Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

4962

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. RENATO “Kuya Jojo” J. UNICO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare February every year as “JOMAPA DAY” and a non-
working public holiday in the Province of Camarines Norte. In honor of its native son
JOSE MARIA PANGANIBAN, a national hero.

Dr. Jose Maria Panganiban y Enverga was born in the small town of Mambulao,
Province Camarines Norte on February 1, 1863. His parents were Don Vicente
Panganiban y Fernando, a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan and Dona Juana y Everga y
Candelaria, a native of Mauban, Tayabas (now Quezon) His early years of schooling
was under the tutorship of his mother who taught him the three C’s (Cartilla,
Caton,Catecismo). He first learned the rudiments of Spanish from her mother but because
of his exceptional intelligence (he could read at the age of three and write verse at the age
of seven) a Spanish priest, Father Fernandez brought him to Labo, Camarines Norte
where he was taught to read and write Spanish. He was later taught by a private tutor,
Teodoro Avila and took up also Latin and Spanish grammar under Don Tiburcio
Pajarillo. He was admitted in a Catholic Seminary of Nueva Caceres in 1873, continued
his studies in San Juan De Letran College in Manila where he obtained his Bachelor of
Arts degree in 1882, he enrolled in the college of medicine in the University of Sto.
Tomas

In May 1888, he went to Spain to continue his studies in the field of medicine in
the University of Barcelona. All the available forces of Filipino advocates for reforms
were making their last stand then. He became the co-founder of LA SOLIDARIDAD and
wrote many articles under the pen name of JOMAPA or J.M.P, attacking with lucid logic
and forceful arguments the defective educational system and advocated for municipal
reforms in several provinces in the Philippines. He exposed graft and corruption in
government transactions, grave abuses of government authorities and other ills of the
Spanish colonial administration. Because he actively participated in the fight reforms and
ion from tyranny of Spanish ruler in the Philippines, he was called the “Avenger



He died on August 19,1890 in Barcelona, a bachelor and at the early age of 27, a
victim of pulmonary disease. Although he was sick and bedridden, his indomitable
fighting spirit remained unconquerable and this was reflected when he wrote our national
hero Jose P. Rizal the following words: “I regret I can no longer participate in your
patriotic labor for the redemption of our mother land. Whatever we have begun should be
carried to the finish even if its results in the sacrifice our lives, our honor, and our
wealth...”

Approval of this is respectfully requested, the objective being in accordance
with the celebration of the centennial year of which JOMAPA played a very important
one albeit minor in the eyes of other.

R ee J.KINICO, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4368

Introduced by HON. RENATO “Kuya Jojo” J. UNICO, JR.

AN ACT
DECLARING FEBRUARY FIRST OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-
WORKING PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9090 ENTITLED **
AN ACT DECLARING FEBRUARY FIRST OF EVERY YEAR AS “JOSE
MARIA C. PANGANIBAN DAY” AND A SPECIAL WORKING PUBLIC
HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE”

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

SECTION I. The title of Republic Act No. 9090 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“AN ACT DECLARING FEBRUARY FIRST OF EVERY YEAR AS
“JOSE MARIA C. PANGANIBAN DAY” AND A SPECIAL WORKING PUBLIC
HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE”.

SECTION 2. Section 2 of the same Act is hereby to read as follows:

“Sec. 2 In recognition of Jose Maria C. Panganiban’s sacrificies and his fight for
humanitarian reforms for his beloved country, and for placing him among the heroes and
great men whose death or birth annivers re given appropriate recognition and honor
by way of declaring their respective date of death or date of birth as a special NON-
working holiday, it is hereby declared that February 1" of every year as “’Jose Maria C.
Panganiban Day’? and a special NON-working public holiday in the Province of
Camarines Norte

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

APPROVED.