NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to grant Philippine citizenship to Grace Tan To, a dedicated School 
Director of Oro Christian Grace School, by direct act of Congress in recognition of her 
exemplary work and commitment in serving Filipino youth in the education sector. She also 
possesses all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications provided under 
Commonwealth Act No. 473, particularly Section 2, which states that: 
“Section 2. Qualifications. — Subject to section four of this Act, any person 
having the following qualifications may become a citizen of the Philippines by 
naturalization: 
First. He must be not less than twenty-one years of age on the day of the 
hearing of the petition; 
Second. He must have resided in the Philippines for a continuous period of 
not less than ten years; 
Third. He must be of good moral character and believes in the principles 
underlying the Philippine Constitution, and must have conducted himself in a 
proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence in the 
Philippines in his relation with the constituted government as well as with the 
community in which he is living. 
Fourth. He must own real estate in the Philippines worth not less than five 
thousand pesos, Philippine currency, or must have some known lucrative trade, 
profession, or lawful occupation; 
Fifth. He must be able to speak and write English or Spanish and any one of 
the principal Philippine languages; and 
Sixth. He must have enrolled his minor children of school age, in any of the 
public schools or private schools recognized by the Office of Private Education of 
the Philippines, where the Philippine history, government and civics are taught or 
prescribed as part of the school curriculum, during the entire period of the 
residence in the Philippines required of him prior to the hearing of his petition for 
naturalization as Philippine citizen.” 
Born in the Philippines, Grace Tan To is fifty-one (51) years of age. She has been living 
in the Philippines since she was born, and been serving in Cagayan de Oro for 20 (twenty) 
years. 
Grace Tan To had served as a School Principal and currently as School Director of Oro 
Christian Grace School, furthermore, she is also an Associate Pastor of Cagayan Gospel 
Church, serving for a total of 21 years in educational leadership and pastoral ministry. 
August 15, 2023
2:29 pm
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Under her leadership, in the last 20 years, the school and church have initiated and 
engaged in the following community service, to wit: (a) Calamity assistance to Barangay 
Macasandig and other flood-prone barangays since Tvphoon Sendong in 2011 up to the 
present; (b) Periodic Community Outreach to Macasandig Elementary School through book 
donations, club training. teacher support, computer printer donations, Christmas Drive; (c) 
Prison ministry at Lumbia Jail: Christian values teaching; and (d) Mission works in Cagayan 
de Oro City and within Region 10. 
Moreover, besides contributing to nation building by teaching and molding children and 
youth into becoming responsible and productive citizens who will also serve God, our country 
and their fellowmen, Grace Tan To has been a law-abiding citizen and has not committed 
any acts in violation of Philippine laws. 
Having assimilated to Filipino community since birth, Grace Tan To speaks and writes 
eloquent English, Tagalog, and Bisaya (Cebuano). She has also acquired Filipino customs 
and traits, was schooled in Philippine private schools in Preschool, Elementary, High School, 
and College, and is knowledgeable in Philippine history, government, and civics. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly requested. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO GRACE TAN TO 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Grace Tan To is hereby granted Philippine citizenship with all the rights, 
privileges and prerogatives, as well as the duties and obligations appurtenant thereto, under 
the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. 
SEC. 2. Grace Tan To shall take the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines 
before an officer duly authorized to administer the same. The Oath of Allegiance shall be 
registered with the Bureau of Immigration.   
SEC. 3. Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the Bureau of Immigration shall issue a 
Certificate of Naturalization to Grace Tan To who shall thereupon enter into the full enjoyment 
of Philippine citizenship.  
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in 
a newspaper of general circulation.    
Approved, 
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