SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)

OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session )
SENATE
$.8.No.1951 18 AUG 28 p2 40
mp
Introduced by Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zu
AN ACT

GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO KITSON SORIANO KHO
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our national identity is inseparable from our history, and our intermingling with
everyone from our neighbors within Asia to our Western colonizers makes the search
for any pure, homogenous Filipino identity a futile exercise. If there is a Filipino
identity, it must surely be evaluated beyond such things as the place of one’s birth, or
the color of one’s skin, or the language of one’s tongue. Just as millions of our
countrymen fly out to find employment and live abroad, and eventually apply for and
are granted citizenships that befit their situations, so are there foreigners who come
to our nation and integrate themselves so deeply into our communities that they
should by all counts be hailed as fellow Filipinos. If an individual, despite on paper
being a foreigner, has found home among our people, and has contributed
immensely to the development of a certain community, or the nation at large, then
he is by all means a Filipino.

This is the reasoning behind this bill aiming to grant Filipino citizenship to Kitson
Soriano Kho, thirty-three years of age, born 8 September 1984 and hailing from
China. Though a Chinese citizen owing to his place of birth, Mr. Kho is Filipino by
blood—his grandfather is Filipino, and they are based in Isabela. His father was even
vested the Order of Lapu-Lapu by President Duterte himself. Outside of his ancestry,
one could argue that his life's work has made him Filipino. He has spent the last
twelve years in the Philippines, arriving in 2006 and staying here to fulfill his job as
CEO of Am-Phil and UAA Kinming, companies that contribute greatly to Philippine
economy, and create numerous job opportunities for Filipinos, with greater prospects
Of job creation ahead once their reclamation project in Manila Bay commences. Aside
from his company’s economic contributions, Mr. Kho has devoted himself to social
causes as well, particularly to the eradication of the country’s drug problem. Believing
in the power of rehabilitation and second chances, he donated 700 million pesos to
help fund the Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center in Malaybalay,
Bukidnon, a facility that is envisioned to provide care for recovering patients from all
social classes. This is an invaluable contribution, and it only skims the charity work
that Mr. Kho has involved himself in. Mr. Kho, in helping to uplift the lives of
countless Filipinos, has proven his love for this country and its people, thus making
him worthy of the privilege to be granted Filipino citizenship.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI



SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session

SENATE

"18 AUG 28 P2:40
S.B.No. 195]

ri im

Introduced by Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri

AN ACT
GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO KITSON SORIANO KHO.

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

Section 1. Mr. Kitson Soriano Kho 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. Upon taking his Oath of Allegiance before an officer duly authorized
for this purpose, and the registration of the same with the Bureau of Immigration,
Mr. Kitson Soriano Kho shall enter upon the full enjoyment of his Philippine
citizenship.

@BIART Rowe

9 Sec. 3.Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the Bureau of
10 Immigration shall issue Mr. Kitson Soriano Kho his Certificate of Naturalization.

11 Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect immediately upon publication in at least
12 _ two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,