WHEREAS, the late Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos was executed by the Japanese military in May of 1942, as a result of his uncompromising attitude to enemy aggression, invasion and occupation of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, in his life, public career and martyrdom, Jose Abad Santos set an example of personal integrity and rectitude, patriotism and self-sacrifice, and loyalty to the cause of human dignity and freedom; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary that our people, particularly the youth of our land, be imbued with the same ideals for which Jose Abad Santos lived and died and be inspired to follow his example of loyal and patriotic service to the cause of our country and to humanity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines, do hereby designate the fifteenth of May of each year as Jose Abad Santos Day. All schools, public and private, religious institutions, civic organizations city, provincial and municipal communities, and individual citizens are hereby enjoined to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, designed to set up the life of Jose Abad Santos for the lasting emulation of present and future generations of our people so as to lead them to dedicate their lives to the ideals and pattern of service established by the supreme martyr and hero of the enemy regime.

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 Baguio, this 4th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the third.

ELPIDIO QUIRINO
President of the Philippines

By the President:
TEODORO EVANGELISTA
Executive Secretary