MANILA – Every August 1 starting next year, Filipinos will memorialize the declaration of Philippine Independence during the Bacoor Assembly on the same date in 1898.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 12073 on November 7 declaring declared Aug. 1 of every year as “Araw ng Paglalathala at Pagtatanyag ng Kasarinlan ng Pilipinas.
The special working holiday honors the signing of the Acta de Independencia by General Emilio Aguinaldo, president then, along with 200 municipal leaders, officially affirming the country’s independence from the Spaniards.
The Acta de Independencia was drafted by Apolinario Mabini.
Under RA 12073, cultural agencies led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts are mandated to promote the historical significance of Aug. 1 and the event surrounding the Bacoor Assembly of 1898.
To educate the students, the Department of Education is tasked to develop and implement lesson plans that highlight the relevance and importance of Aug. 1.
“The State recognizes the vital role of history in fostering unity, national identity, nationalism, and nation-building. It shall ensure that historical dates and events are preserved, promoted, popularized, and made accessible to the public as part of the country’s heritage,” the law read.
Marcos also signed RA 12067, declaring Feb. 24 of every year as “Araw ng Sibugay” and making it a special working holiday in Zamboanga Sibugay province to commemorate its foundation day.