By Ben R. Rosario
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary celebrated on Dec. 8 by all Catholic faithful throughout the world is now a special non-working holiday in the Philippines.
President Duterte made this possible by signing Republic Act No. 10966 in observance of the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary, the principal patroness of the Philippines.
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, principal author of the House version of the measure, lauded Duterte’s approval of the enrolled bill on Dec. 28.
Aside from the Philippines, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is also celebrated by Catholic churches in Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Spain, United States, and Canada, among other countries.
