NEARLY three months before the much-awaited holiday in the Philippines, the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill declaring Pampanga as the Christmas Capital of the country.
The chamber unanimously voted with 250 lawmakers to approve House Bill (HB) No. 6933 which Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales, Jr. principally authored.
“The Christmas season here in the Philippines is made extra special every year by the kapampangans who take pride in their famous and vibrant tradition of lantern-making,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said.
“Their excellent craftsmanship to honor the birth of Jesus Christ surely contributed to the robustness of the local economy and the promotion of the province as a cultural tourism destination. It is only fitting that we formalize Pampanga’s legacy as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines now, as it continues to brighten the season of giving each year,” Gonzales for his part.
Section 2 of the proposed law tasks the Department of Tourism to include and feature the province as the Christmas Capital in its national and regional promotion programs.
