HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
DATE: 02 AUG 2016
WWE:
By:

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE}
Quezon City, Metro Manila

REGISTRATION UNIT
Seventeenth Congress BILLS ANU INDEX SERVICE

First Regular Session

reusenmwe:,.28322-

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This is a refiled bill from the 16 Congress, which intends to declare
June 19 of every year - commemorative of Dr. Jose Rizal’s natal day - as a
special non-working holiday in the Province of Laguna, Rizal’s birthplace (he
was born in Calamba, Laguna). Despite the merits of the measure, which is
self-evident, it was objected to by one agency of the government (namely, the
Department of Labor and Employment) purportedly on the ground that the
country has too many holidays already.

The objection is obviously misplaced. It overlooks the fact that many
Filipinos, of lesser stature than that of our national hero, have special non-
working holidays celebrating their respective birthdays (locally), namely, Lopez
Jaena Day on Dec, 18 in Iloilo Province and lloilo City (RA 6155); President
Manuel Luis Quezon Day on Aug. 19 in the provinces of Quezon and Aurora
and Quezon City (RA 6741); Pres. Osmena Day on Sept. 9 in Cebu (RA 695;
Pres. Carlos P, Garcia Day on Nov. 4 in Bohol; Pres. Quirino Day on Nov. 16 in
[Vigan] Nocos Sur (Pres. Proc. No. 1927); Blas Ople Day on Feb. 3 in Bulacan
(Pres. Proc. No. 1204); and Roque B. Ablan, Sr. Day on Aug, 9 in locos Norte
(RA 6941). Without in any manner denigrating their stature, it is important to
note that the last two illustrious Filipinos in the preceding enumeration were
neither “heroes”, in the general acceptation, nor presidents (Ople was more of a
statesman while Ablan is described as “late governor and labor leadel

The opposition to this measure (especially coming from the DoLE) is also
questionable on another level. The Labor Code speaks only of two (2) kinds of
holidays, namely, regular holidays and special non-working days, both of


which really are non-working days. Now, somewhere along the way, people who
perhaps could pot make up their minds, came up with a third kind of holiday,
that is, special working holidays. This specie of holiday actually defeats the
purpose of a holiday celebration. The reason usually given for setting aside a
certain day as a special non-working holiday is to give the people “full
opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate
ceremonies.” The assumption here is that if a day is characterized by routinary
work and academic activities, people do not have “full opportunity” to celebrate
and participate in the activities of the occasion inasmuch as they are
encumbered by their daily work/class schedules. And by “routine” the event is
robbed of its special’ significance whereby people could reflect on the day’s
deeper meaning. The non-working aspect of any holiday gives the people
“pause”, perhaps even forcing them to think as to why there are no classes and
work on that special occasion,

As things stand now, purveyors of the memories of Messicurs Lopez
Jaena, Quezon, Osmena, Garcia, Quirino, Ople and Ablan are content, happy
with the thought that the birthdays of their “idols” (outstanding Filipinos) are
fully commemorated in their localities. Meanwhile, June 19 of every year come
and go without a special fitting celebration of the natal day of perhaps the
greatest Filipino who ever lived.

In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this measure is most
fervently sought.

QUIN M. CHIPECO, JR.
éntative
rict, Province of Laguna



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

232i

HOUSE BILL No,___ =

AN ACT
DECLARING JUNE NINETEEN OF EVERY YEAR A NON-WORKING PUBLIC
HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE OF LAGUNA TO BE KNOWN AS “THE
NATIONAL HERO'S DAY” IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF OUR NATIONAL HERO
DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

nacted by the Senate

it the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. June Nineteen of every year is hereby declared a non-working
Public holiday throughout the Province of Laguna to be known as "THE NATIONAL HERO'S
DAY",

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon approval

Approved,