Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag 
AN ACT DECLARING THE SANTO SEPULCRO PARISH CHURCH IN THE CITY OF 
SAN PEDRO, PROVINCE OF LAGUNA AS A NATIONAL SHRINE, TO PROVIDE FOR 
THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND LANDMARKS 
THEREAT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
During the era of Spanish colonization, the Spaniards build churches in town centers 
called población, which operated both as the seat of local political and religious power. 
However, aside from the población, natives build improvised places of worship outside of the 
town center, which they called the visita. 
In Barangay Landayan, City of San Pedro, Laguna, one such visita exists, dating back 
to the 1700s. This visita was made of cogon and rarely used except for feast days in May and 
September. During the 19th century, an icon of a dead Jesus called Emmanuel Salvador del 
Mundo located in the visita became the subject of popular veneration. It was fondly given the 
name “Lolo Uweng”derived from the name Emmanuel. 
During the American Occupation, the visita became a place where English was taught 
to local children. When the Japanese came in World War II, the visita remained intact and 
became a hiding place for women from the Japanese soldiers. After the Liberation, the cogon 
church was eventually replaced by a concrete structure, and on Sep. 29,1969, Fr. Pedro N. 
Bantigue erected the parish, first dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, but later became 
Santo Sepulcro due to the popularity of the veneration of Lolo Uweng. 
Santo Sepulcro is a very important part of the history and culture of the City of San 
Pedro, and occupies an important place in the spiritual lives of many Filipinos in and out of 
the city. As such, it deserves attention from the State to be recognized as a National Shrine, 
because its preservation means so much for the people of the City of San Pedro. 
This bill seeks to ensure the preservation of Santo Sepulcro by declaring it a National 
Shrine and providing for funds towards such preservation and/or reconstruction efforts. 
October 3, 2022
11:00 am
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Considering the rationale stated above, urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
  MA. RENE ANN LOURDES G. MATIBAG 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag 
AN ACT DECLARING THE SANTO SEPULCRO PARISH CHURCH IN THE CITY OF 
SAN PEDRO, PROVINCE OF LAGUNA AS A NATIONAL SHRINE, TO PROVIDE FOR 
THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND LANDMARKS 
THEREAT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “The Santo Sepulchro National 
Shrine Act.” 
Section 2. Scope and coverage –  The Santo Sepulcro Parish Church, located in 
Barangay Landayan, City of San Pedro, Province of Laguna is hereby declared a National 
Shrine. In view thereof, the development of The Garden shall be prioritized by the Department 
of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the Municipality of Bocaue and other related agencies, 
subject to the rules and regulations governing the development of tourism destinations.  
Section 3. Preservation and reconstruction of monuments and landmarks – All 
historical monuments and landmarks in said site shall be preserved and/or reconstructed 
whenever necessary as much as possible in their original form and are hereby declared 
national historical monuments and landmarks.  
Section 4. Appropriations and funding. – The Secretary of the DOT in the 
Department’s program the implementation of this act, the funding of which shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act and from internally generated funds of the DOT.  
Section 5. 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 6. 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.  
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Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.  
Approved,