MANILA, PHILIPPINES — On Monday, the House of Representatives passed on the third and final reading for a bill proposing to have August 1 as a special working holiday to memorialize an important event of Philippine history; the official declaration of Philippine Independence in Bacoor, Cavite, that happened on August 1, 1898.

House Bill No. 7986 proposes that August 1 of every year will be the “Promulgation of the Solemn Declaration of Philippine Independence Day.”

The bill was authored by Cavite Reps. Pani Mercado-Revilla, Jolo Revilla, Elpidio Barzaga, Aniela Tolentino, Roy Loyola, and Adrian Advincula, along with the Manila Rep. Edward Maceda.

“This important piece of history has only come to light within the last few years. It is only right to recognize this significant event in our storied past: the solemn declaration of Philippine independence in Bacoor, Cavite on August 1, 1898,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

There was an overwhelming 270 votes over the bill.

According to Ambeth Ocampo, a historian, Apolinario Mabini inducted a document of ratification that was signed by 190 municipal presidents that were gathered in Bacoor, the revolutionary capital, on August 1, 1898, to take their oaths.

Romualdez hopes that the holiday will encourage Filipinos to pursue knowledge of what happened on this day and in Philippine history. 

“And I hope this measure will provide Filipinos with the encouragement to pursue knowledge on what transpired during the birth of our nation and hopefully look at this momentous event as a source of national pride and patriotism,” Romualdez stated. – WhatALife!/Zain

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