Palace Declares October 26 a Holiday

To allow Cebuanos to pay their last respects to the late Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Malacañang has declared Oct. 26 a special non-working holiday in Cebu.

“The Archbishop has enjoyed great affection by the people in the Roman Catholic Church and deep respect by the people of other Christian denominations and Islamic faith…it is but fitting and proper to give the people of the Province of Cebu the opportunity to remember, honor and show respect, and join the interment of the late Archbishop Vidal,” read Proclamation No. 333 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

For his part, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino said he was thankful his request to the President was granted.

“I am very thankful to President Duterte for heeding the call of the people of Cebu and all who have been touched by the life of the late Cardinal Vidal in declaring October 26 a holiday for the Province of Cebu including the Cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu – Lapu. In declaring the holiday, the President has given the Cebuanos the opportunity to pay homage to the late Cardinal for his immeasurable contributions to the Archdiocese of Cebu and the nation as a whole,” he said in a statement released by his assistant, Jonji Gonzales.

Duterte did a quick visit to Cebu at dawn of Monday to pay his last respects to Vidal at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Vidal, who served as Cebu Archbishop from 1982 to 2011, died of a cardiac arrest while in a hospital intensive care unit last Oct. 18.

His remains will be buried at the mausoleum of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Born on February 6, 1931, Ricardo Tito Jamin Vidal was Cebu’s Archbishop from 1982 until then Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation in 2010. He was replaced by Jose S. Palma, formerly Archbishop of Palo, January 13, 2011.