House approves bill on ‘First Philippine Republic Day’
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the bill that declares January 23 as “First Philippine Republic Day.”
JANUARY 23 1899. A photo of the inauguration of the first Philippine republic. Image grabbed from Filipino American War’s website
The bill, known as House Bill 477, was filed by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado. It seeks to commemorate the establishment of the first Republic in Asia at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan in 1899. According to Sy-Alvarado’s statement as reported by Rappler, “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.”
The proposed law, which is a recognized special working holiday, will be having planned activities to be prepared by the National Historical Commission (NHC) and the Department of Education (DepED).
Source: Rappler, GMA Network, Inquirer
