Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _8821

Introduced by Representatives Jose Ch. Alvarez and Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare June 19 of every year as a special non-working
holiday in the entire country in honor of the birth anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal to
be known as “Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal,” amending for the
purpose Republic Act No. 11144.

Every year on the 30" day of December, our nation commemorates Rizal’s
death anniversary. While Rizal traces his roots in Calamba, Laguna which
commemorates the birth of Rizal every June 19 of the year by virtue of RA 11144,
it is most fitting that said commemoration and celebration be extended to the entire
nation and declare the same as special non-working holiday, much similar to the
national commemoration of Andres Bonifacio’s birth every November 30 of the
year.

It should be acknowledged that both the birth and the death of the country’s
national hero Dr. Jose Rizal are worthy of national commemorations, a fitting
recognition of his heroism that helped fuel the desire for independence among his
countrymen, his works and teachings on patriotism and nationalism and the
continuing influence of his works to Filipino generations, As the “greatest product
of the Philippines,” in the words of his best friend Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt,
“Rizal, an animal and plant lover also excelled in many fields of environmental
works, including as an agriculturist, botanist, conchologist, horticulturist,



ichthyologist, sanitary engineer and zoologist.” Indeed, our national hero, Jose Rizal
had been tirelessly devoted to improving community health and environment even
long before the Constitution formally committed to promoting and protecting the
health and environmental rights of the people.

Furthermore, being an environmentalist and naturalist, the teachings, ideals
and practice shown by Dr. Jose P. Rizal among his countrymen during his lifetime
are indeed worthy to be cherished, nourished and pass on to the recent generation
amidst our battle to cope up with Climate Change and Global Warming.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

JOSE CH. ALVAREZ GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
sentative Representative
2™ Dis\rict of Palawan 2™ District of Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _8821

Introduced by Representatives Jose Ch, Alvarez and Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo

AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 19 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-
WORKING HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF
OUR NATIONAL HERO DR. JOSE P. RIZAL TO BE KNOWN AS “ARAW
NG KAPANGANAKAN NI DR. JOSE P. RIZAL,” AMENDING FOR THE.
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11144

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

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 11144 otherwise known as “AN
ACT DECLARING JUNE 19 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NONWORKING
HOLIDAY IN THE WHOLE PROVINCE OF LAGUNA IN HONOR OF THE
BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATIONAL HERO, DR. JOSE P. RIZAL, TO
BE KNOWN AS “ARAW NG KAPANGANAKAN NI DR. JOSE P. RIZAL,” is
hereby amended as follows:

“Section I. June 19 of every is hereby declared as special nonworking holiday
in the whole country in honor of the birth anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose
P. Rizal, to be known as “Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Dr, Jose P. Rizal.”


SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,