Issues

This coming June 20, 2011, Monday was declared by the Malacañang as holiday. It was declared a special non-working holiday to commemorate the 150th birthday of the country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. "(This is) to give all Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate Rizal’s patriotic deeds and sacrifices for the country, rekindle their admiration and respect for him, and to celebrate this milestone with appropriate ceremonies," President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said in Proclamation No.154 issued on April 26. The said date was being declared as holiday because of the request of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to commemorate the hero's birthday. Rizal's birthday was on June 19 but since it falls on Sunday it was moved to the nearest Monday.

A UP graduate in University of the Philippines Diliman graduated with a GWA of 1.016. His name is John Gabriel Pelias. His general weighted average of 1.016 set a record that second only to Exequiel Sevillam who graduated with a degree in BS Commerce in 1927 with an average of 1.0. As a UP graduate, I know it is very difficult to get a 1.0 to 2.0 grade in Math subjects. He must be very intelligent and very hardworking student. Congratulations!