Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to grant citizenship to Sr. Maria Teresa “Vera” Casali 
Ravasio in deference to her humanitarian & charitable good works, conducted 
over 37 years in the Philippines, devoted to the poor and marginalized in the 
spheres of poverty amelioration, education, healthcare and social services. 
An Italian citizen by birth, Sr. Vera, as fondly called by many,  has been a 
bonafide residence of San Pedro, Laguna, since her arrival to the Philippines in 
1985. 
Upon graduation from high school in 1969, she entered convent as a 
novitiate, earning a Diploma in Elementary Education 7 yrs later. She taught 
elementary school in Cittadini, Bergamo, Italy, for five years. Her missionary 
works commenced in India, lasting two years prior to her arrival in the 
Philippines, numbered among a group of 7 Indian Ursuline sister nuns. 
The Ursuline Sisters of St. Jerome in Somasca, is a religious congregation 
of women founded in Somasca, Italy, in 1826 by Caterina Cittadini and her 
sister Giuditta. The congregation was inspired by and informed by the life and 
work of St. Jerome Emiliani, a 15th-century priest who founded the Somascan 
Fathers. 
The order was invited to the Philippines in 1929 by the Bishop of San 
Pablo, Msgr. Teofilo Camomot. He was a friend of the congregation's founder, 
Mother Caterina Cittadini, impressed by their work in Italy and believed the 
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order could make a significant contribution to the Church and the Filipino 
people.  
The first group of Ursuline Sisters, pioneered by Sr. Vera, arrived in the 
Philippines in 1929 and opened their first convent in the town of Sta. Cruz, 
commencing work in education, healthcare, and social services. 
The sisters have made a significant contribution to the Philippines over 
the past 90 years. They have educated generations of young people, cared for 
the sick and elderly, and promoted social justice. They are considered a valuable 
part of the Catholic Church and the Philippine community. 
Today, the Ursuline Sisters of St. Jerome in Somasca have a presence in 
11 dioceses in the Philippines. 
As Local Superior, Sr. Vera today oversees 16 schools, 3 hospitals, 2 
orphanages, and a number of other social service programs. The congregation 
has about 200 members, most of whom are Filipino. The order services 
approximately 2,600 families  growing year by year. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MA. RENE ANN LOURDES G. MATIBAG 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag 
AN ACT 
1 
GRANTING FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP TO SR. MARIA TERESA 
2 
CASALI 
RAVASIO 
WITH 
ALL 
RIGHTS, 
PRIVILEGES 
AND 
3 
PREROGATIVES APPURTENANT THERETO 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Sr. Teresa Casali Ravasio is hereby granted Philippine 
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citizenship with all the rights, privileges and prerogatives appurtenant thereto. 
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SECTION  2.  After taking and registration of the oath of allegiance to 
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the Republic of the Philippines, Sr. Teresa Casali Ravasio shall enter into the 
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full enjoyment of Philippine citizenship. 
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SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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