Senator Joel Villanueva lauded the signing of Republic Act 11014 declaring January 23 of every year a special working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic held on January 23, 1899, at the Barasoain Church in the City of Malolos, Bulacan.
Villanueva, author of the measure who hails from Bulacan, said that the First Philippine Republic catapulted the Filipino nation into the world’s consciousness, carving not only a place among the family of nations, but also a distinct niche as the First Republic in Asia.
“We thank President Duterte for supporting the passage of this measure that would remind us of the beginning of Filipino Democracy and the fight towards our freedom,” the senator said.
“Importante po na gunitain natin ang pangyayaring ito hindi lang dahil bahagi ito ng ating kasaysayan at nakasulat ito sa mga libro kung ‘di dahil naghahanap tayo ng tamang direksyon na pwedeng tahakin para makarating sa ating mga pangarap bilang mga Filipino, bilang isang bansa,” the legislator stressed.
The lawmaker further said that the establishment of the First Philippine Republic proved that Filipinos were capable of self-rule and deserved their longed-for-freedom after more than 300 years of bondage from Spanish rule.
“Maikli lang po ang Unang Republika ng Pilipinas, mula Enero 23, 1899 hanggang Marso 23, 1901, pero nag-marka po ito sa ating kasaysayan. Nag-iwan rin ito sa atin ng isang dokumento na nagsilbing pundasyon at ilaw ng ating demokrasya – ang Konstitusyon ng Malolos na nagbigay daan sa unang Republikanong Konstitusyon sa buong kontinenteng Asya,” he said.
The First Philippine Republic bequeathed us a document that would serve as the foundation of our own democracy.
“Nawa ay maging tanglaw natin ang halaga ng demokrasya sa landas tungo sa pagbabagong hindi mangangailangan ng pagkakawatak-watak o pagpapababa ng ating dignidad bilang mga Filipino. Mabuhay po ang Republika ng Pilipinas!”