THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF 
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First Regular Session 
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THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
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I ~ t r o d n ~ e ~  
by Senators 
and LUISA ‘‘ 
Religious freedom in the Philippines promoted the growth of many religious groups in 
the country The Iglesia ni Cristo (n\rC) is one of these groups 
The Iglesia ni Cristo QNC) was founded on July 27, 1914 by its current leader’s father 
Felix Manalo The Iglesia’s first church in the country was located in Punta, Manila’s Santa Ana 
district after its first converts were baptized in the nearby Pasig River It has sev ral million 
members and has iexpanded considerably to countries in all continents By some ac ounts, it is 
considered the second largest formal religion in the Philippines after Catholicism I 
The Iglesia ni Cristo rapidly grew from one church building in Sampaloc, Manila to 
hundreds of churches around the world and has emerged strong in the United States, Canada, 
England, Germany, Hawaii, Guam and Hong Kong This is clearly a strong testament not only to 
the INC’s growth as a religious sector in our society but a manifestation of the resilience of the 
Filipinos’ faith 
The Iglesia ni Cristo uses vernacular languages in teaching and preaching the Gospel Its 
law-abiding, disciplined leadership and members have made Iglesia ni Cristo a role model for 
other religious organizations Attending not only to the religious needs of its flock, Iglesia ni 
Cristo also looks aRer their members’ economic and physical well being through socio-economic 
projects, such as job placements, housing, and education 
The intention of this bill is to declare the 27& day of July of every year as a national 
holiday in observance of the founding anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought 
a 
LUISA “L019’ P 


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Introduced by Senators 
A and LUISA “L 
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AM ACT 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of ihe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ON 1. The twenty-seventh (27) day of July of every year, is hereby eclared a 
special national holiday for the observance of the founding anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo 
1 
WC). 
SEC. 2. 
Section 26, Chapter 7 of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the 
Revised Administrative Code of 1987, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 26. Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days. - (1) Unless otherwise 
modified by law, order or proclamation, the following regular holidays and special 
days shall be observed in the countk: 
a. Regular Holidays 
New Year’s Day 
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January 1 
Maundy Thursday 
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Movable Date 
Good Friday 
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Movable Date 
Eidul Fitr 
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Movable Date 
A r m  ng Kagtingm 
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April 9 


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(Ebtaarr and Corregidor Day) 
Labor Day 
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May 1 
Independence Day 
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June 12 
JULY 27 
Last Sunday of August 
National Heroes Day - 
Bonifacio Day 
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November 30 
Christmas Day 
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December 25 
Rizal Day 
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December 30 
b. Nationwide Special Holidays 
All Saints Day 
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November 1 
Last Day of the Year - 
December 3 1 
,Provided, -huwever, That Eidul Fitr shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in 
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.” 
SEG. 3. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEG. 4. This Act shall take effect aRer fiReen (15) days following the completion of its 
publication in the OfJiccial Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
Approved, 
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