Senate OKs bill declaring Jan. 23 ‘First PH Republic Day’ on second reading

The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill declaring January 23 of every year a special working national holiday to commemorate the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic.

Senator Joel Villanueva, author of Senate Bill No. 1525, emphasized the importance of commemorating the First Philippine Republic’s inauguration, saying it would remind Filipinos the beginning of the nation’s democracy and the fight towards freedom.

“The establishment of the First Philippine Republic proved that Filipinos were capable of self-rule and deserved their longed-for-freedom after more than 300 years of bondage from Spanish rule,” Villanueva said in a statement.

“Kaya kahit na po 119-taon na ang nakararaan mula nang ideklara ang Unang Republika sa Malolos noong 1899, ginugunita pa rin po natin ang pangyayaring ito hindi lang dahil bahagi ito ng ating kasaysayan at nakasulat ito sa mga libro kung ‘di dahil naghahanap tayo ng tamang direksyon na pwedeng tahakin para makarating sa ating mga pangarap bilang mga Filipino, bilang isang bansa,” the senator said.

While the First Philippine Republic was short-lived, only spanning from January 23, 1899 to March 23, 1901, Villanueva said it made a mark in the country’s history as it catapulted the country into the world stage for becoming the first republic in Asia.

“Nag-iwan rin ito sa atin ng isang dokumento na nagsilbing pundasyon at ilaw ng ating demokrasya – ang Konstitusyon ng Malolos na nagbigay daan sa unang Republikanong Konstitusyon sa buong kontinenteng Asya,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva also thanked Senator Francis Escudero, chairperson of the Senate committee on education, arts, and culture, for sponsoring the bill.

The senator said this would give due recognition to “this crucial part of our history” that reminded Filipinos of “our predecessors’ fiery desire to effectuate liberty and self-rule which eventually sparked the dawn of Philippine democracy.”