THE House of Representatives has approved on final reading the bill which seeks to declare September 8 a special working holiday to commemorate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
House Bill 7856, principally authored by former House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, states that the entire country should observe on September 8 of every year the aforesaid event.
According to Fariñas, the bill shall be in honor of Mary, the Lady who conceived Jesus Christ.
"The celebration of her birth shall be the Christians’ expression of love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Fariñas said.
“Saint Augustine described the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an event of cosmic and historic significance, and an appropriate prelude to the birth of Jesus Christ,” he added.
According to Fariñas, the General Roman Calendar states that September 8 is the ninth month after the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary which is celebrated on December 8.
Fariñas was also the author of Republic Act No. 10966 which declared December 8 of ever year a special non-working holiday in the entire country for the commemoration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
Fariñas noted that RA10966, enacted on December 28, 2017, aims to enable Filipino Catholics to venerate and celebrate their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Other authors of HB 7856 include Reps. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party-list, ABANG LINGKOD), Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City), and Gus Tambunting (2nd District, Paranaque City). (Keith A. Calayag/SunStar Philippines)