INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Religious freedom in the Philippines promoted the growth of many religious 
groups in the country. The lglesia ni Cristo (INC) is one of these groups. The 
lglesia ni Cristo (INC) 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 several million members and has expanded considerably to 
countries in all continents. By some accounts, it is considered the second largest 
formal religion in the Philippines after Catholicism. 
The lglesia 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 lglesia ni Cristo uses vernacular languages in teaching and preaching the 
Gospel. Its law-abiding, disciplined leadership and members have made lglesia 
ni Cristo a role model for other religious organizations. Attending not only to the 
religious needs of its flock, lglesia ni Cristo also looks after 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‘h day of July of every year as a 
national holiday in observance of the founding anniversary of the lglesia ni Cristo 
(INC). 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought 
u s e n a t o r  
J 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
7 
&E. 
-2 2; ; ;.?o 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 3 76 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
DECLARING THE TWENTY SEVENTH DAY OF JULY OF EVERY YEAR A 
SPECIAL NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF THE FQUNDING 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO (INC) AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The twenty-seventh (27'h) days of July every year is hereby 
declared a special national holiday for the observance of the founding 
anniversary of the lglesia ni Cristo (INC). 
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. - 
(I) 
Unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation, the 
following regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the 
country: 
a. Regular Holidays 
New Year's Day 
- 
Maundy Thursday 
- 
Good Friday 
- 
Eidul Fitr 
- 
Araw ng Kagitingan 
- 
(Bataan and Corregidor Day) 
Labor Day 
- 
Independence Day 
- 
National Heroes Day 
- 
Bonifacio Day 
- 
Christmas Day 
- 
INC FOUNDATION DAY - 
January 1 
Movable Date 
Movable Date 
Movable Date 
April 9 
May 1 
June 12 
JULY 27 
Last Day of August 
November 30 
December 25 


Rizal Day 
- 
December 30 
b. Nationwide Special Holidays 
All Saints’ Day 
- 
November 1 
Last Day of the Year 
- 
December 31 
Provided, however, That Eidul Fitr shall be celebrated as a regional 
holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.” 
SEC 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. 
SEC 4. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,