House OKs bill declaring Jan. 23 ‘First PH Republic Day’

Photo by JAMIE ELONA/INQUIRER.net

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill declaring January 23 of every year as “First Philippine Republic Day,” a special working holiday.

Filed by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, House Bill 477 seeks to commemorate the establishment of the first Republic in Asia in 1899 at the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan.

Sy-Alvarado said the creation of the First Philippine Republic marked the “beginning of Filipino democracy and self-government,” and “magnifies the political maturity and readiness of our forefathers at the turn of that century.”

“The significance of January 23, 1899 is that the First Philippine Republic came into being as the sovereign choice of the people. It was a conscious choice to reject a dictatorial and revolutionary government and establish for all the future Filipino generations the groundwork for democracy,” Sy-Alvarado said.

“The upheaval of nationalistic fervor leading to our independence was followed with cool and calm which was thought to make the gains for Philippine democracy and republicanism more lasting and permanent through the enactment of the first organic law for the Philippine Republic,” he added.

The bill, a refiled proposal, was approved on third and final reading in the previous Congress.

The National Historical Commission, in coordination with the Department of Education, was tasked to implement activities for the commemoration. JE/rga