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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Proclamation No. 1207, December 28, 2006 ]

DECLARING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2006 (HOLY INNOCENTS DAY) AS A SPECIAL DAY DEDICATED TO STREET CHILDREN AND OTHER ABANDONED, ORPHANED, ABUSED AND MARGINALIZED YOUTH

WHEREAS, Holy Innocents Day (December 28, 2006) commemorates the massacre of all children less than two years of age, as ordered by King Herod to make sure that Jesus did not survive;

WHEREAS, the Holy Innocents were the very first saints and they died not only for Christ, but in place of Christ;

WHEREAS, the abandoned and neglected children of today are the Holy Innocents of our times;

WHEREAS, it is but fitting to declare Holy Innocents Day a special day dedicated to street children and other abandoned, orphaned, abused and marginalized youth;

WHEREAS, we must devote this special day as the starting point of solving our street children problem and make possible a convergence of cooperativism and synergized cultural initiatives for vulnerable groups;

WHEREAS, the focus on their needs, conditions and celebrating their capacity to social transformation and achievement would be inspiring to forge broader community and national support for advancing their welfare;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Thursday, December 28, 2006 (Holy Innocents Day) as a special day dedicated to street children and other abandoned, orphaned, abused and marginalized youth. December 28, 2006 shall, however, remain a regular working day.1aшphi1

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 28th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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