Congress of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
05/22/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/22/2023 04:21
Bill declaring August 1 a special working holiday to commemorate the declaration of Philippine Independence approved in House
PRESS RELEASES
SOURCE: Press and Public Affairs Bureau
Bill declaring August 1 a special working holiday to commemorate the declaration of Philippine Independence approved in House
22 May 2023 06:14:49 PM
Members of the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third
and final reading a bill that seeks to declare August 1 of every year
a special working holiday in recognition of an important piece of
Philippine history: the official declaration of Philippine
independence in Bacoor, Cavite on August 1, 1898.
With an overwhelming 270 votes, the panel approved House Bill (HB) No. 7986 or "An Act
Declaring August 1 of Every Year a Special Working Holiday to be Known
as the 'Promulgation of the Solemn Declaration of Philippine
Independence.'"
The measure was principally authored by Cavite Reps. Lani
Mercado-Revilla, Jolo Revilla, Elpidio Barzaga, Aniela Tolentino, Roy
Loyola, and Adrian Advincula, along with Manila Rep. Edward Maceda.
"This important piece of history has only come to light within the
last few years. It is only right to recognize this significant event
in our storied past: the solemn declaration of Philippine independence
in Bacoor, Cavite on Aug. 1, 1898," Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.
Romualdez said.
"And I hope this measure will provide Filipinos with the encouragement
to pursue knowledge on what transpired during the birth of our nation
and hopefully look at this momentous event as a source of national
pride and patriotism," he added.
If HB 7986 is enacted into law, official recognition will be given to
the Promulgation of the Solemn Declaration of Philippine Independence
during the Bacoor Assembly in 1898 as part of the country's path to
independence.
It may be recalled that it was the local government of Bacoor City -
headed by then-Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla - that commissioned
Philippine Historical Association (PHA) President Dr. Emmanuel F.
Calairo to research what transpired during the Bacoor Assembly, a
gathering of close to 200 "presidente mayor" or local leaders from
different provinces at that time.
Calairo came up with a book entitled "Proclamation: Philippine
Independence - The Truth About Aug. 1, 1898 Bacoor Assembly (A
Historiographical Inquiry)," which highlighted the role of the Bacoor
Assembly in shaping the country's history. (END)