Senate OKs bill declaring Jan. 23 ‘First Philippine Republic Day’

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill declaring Jan. 23 of every year The First Philippine Republic Day.

Under the “First Philippine Republic Day Act. or House Bill 477, the National Historical Commission, in coordination with the Department of Education, would be required to plan and implement activities for The First Philippine Republic Day.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, was approved with a 20-0 vote with no abstention.

In a statement, Escudero said the First Philippine Republic, also known as the Malolos Republic, paved the way for the Philippines to be known as the first independent republic in Asia.

“The passage of the bill into law would increase public awareness of the importance of the momentous event in the Philippine history,” Escudero said through the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau.

Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva, author of Senate Bill 1525, said commemorating the day would “remind us of the beginning of Filipino democracy and the fight towards our freedom.”

The bill also mandates the two agencies to “ensure that the significance of this historical event shall continue to inspire Filipinos,” Villanueva said.

“Even though 119 years have passed since the declaration of the First Philippine Republic in 1899, we still commemorate it today – not only because it is a great moment in our national history but also because we continue to search for the right path to take in realizing our common dreams as Filipinos and as a nation,” Villanueva said. /atm