That law originated in the House of Representatives. The House and Senate bills were passed on 12 May 2017 and 11 December 2017, respectively.
In the Senate bill, it was specified that the law was needed to allow Filipino Catholics to strengthen their established devotion to Mary by attending Mass and engaging in traditional religious practices.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception signifies that Mary, from the moment of her conception, was free from original sin.
Devotees attribute many miracles to her.
Among such divine intercessions was the Blessed Virgin's appearance to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France, in 1858, introducing herself as the “Immaculate Conception.”
The place of the apparition, which the Church has verified as having occurred, has since drawn millions of devotees.
On 8 December 1954, Pope Pius IX declared, in his bull “Ineffabilis Deus,” the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church.
Catholic Filipinos wanted to venerate and honor Mary as their Patroness and show their love and faith, believing that Mother Mary intercedes for them to her son Jesus.
The faithful firmly believe that by doing the nine-day novena, their prayers and petitions will be heard, with some even claiming to have experienced miracles through the devotion.
And now that the country is in the midst of various crises, this is the right time for us to once again seek guidance from the Virgin Mary.
Because her love is unceasing, just like the love of her Son, Jesus Christ, for his flock.
