Bishops praise Duterte for declaring December 8 as non-working holiday


Two Catholic bishops lauded the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to declare December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as non-working holiday every year.

"That is indeed a very good and inspiring news. With this Christmas season it is a beautiful and lasting gift of our country to our Blessed Mother," a GMA News report quoted Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos as saying.
"We Filipinos are very motherly, maka-ina. It is our nature to go to our mothers in any aspects of our life, to stay with and support our mothers, to take care our mothers," he added.
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes also welcomed Duterte's declaration, admitting that he was surprised about it. "Wonderful! It is a pleasant surprise!" he said.
"After all, Duterte has still some respect for the Catholic Church. His mother was a devout Catholic, and he loves his Mama very much," he added.
On December 23, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10966, declaring December 8 of every year a special non-working holiday in the Philippines, to honor the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Congress passed the law with the House of Representatives approving it last May 2, and the Senate on December 11. —LBG, GMA News