ILIGAN City ― Is September 20 of each year a holiday, or not?

This is foremost these days in the brains, I mean, the minds of the city folks.

Over the years, there was no doubt of its being a holiday. This year though, the ''or not'' comes into play. Why? Because the national government had ''seen'' that its being a holiday is just made through some local government ruling or ordinance. ''It is only the national government that can decide whether a day is a holiday. "

The Sept. 20 every year is a highlight of the city's over a month-long fiesta celeb. It is a day when its patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel is taken down from his place at the altar of the St. Michael cathedral to join the city folks and paraded through the city's major streets. This ritual is such a big deal. Hence, it is a holiday. With that many folks here are in a frenzy. This year, it is reported that there are over 140 activities in all.

So, aside from the "Pagpakanaug" there are the street dancing, the parade, the "Indigay sa Lechon," even the "San Miguel Comedia" the Mugna Trade Fair with its numerous rides, the crowning of "Miss Iligan" And several others. The festival is known as the " Diyandi Festival.'' A loose interpretation of the term is the convergence of tri-people, the Muslims, Christians, and the Lumads. With of course, the "blessings" of St. Michael, its patron saint.

The saint, to note is believed to protect the people here. During typhoon Sendong, it was then believed that the saint purposely destroyed a bridge so that the surging waters of the Mandulog River would recede. Thus sparing many people from watery graves! Adding to the already drowned ones at the time.

Anyway, aside from the Sept. 20, there is also the 30th day of the month. Which was also declared by this LGU a holiday, to give people time to rest from this month-long enjoyment.

So, Mayor Frederick Siao came up with an Executive Order. Saying among other things that "there will be no classes in both public and private schools" on Sept. 20 in the city. Even as he enjoined the national government offices to not be strict in the attendance of the employees on that day. And even private offices too.

So, then, make that day of Sept. 20 a holiday. Even if it's not? Just make it a "sort of" holiday?

A similar situation, I think is being witnessed on the national front. PBBM has come up with an EO no. 39 limiting the price of rice to P41 and P45, depending on whether it is "well-milled" or "regular milled..'' The local price monitoring council (LPCC) here is reported to have done some monitoring. The rice sellers have those prices then.

But when the LPCC is no longer around, they are said to reverse the price tags! Which is the true price.
And wait a minute. A lawyer here said that the EO limiting the price of said commodity applies only to, those that are coming up with it, and railroading the Congress requirements, if the country is "in a state of emergency."

What now? The EO is just a "sort of law"? Meaning not quite a law, but.. nonetheless, a law.?
Now, I remember that joke on the late Pres. Ramon Magsaysay, when he was told about the "law of supply and demand." Which, in economics of course says, that "when the supply is low, the price of a commodity is high" and the reverse is true too. And his "comment" on it?

''Repeal the law!''

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