Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6270

HOUSE BILL NO. __

Introduced by the Honorable Representative Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines remains the bastion of Christianity in Asia and ranks fifth in the world.
Despite the various denominations of the Christian faith in our country, it has adhered to
the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. The Holy Bible (Old and New
Testaments) is accepted as the inspired, infallible and revealed word of the Almighty
God,

The Holy Bible tells us in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 23 to celebrate the Feasts of
the Lord. These Feasts are not Jewish Feasts, but as clearly stated in the Scriptures,
they are set apart as the Lord’s Feasts, His appointed times. The Almighty God called
His Feasts, holy convocations which are to be observed in all generations. These
Feasts are: 1) Feast of the Passover; 2) Feast of Unleavened Bread; 3) Feast of
Resurrection or First Fruits 4) Feast of Pentecost; 5) Feast of Trumpets; 6) Feast of
Atonement; and 7) Feast of Tabernacles.

These appointed times were designed by the Almighty God as a way of making His
redemptive plan known to mankind. Each of these holy convocations conveys a
profound message pointing to the death, burial, resurrection and the second coming of
our Lord Jesus, our Messiah.

Our nation is already observing the first three feasts namely, Passover, Unleavened
Bread and Resurrection during the Lenten Season although the date of celebration
does not exactly coincide with the date these Feasts are celebrated on the Biblical
calendar. As all these Feasts are ordained in the Holy Scriptures, the recognition of the
remaining four Feasts, namely: Feast of Pentecost; Feast of Trumpets; Feast of
Atonement; and the Feast of Tabemacles as national special days will be in complete
reverence and obedience to the words of our Almighty God.

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The Feast of Pentecost commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt
Sinai (Exodus 24) and the day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the believers of the
Messiah in the Book of Acts Chapter 2;

The Feast of Trumpets can be found in the Book of Leviticus 23:24 where the blowing of
the trumpets was ordained to commemorate the Almighty God as the King and Creator
of the Universe, the earth and of all mankind;

The Feast of Atonement is a day of repentance that is observed thru fasting and prayer
(Leviticus 23:26); and

The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God's faithfulness and compassion for His people
Today, the Feast is celebrated by building a tent or sukkah, a reminder of God's
provision and care, a symbol that we are temporary dwellers here on earth (Leviticus
23:42);

The Almighty God promises blessings to those who are careful to observe His
commandments and the observance of these Feasts is a humble expression of our
obedience and submission to the will of our Almighty God which will strengthen our faith
in Him.

The dates when these Feasts will be celebrated shall be in accordance with the Biblical
calendar as follows: Feast of Pentecost on the sixth day of the Third month; Feast of
Trumpets on the first day of the Seventh month; Feast of Atonement on the tenth day of
the Seventh month and the Feast of Tabemacles on the fifteenth day of the Seventh
month of the Biblical calendar.

This bill seeks to enhance our awareness of the Judeo-Christian contribution in national
development.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is most earnestly requested.

Wl raat
CINCHONA CRUZ-GONZALES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6270
HOUSE BILL NO. ___

Introduced by the Honorable Representative Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales

AN ACT DECLARING THE SIXTH DAY OF THE THIRD MONTH OF THE BIBLICAL
CALENDAR, THE FIRST AND FIFTEENTH DAYS OF THE TENTH MONTH OF THE
BIBLICAL CALENDAR, NATIONAL SPECIAL DAYS FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF
THE FEAST OF PENTECOST, FEAST OF TRUMPETS, AND FEAST OF
TABERNACLES, RESPECTIVELY.

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

SECTION 1. The sixth day of the Third month, and the First and the Fifteenth days of
the Tenth month of the Biblical calendar are hereby declared national special days for
the observance of the Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of
Tabernacles. The Tenth day of the Tenth month of the Biblical calendar is hereby
declared as national special day for the celebration and observance of the Feast of
Atonement which shall also be known as the “National Day of Repentance.”

The date of these Biblical Feasts may be determined in accordance with the Biblical
calendar.

SEC. 2. The implementation of this Act shall be under the supervision of the National
Commission for the Culture and the Arts which shall promulgate the rules and
regulations pursuant to the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 3. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and
regulations, and any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,