WHEREAS, the Institute of National Language was created and the former National Assembly had approved certain laws in compliance with the constitutional mandate that steps be taken toward the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages;

WHEREAS, Commonwealth Act No. 570 provides that the Filipino national language be declared as one of the official languages of the Philippines, effective the fourth day of July, 1946; and

WHEREAS, the People and the Government of the Philippines should be encouraged to participate actively in the efforts to accomplish the purpose of the aforementioned provision of the Constitution;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SERGIO OSME A, President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Institute of National Language, do hereby proclaim NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK the period of seven days that ends on the birthday anniversary of Francisco Baltazar, the renowned author of "Florante at Laura," or, to be more specific, from the twenty-seventh day of March to the second day of April, inclusive, of each year; and to this end, all public and private schools, colleges and universities, and other cultural agencies in the Philippines are especially called upon to observe the week in an appropriate manner, and to demonstrate their enthusiasm by adopting more effective measures for the propagation of the Filipino national language.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Commonwealth of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done at the City of Manila, this 26th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-six, and of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the eleventh.


By the President:
(Sgd.) JOSE S. REYES
Secretary to the President