US Embassy in Manila closed on National Heroes' Day Aug. 27

Published August 24, 2012 4:30pm

The United States Embassy in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on August 27 for Philippine National Heroes Day.

A news release on Friday said the embassy and its affiliated agencies will resume their regular services on August 28. The US Embassy website said for general inquiries and scheduling appointments for US non-immigrant visas, the public may call (02) 982-5555 / (02 902-8930 for calls within the Philippines and other countries aside from mainland United States and (214) 571-1600 for calls from mainland United States. These numbers are accessible from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Manila time, except on US and Philippine holidays.

They public may also call (02) 301-2104; available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except US and Philippine holidays. The embassy said this number is for general inquiries only (except K visas). NO TELEPHONE inquiries on an specific applicant’s case will be entertained. All inquiries must be in writing.

Philippine National Heroes Day

According to the Official Gazette website, the celebration of Philippine National Heroes Day was fist signed into law through Act No. 3827 on October 28, 1931. The law declared the last Sunday of August of every year as an official national holiday.

President Corazon Aquino’s Administrative Code of 1987 adopted this in Book 1, Chapter 7, which provided for a list of regular holidays and nationwide special days, setting National Heroes Day as a regular holiday celebrated every last Sunday of August.

On July 24, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act No. 9492, which amended Book 1, Chapter 7 of the Administrative Code. RA 9492 changed the celebration of National Heroes Day to the last Monday of August.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III‘s Proclamation No. 84, s. 2010 continued this tradition. On August 29, 2011, Aquino led a ceremonial wreath-laying on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to honor the unnamed heroes who have died for love of country. - VVP, GMA News

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