The House of Representatives approved on 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 contributions to our country’s independence on his birth anniversary.
Speaker Martin Romualdez endorsed the legislation to “ensure that future generations of Filipinos will continue to remember and draw inspiration” from Rizal’s “legacy of patriotism, intellectual excellence, and unwavering dedication to the Filipino people.”
“This bill reflects our commitment to preserving and celebrating our rich national heritage,” Romualdez added.
Upon the enactment of House Bill (HB) 10958, June 19 will be designated as a special working holiday, officially known as “Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal.”
Reps. Jose Alvarez, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lordan Suan, Wilbert Lee, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Ysabel Maria Zamora and Edward Vera Perez Maceda are named as 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, notably his seminal novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” which exposed the injustices of the Spanish colonial rule.
