THE House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on the third and final reading a bill declaring June 19 of every year as a special working holiday to pay homage to Dr. Jose P. Rizal and his immense contribution to our country’s independence on his birth anniversary.
“By institutionalizing the commemoration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s birth anniversary, we ensure that future generations of Filipinos will continue to remember and draw inspiration from his legacy of patriotism, intellectual excellence, and unwavering dedication to the Filipino people,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
“This bill reflects our commitment to preserving and celebrating our rich national heritage.”
Upon the enactment of House Bill (HB) No. 10958, June 19 will be designated as a special working holiday, officially known as “Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal.”
Representatives Jose Alvarez, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lordan Suan, Wilbert “Manoy” Lee, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Ysabel Maria Zamora and Edward Vera Perez Maceda are principal authors of HB 10958.
The measure was approved on final reading during the plenary session held on Tuesday, with 175 votes in favor, none against, and two abstentions.
Born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Rizal stands as the Philippines’ foremost national hero and one of Asia’s first reformist intellectuals.
He excelled as a novelist, physician, scientist, artist and linguist, but was most known for sparking the Philippine independence movement through his writings, most notably his seminal novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” which exposed the injustices of Spanish colonial rule.
