NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
(©ffirr of rijf
23 FEB-S P3 ;19
Rb'CEIVtOBV:
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
DECLARING FEBRUARY 21 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NON-WORKING 
HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE TO BE KNOWN AS "ARAW 
NG MARINDUQUE", IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDING
ANNIVERSARY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Province of Marinduque is a heart-shaped island which lies between the 
Bondoc Peninsula at the southeastern part of Luzon and the island of Mindoro. It is 
known to be the "Heart of the Philippines" and home of the Moriones Festival.
Marinduque used to be part of the Batangas Province in the late 1500s. Early 
in the 17th Century, the island of Marinduque was separated from Batangas and 
became a part of Mindoro as a corregimiento. In 1671, Marinduque functioned as a 
province but was later reduced as a Mindoro sub-province. On April 28, 1898, with the 
overthrow of the last Spanish casadores (Tagalog soldiers), Marinduque declared its 
separation from Mindoro and from Spanish rule, which was ratified by the ruling class 
from the different towns of the island-province.
Martin Lardizabal, the military governor of Marinduque's first revolutionary 
provincial government, led the local struggle.
On May 1, 1901, Act No. 125 was passed by the United States-Philippine 
Commission, which recognized Marinduque as a full-fledged province. Then after a


year, Act No. 423 was enacted which annexed the island of Mindoro including the 
island of Lubang (then separated from Province of Cavite) to the Province of 
Marinduque.
Four months later, or on November 10, 1902, by virtue of Act No. 499, 
Marinduque was made part of Tayabas (now Quezon). Furthermore, on May 17,1907, 
by virtue of Act No. 1649, Marinduque was made a sub-province of Tayabas.
Finally, on February 21, 1920, Act No. 2880 separated the sub-province of 
Marinduque from Tayabas and re-established the former Province of Marinduque.
A province's founding anniversary is a reminder to the local community about 
the long-standing culture and traditions of the province. In recognition of this, this bill 
seeks to designate February 21 of every year as a special non-working holiday in the 
Province of Marinduque to be known as "Araw ng Marinduque" to commemorate its 
founding anniversary.
This will also allow its residents and local officials to be given full opportunity to 
participate in the festivities and ceremonies prepared by the local government.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 183P
o( lljf STriTliU-JJ
23 FEB-6 P3:19
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
2 
DECLARING FEBRUARY 21 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NON-WORKING
3 
HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE TO BE KNOWN AS "ARAW
4 
NG MARINDUQUE", IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDING
5 
ANNIVERSARY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
6 
SECTION 1. Tide. —This Act shall be known as the "Araw ng Marinduque".
7 
SECTION 2. Araw ng Marinduque. — In recognition of its importance to our
8 
nation's history and the province's contribution to nation building and national
9 
development, the twenty first (21st) day of February of every year is hereby declared
10 
a special non-working holiday in the Province of Marinduque to be known as the "Araw
11 
ng Marinduque".
12 
SECTION 3. Inter-agency and Multi-sectoral Effort. —The Local Government
13 
of the Province of Marinduque shall serve as the lead agency in the preparation and
14 
implementation of the annual program of activities for the observance of the annual
15 
Araw ng Marinduque.
16 
To ensure the meaningful observance and celebration of this day, the local
17 
counterparts of national government agencies, public schools, state universities and
18 
colleges, and employers in the private sector, are encouraged to allow their respective


1 
personnel and constituents to participate in any related activity to be held within the
2 
premises of their respective offices or establishments.
3 
SECTION 4. Separability Cause. — In the event that any part, section or
4 
provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court,
5 
the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect as if
6 
the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.
7 
SECTION 5. Repealing Cause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
8 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act
9 
are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case may be by this Act
10 
accordingly.
11 
SECTION 6. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
12 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
13 
circulation, whichever comes earlier.
14 
Approved,