Solons push for National Students' Day

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives approved on second reading a bill seeking to establish a National Students' Day in the Philippines every Nov. 17, in observance of International Students' Day.

House Bill 4093, introduced by Reps. Susan Yap, Neri Colmenares, Carlos Isagani Zarate and Antonio Tinio aims to honor Filipino students annually to commemorate their contribution to democracy and to boost their social and moral development.

Under the proposed measure, an annual program of activities will be prepared by the National Youth Commission, with support from the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education.

"All schools, colleges and universities are encouraged to extend their full support for relevant exercises and activities to be launched by the students during the observance of National Student’s Day," the bill noted.

International Students' Day was first observed in London, England in 1941 to honor nine Czechoslovakian students who were executed for fighting against the Nazi occupation.