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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
         HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative CARLITO S. MARQUEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to declare every November 3 of every year as a special non-working 
public holiday in the Municipality of Kalibo, Province of Aklan to be known as “Kalibo 
Foundation Day”. 
November 3, 1571 was declared as Kalibo’s foundation day by virtue of Municipal 
Ordinance No. 2005-049 on October 6, 2005.  To give us a glimpse of history, according 
to a research by Professor John Barrios, Aclan or Calivo was established on Nov. 3, 1571 
under the encomienda system during the time of first Governor and Captain-General 
Miguel Lopes de Legazpi.  It emerged that when Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in 1569, 
he discovered that the town had around 2,000 inhabitants, so he recruited 500 of them 
to help conquer the rest of the Philippines. On November 3, 1571, it became 
an encomienda.  The research entitled “Calivo: The Founding of a Town” stated that 
“although Juan Fernandez’ Monogratias de los Pueblos de la Isla Panay points to 1581 
as foundation year of Kalibo, investigation would reveal that it was only the date of 
acceptance of the Agustinian fathers of the convent of Aclan and its respective visitas.” 
It appeared in the notarized Spanish document dated June 2, 1576. Empirical evidence 
showed that on April 22, 1581, the town became a parish under the Augustinians. During 
the Spanish era, Kalibo was part of Capiz. Late historian Roman de la Cruz said, “the 
research output of Barrios is as close to reality based on the chronology of events 
considering that the natives were christianized in 1569 and it is logical that three years 
later, in 1571, Kalibo was founded through an encomienda grant to Antonio Flores.” 
The municipality is known for the Ati-Atihan festival, the semi-urban and multi-
awarded mangrove forest, the Bakhawan Eco-Park and piña-weaving which in February 
2018, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, along with the government of 
Aklan, began the process of nominating Kalibo piña-weaving in the UNESCO Intangible 
Cultural Heritage Lists. Kalibo prides itself as a town of joyful, industrious and resilient 
people who have weathered four and a half centuries of vivacity. 
This capital town recently celebrated its 450th founding anniversary last year on 
03 November. It is high time that we institutionalize the Foundation Day through an act 
of Congress for the sake of permanency as we join the people of Kalibo in marking an 
important milestone in their history. This will be a time to reflect on the past, to remember 
their forefathers, and to revisit the ideas that led to the formation of their town. Let said 
upcoming occasion and every year thereafter be an opportunity to retell the stories of their 
struggles and sacrifices to younger generations, that they may honor their memory and 
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preserve their heritage. It would also incite the bayanihan spirit within each of the 
Kalibonhon and would inspire them to harness their collective strength to make their 
beloved Kalibo a place of peace and prosperity. 
As they continue their journey on the path to opulence, we trust our Kalibonhons 
to demonstrate pride of place—the foundation of their stability and growth in this time of 
national revitalization and may they continue to stand in solidarity, joining government 
as it focuses on creating an equitably progressive Philippines. 
Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
  ENGR. CARLITO “Lito” S. MARQUEZ


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
        HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative CARLITO S. MARQUEZ 
AN ACT 
DECLARING NOVEMBER 3 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NON-WORKING 
PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KALIBO, PROVINCE OF 
AKLAN TO BE KNOWN AS THE “KALIBO FOUNDATION DAY”  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  November 3 of every year is hereby declared a special non-working 
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holiday in the Municipality of Kalibo, Province of Aklan to be known as the “Kalibo 
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Foundation Day”. 
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SEC 2. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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