Dr. Jose P. Rizal

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill declaring June 19 of every year as a special working holiday to pay homage to Dr. Jose P. Rizal on the Philippine hero's birth anniversary.

Receiving 175 affirmative votes during plenary session Tuesday, Nov. 19 was House Bill (HB) No. 10958, which seeks to designate June 19 of every year as “Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal (Day of the birth of.Dr. Jose P. Rizal).”

No House member entered a negative vote, although there were two abstentions.

Considered the Philippines' de facto national hero, polymath Rizal was hailed by the bill's authors for his immense contribution to the country.

“By institutionalizing the commemoration of Dr. Jose Rizal's birth anniversary, we ensure that future generations of Filipinos will continue to remember and draw inspiration from his legacy of patriotism, intellectual excellence, and unwavering dedication to the Filipino people,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said. 

“This bill reflects our commitment to preserving and celebrating our rich national heritage," added the leader of the 300-plus strong House?

Representatives Jose Alvarez, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lordan Suan, Wilbert “Manoy” Lee, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Ysabel Maria Zamora and Edward Vera Perez Maceda are principal authors of HB No.10958. 

Born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Rizal stands as among the foremost figures of the Philippine revolution and one of Asia's first reformist intellectuals. 

Rizal excelled as a novelist, physician, scientist, artist, and linguist.

But he was most known for sparking the Philippine independence movement through his writings, most notably his seminal novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” which exposed the injustices of Spanish colonial rule.