Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. signed on Monday Proclamation No. 150 declaring Black Saturday, which falls on April 23 this year, as a special (non-working) day.

“Black Saturday, falling between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, has been traditionally declared a special (non-working) day throughout the country,” the statement read.

“Our people must be given the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest,” it added.

It will be recalled that President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 84 in December last year, foregoing the so-called “holiday economics” policy of the Arroyo administration.

Proclamation No. 84 did not include Black Saturday as a regular holiday.

Based on Proclamation No. 84, regular holidays are: New Year’s Day – January 1 (Saturday); Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Saturday); Maundy Thursday – April 21; Good Friday – April 22; Labor Day – May 1 (Sunday); Independence Day – June 12 (Sunday); National Heroes Day – August 29 (last Monday of August); Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Wednesday); Christmas Day – December 25 (Sunday); and Rizal Day – December 30 (Friday).

Special (Non-Working) Days meanwhile include: Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Sunday); All Saints Day – November 1 (Tuesday); Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Saturday); and EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 25 (Friday).

Meanwhile, Holy Tuesday (Martes Santo), the third day of the Holy Week, focuses on Jesus Christ’s commandment for mankind “to love one another.”

Gospel readings in Tuesday’s masses will elucidate on John 13:21-33,36-38 when Jesus foretold the treachery of Judas Iscariot, gave His new commandment for mankind to love one another as part of His farewell discourses, and of St. Peter’s impending denial of Him.

Also known as Great Tuesday, Church officials urge the faithful to perform acts of charity and self- denial and to go to confession. The Church also encourages the faithful to follow in their prayers with readings from the Bible.

Catholic parishes will extend their confession services on Tuesday until Good Friday to give churchgoers more time to go to confession.

In many parts of the country, the “pabasa,” the marathon chanting of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, which started on Holy Monday, continues, while on the streets, self-flagellants and penitents, some carrying wooden crosses and wearing a crown of thorns, walk under the scorching summer heat. In some churches, penitents can be seen praying while walking on their knees from the main door all the way to the altar as part of their personal sacrifice.

Many devotees, especially those who own images depicting the Passion of Christ, will also be busy preparing for the Holy Wednesday procession on Tuesday, particularly in the provinces of Bulacan, Iloilo, City, Marinduque, Pampanga, Rizal, and Laguna, as well as in many towns in Metro Manila, where grand processions are traditionally held every Wednesday and on Good Friday.

Meanwhile in Lucena City, Quezon, an official of the protected area of Mt. Banahaw reminded pilgrims on Monday that the so-called Holy Mountain is restricted to all devotees, hikers, local and foreign tourists who will visit on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Protected Area Superintendent Sally Pangan said the three-year extension or what is left of it is not enough for Mount Banahaw to regain its health and splendor. “But she observed good signs — the mount’s being much cleaner, and vegetation has somewhat recovered.”

During previous years ,Pangan observed a great reduction of visitors from about half a million during Lent in the past to about 3,000 to 5,000 in 2009, and about 3,000 last year and she expects less this year.

She stressed that expected to be mobilized are the DENR’s Park Rangers and around 100 volunteers from local environmental groups such as Ugnayan, a Federation of mountaineering groups including the Banahaw de Dolores Outdoor Club, Tayabas Mountaineers, the Lucena City-based mountaineering group Move On and Triskelion’s TREAT of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity.

Pangan said these able bodied volunteers will man entry points, ensure that Mount Banahaw will be strictly monitored, particularly trails going to the restricted areas of Cristalino Falls, Durungawan, Tatlong Tangke to Kinabuhayan; Barangay Bugon, Puesto ng Pagbuga, Dulong Ilaya, Concepcion Pinagbakuran.

The Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal was declared by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as protected areas in December 2009.

Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9847 or "An Act Establishing Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal in the Provinces of Laguna and Quezon as a Protected Area Under the Category of Protective Landscape Providing for its Management and Other Purposes" to ensure the protection and conservation of the mountains, including the flora and fauna in the areas.

Meanwhile, another place to be visited, mostly by devotees who seek medication of their illness, is the Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon.

In this place dovotees can visit a gigantic monument of Jesus Christ placed at the top of the hill and the newly constructed Noah’s Ark, a structure that was depicted in the Bible.

Madel Sabater, Manila Bulletin