Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Bocaue Pagoda Festival is a religious celebration observed every first Sunday of 
July in Bocaue, Bulacan in honor of the Feast of the Holy Cross of Wawa or Mahal na Krus sa 
Wawa.  
The devotion to the Holy Cross of Wawa started when it was found along Bocaue river 
in 1850 after saving a girl from drowning. According to stories, the girl, while trying hard to 
save herself from drowning, followed the Holy Cross of Wawa until she was brought ashore.1 
For many, the said incident is proof that the Holy Cross of Wawa, which is now enshrined at 
St. Martin of Tours Parish Church, is miraculous.  Since then, devotees have gathered in 
throngs to celebrate the Holy Cross of Wawa and thus, the Bocaue Pagoda Festival was born.  
Through time, the Bocaue Pagoda Festival has become a time-honored event in the 
province of Bulacan. Consequently, the festival also constantly evolved such that there are 
now several activities for everyone to enjoy during the festivities. However, the most 
anticipated part of the festival is the fluvial procession with the pagoda as its centerpiece. The 
Holy Cross of Wawa, or its replica, is placed on top of the pagoda. Smaller boats surround the 
pagoda in a custom called ligiran.2 For many, this is the pinnacle of the event, the embodiment 
of the true meaning of the religious celebration that is the Bocaue Pagoda Festival.  
With such a perfect mix of religious and cultural celebration, the Bocaue Pagoda 
Festival has boosted  the local tourism in Bocaue in more ways than one. Before the pandemic, 
up to more than 20,000 tourists would come to Bocaue to attend the festival. Meanwhile, in 
2022, the festival still drew more than 5,000 local and outside tourists despite the restrictions 
brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.3 
Accordingly, it is important to recognize the importance of the Bocaue Pagoda Festival 
1 https://newscorebulacan.net/grandiose-pagoda-sails-again-in-bocaue-rivers/ 
2 https://radyonatin.com/story.php?storyid=19750 
3 Supra Note 1.  
August 30, 2022
1:58 pm
4225


as part of Bocaue’s identity.  As such, this bill seeks to declare the Bocaue Pagoda Festival as 
an official festival in the municipality of Bocaue, Bulacan. Through this measure, the religious 
and cultural importance of the festival would be institutionalized. A Festival Committee 
would be created such that there would now be one body that will oversee the implementation 
of this Act. With this bill, the significance of the Bocaue Pagoda Festival would be further 
emphasized, not only to the locals of Bocaue, but to the whole country as well.  
 
In view thereof,  the immediate approval of this bill  is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     AMBROSIO “BOY” C. CRUZ, JR. 
Representative, Fifth District of Bulacan 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ambrosio “Boy” C. Cruz, Jr. 
AN ACT DECLARING THE BOCAUE PAGODA FESTIVAL AS AN OFFICIAL 
FESTIVAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BOCAUE, BULACAN AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Bocaue Pagoda Festival Act.” 
Section 2. Festival Declaration – Bocaue Pagoda Festival is hereby declared an official 
festival in the Municipality of Bocaue, to be celebrated every first Sunday of July every year.   
Section 3. Festival Committee– There is hereby created a Festival Committee which 
shall be composed of the following: 
a.
The Municipal Mayor as chairperson;
b.
Municipal Vice Mayor;
c.
Representative of the local parish church;
d. Representative of each administrative district of the LGU;
e.
Representatives of different sector, e.g. youth, women, business, non-
government organizations, among others;
f.
Representative from the Department of Tourism (DOT);
g.
Members of the Municipal Tourism Council; and
h.
Members of the Municipal Council for Cultural Heritage and Arts.
The members of the Committee shall be assigned duties and responsibilities based on 
their capabilities. They shall also organize a secretariat among themselves.  
Section 4. Implementation – Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the 
Festival Committee shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulation for its 
implementation.  
4225


Section 5. Funding. – To carry out the purposes of this Act, there shall be created a 
special festival fund, which may be sourced from the Internal Revenue Allotment of the 
Municipality or such other sources in the form of donations and contributions from 
individuals and organizations.  
Section 6. Separability clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions 
of this Act.  
Section 7. Repealing clause. - All provisions of laws, presidential decrees, letters of 
instruction and other presidential issuances which are incompatible or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby deemed amended or repealed.  
Section 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.  
Approved,