MANILA, Philippines—Congress is working on a measure that would declare Chinese New Year a holiday, in recognition of the contributions of Chinese-Filipinos in the country.
The bill will be up for floor deliberation when sessions resume on January 17 after it passed the committee on revision of laws in the House of Representatives.
To give due recognition to the contributions of the Chinese-Filipino and because of their rich cultural tradition, Chinese New Year should be declared a special non-working holiday, according to the authors of the bill, Representatives Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora province, Emil Ong of Northern Samar, Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan De Oro, and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Abante Mindanao partylist.
“Considering our long relations with the Chinese many of whom have adopted the Philippines as their home, it is but just to help preserve some of their valued traditions,” said the Rodriguezes.
Angara said the measure would further strengthen Filipino-Chinese relations.
More than 25 percent of the country’s population has Chinese bloodline and the passage of the measure is an appropriate way to recognize their contribution, said Ong.
Also known as the Lunar New Year, the event is celebrated late January or early February. It does not have fixed date. For 2011, it will be celebrated on February 3.
