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Republic of the Philippines
Hause of Representatines
Quezon City, Meteo Manila
Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 4661

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Introduced by Representative Rodolfo C. Farifias

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare December 8 of every year as a special non-
working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception of Mary, the principal patroness of the Philippines.

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country and is the third largest
Catholic country in the world. As of 2013, there are about 76 million Catholic
Filipinos, based on data collected by the Catholic Directory.

Pope Pius XII, through the Apostolic letter Jmpositi Nobis issued on
September 12, 1942, declared the Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate
Conception as the principal patroness of the Philippines. Among the titles under
which Mary is venerated in the Philippines, the Immaculate Conception is one of
the most prominent and its feast highly observed by members of the Catholic
Church

The invocation of the Immaculate Conception dates back to February 8,
1578. Pope Gregory XII, in a Bull, issued a decree that the Manila Cathedral
should be erected under the invocation of the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Following this, Pope Clement VIII decreed several
cathedrals more to be erected under the same title. Moreover, one of the three
ships that reached the Philippines in the voyage of Magellan in 1521 was
Concepcion, named after the Immaculate Conception, together
Trinidad and Victoria. Thus, the country before being named Filipina

the

before the name of Christ had begun to be preached, saw on these shot
of Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception

‘National Government Center, Constitution Hills, 1126 Quezon City, Philippines
PHONES: 9316216; 9316298; 9315001-48 locals 7459/7468/7498 TELEFAX: 9315556

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December 8 was declared a holy day of obligation by Pope Clement XI in
1708 for Catholics all over the world, in honor of the holiness and purity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church has continuously propagated the
doctrine concerning the original innocence of the undefiled Blessed Virgin Mary.
By this most significant fact, the Church declared that the conception of Mary
must be venerated as extraordinary, wonderfull, eminently holy, and different
from the conception of all other human beings. Hence, the church requires public
devotion and veneration of the faithful during the Feast of the Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. In fact, in some countries such as Guam and Malta,
Catholics take the day of

9m work and school to observe said feast.

Filipinos, in particular, profess their devotion to the Blessed Virgin through
ve and celebratory practices pursuant to the Marian dogmas of the Roman
Catholic Church. Churches throughout the country celebrate the feast with

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particular attention and ceremony. The festival usually involves processions,
marching bands and cultural shows

Catholicism plays a significant role in the development of Filipino culture,
Philosophies, politics, education and sociological norms. Declaring December 8
as a special non-working holiday will strengthen the established devotion of
Filipinos to the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As contained in the Ineffabilis Deus, the Apostolic Constitution issued by
Pope Pius IX in 1854, “let all the children of the Catholic Church, who are so
very dear to us, hear these words of ours. With a still more ardent zeal ‘for piety,
religion and love, let them continue to venerate, invoke and pray to the most
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, conceived without original sin. Let them fly
with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers,
difficulties, needs, doubts and fears."

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought,

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rovéiré, FARINAS



Republic ofthe Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

S.

eventeenth Congress
1 Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. AGEL

Introduced by Representative Rodolfo C. Farifias

AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 8 OF EVERY YEAR AS A
SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO
COMMEMORATE THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION OF MARY, THE PRINCIPAL PATRONESS OF THE
PHILIPPINES,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. December 8 of every year is hereby declared as a This bill
seeks to declare December 8 of every year as a special non-working holiday in
the entire country to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion of

Mary

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.

RODOLFO FARINAS

‘National Government Center, Constitution Hills, 1126 Quezon Ci
PHONES: 9316216; 9316298; 9315001-48 locals 7459/7468/7498 «

, Philippines
EFAX: 9315556