added. PND (ag)