It’s time to honor those who have fought valiantly for us to enjoy our present-day freedom. Isang pagpupugay para sa mga bayaning Pilipino na nakipaglaban para makamit ang ating kalayaan!
Today, June 12, is Philippine Independence Day.

Also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, June 12 is the annual commemoration of the freedom declaration of Filipino revolutionaries from the 333-year Spanish occupation in the Philippines.

On this date in 1898, Filipinos witnessed the Philippine flag raised to the national anthem Lupang Hinirang that was played for the first time in Kawit, Cavite. Though this milestone marked the nation’s independence from the Spaniards, true liberty was not yet at hand. Spain and the United States did not recognize this declaration.

With the 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain surrendered the Philippines to the United States. The lands saw another series of revolts clamoring for freedom starting 1899, until national sovereignty was finally recognized on July 4, 1946 through the Treaty of Manila.

Independence Day was previously observed on July 4, coinciding with the American Independence Day until 1964.

On its the 117th year, Independence Day celebrates the theme “Kalayaan 2015: Tagumpay sa Pagbabagong Nasimulan, Abot Kamay na ng Bayan.”

Expect a long 3-day weekend as Malacanang declares June 12, 2015 a national holiday. On this day, government offices will be closed, classes are suspended schools nationwide, and those who will be reporting for duty will be paid premium in accordance with the Labor Department’s existing policies on working on a holiday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz urges private sector employers to comply with the holiday pay rules to enhance productivity and competitiveness of business and industry sectors. The pay rules laid by DOLE are as follows:

• • If the employee did not work, he/she shall be paid 100% of his/her salary for that day.

• • If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid 200% of his/her regular salary for that day for the first 8 hours. For work done in excess of 8 hours (overtime), the employee shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her hourly rate.

• • If June 12 is the employee’s rest day and he/she still reported for work, he/she shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her daily rate of 200%.

• If the employee worked more than 8 hours on his/her rest day on June 12, he/she shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her hourly rate on that day.