The holiday, said Proclamation No. 1259, was to enable the province “to acknowledge in fitting public ceremonies the resiliency of the Kapampangans to rise from any form of adversity.”
The proclamation said that “the second-largest volcanic eruption in the twentieth century that caused massive destruction in the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija occurred at Mount Pinatubo in Zambales on 15 June 1991.”
The proclamation done last May 4 was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa in behalf of the President.
It noted that “in response to this volcanic tragedy, the then late President Corazon C. Aquino created Presidential Task Force Mount Pinatubo to fast track the recovery and assimilation of the affected families to the mainstreams of our society by providing them housing units in safe areas and livelihood activities.”
“To render appropriate tribute to those who perished, as well as to those who survived and to those who helped in the relocation, rehabilitation and recovery of Pinatubo affected families, the Province of Pampanga will hold commemorative programs on 15 June 2016 in remembrance of that ruinous volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo and to acknowledge in fitting public ceremonies the resiliency of the Kapampangans to rise from any form of adversity,” it also said.
The proclamation said “it is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Pampanga and City of Angeles be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.”
Some holidays in Pampanga, such as Pampanga Day every Dec. 11, is not marked as non-working holidays in Angeles, which is a chartered city which does not elect provincial officials.
