WHEREAS, it is a basic principle of popular government that civil liberties constitute the very lifeblood of democracy;

WHEREAS, a sound and vigorous democracy demands that the people ™s attention be drawn constantly to the preservation of civil liberties;

WHEREAS, January 21 marks the anniversary of the promulgation of the Malolos Constitution, a historic document embodying our people ™s original thoughts on civil liberties;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare January 21 of every year as Civil Liberties Day. I urge all our people to celebrate the day with appropriate ceremonies with a view to the preservation of civil liberties as an enduring foundation of democracy.

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 20th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-two

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
President of the Philippines

By the President:
SALVADOR L. MARI O
Executive Secretary