His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines, signed Proclamation No. 968, series of 2015 on February 10 declaring the month of April of every year as National Literature Month or Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino. This means starting this year, the country will be promoting and celebrating Filipino literature.
I commend the President for his efforts in recognizing the role of literature in nation-building. Surely, this will earn him a good praise among writers and historians.
Below is the full text of the Proclamation.
MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 968
DECLARING THE MONTH OF APRIL OF EVERY YEAR AS “NATIONAL LITERATURE MONTH”
WHEREAS, Section 15, Article XIV of the Constitution
states that arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State,
and that the State shall conserve, promote, and popularize the Nation’s
historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic
creations;
WHEREAS, the Philippine literature, written in
different Philippine languages, is associated with the history and
cultural legacy of the State, and must be promoted among Filipinos;
WHEREAS, the national literature plays an important
role in preserving and inspiring the literature of today and in
introducing to future generations the Filipino values that we have
inherited from our ancestors;
WHEREAS, the month of April marks the commemoration
of the Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar Day, and the birth and death
anniversaries of literary pillars like Emilio Jacinto, Paciano Rizal,
Nick Joaquin, Edith Tiempo, and Bienvenido Lumbera;
WHEREAS, international literary celebrations like
the International Children’s Book Day, International Day of the Book or
World Book Day, and World Intellectual Property Rights Day are held in
April of every year; and
WHEREAS, the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA) and its affiliate agencies, the National Book Development
Board, and other concerned stakeholders, support the declaration of the
month of April as Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino or National Literature Month.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the month of April as Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino or National Literature Month.
The NCCA and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) shall act
as lead agencies in the preparation, coordination and implementation of
the activities and events relating to the celebration of the National
Literature Month.
All departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the government,
including government-owned or -controlled corporations are hereby
directed, while nongovernmental organization and the private sector are
encouraged to participate and render assistance to NCCA, the KWF and
other concerned agencies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE, in the City of Manila, this 10th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Fifteen.
(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
By the President:(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.Executive Secretary
Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines
