Solon wants Sep. 8 declared Virgin Mary Feast

The House Committee on Revision of Laws chaired by Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan) approved a bill which seeks to declare September 8 of every year a special working holiday in celebration of the birth of the Virgin Mary.

House Bill 7856, principally authored by Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas (1st District, Ilocos Norte) seeks to declare September 8 of every year as a special working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the explanatory note of the bill which was adopted as his sponsorship remarks, Fariñas said that based on the General Roman Calendar, September 8 is the ninth month following the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary which is celebrated on December 8.

Fariñas said Republic Act No. 10966 which he authored declared December 8 of every year a special nonworking holiday all over the country to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Patroness of the Philippines.

“This was enacted on December 28, 2017 to enable Filipino Catholics to venerate and celebrate their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Fariñas explained.

He explained that though there were no exact accounts or documents providing for the birth of Mary, the “Protoevangelium of James” which was written at the early years of the 2nd century, filled in the historical accounts and provided for the evolution of the Christian belief and the development of Christian piety.
“The accounts, though not considered authoritative like the Bible, narrated the birth of Mary to St. Joachim and St. Anne after their extensive prayer and fasting for St. Anne to conceive,” he said.

Fariñas said that in the Philippines where Catholicism is fervent and deep, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is reflected by the celebrations particularly acts of veneration, praying for miracles, and the attribution of granted petitions through her intercession.

Fariñas further said that “consecration and feasts are celebrated in accordance with the Roman Catholic dogmas that include the birth of the Virgin Mary.”

Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party-list, ABANG LINGKOD), a co-author and who sponsored the bill in the deliberation emphasized that the holiday is a special working holiday.

Reps. Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City) and Gus Tambunting (2nd District, Parañzque City) are also authors of the measure.

The committee likewise approved several House bills on declaration of holidays such as House Bills 4968, 7741, 8215, 8261, 8293, 8376 and 8383, among others.

SOURCE: Ma. Victoria Palomar (2018). Panel approves declaration of September 8 as special working holiday for Feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Press Releases. House of Representatives, 17th Congress. 22 November 2018 08:10:32 AM. www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=11061