Bongbong Marcos wants Rizal Day moved to June 19

Jose Rizal Day will be celebrated on June 19 instead of December 30, if Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s bill is passed into law. Senate Bill 2743 seeks to amend Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987 to change the date of Rizal Day from December 30 to June 19. Marcos, who authored the bill, explained that the country should celebrate Rizal Day on his birthday, June 19, instead of his death, which is December 30. "The birthday of our national hero is a day of celebration of his life and his great contribution to the country's independence from foreign domination. It is just fitting that Filipinos commemorate Rizal Day on June 19 as a day of triumph of the Dr. Jose Rizal's nationalism and patriotic ideals," he said. Section 26 of the Code says that unless modified by law, order or proclamation, Rizal Day shall be celebrated on December 30. Rizal was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba Laguna. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896 after he was accused of rebellion, sedition, and forming an illegal association. - VVP, GMA News