Co-sponsorship speech of Senator Loren Legarda on Committee Report no. 499 on House Bill No. 7005 or the Araw ng Anini-y

Thank you, Mr. President.

It is with pride that I co-sponsor “An Act Declaring August 5 of Every Year a Special Non-Working Holiday in the Municipality of Anini-y, Province of Antique”.

Mr. President, during the previous Congress, while serving as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, I had the privilege of filing this bill to honor the vibrant history and heritage of my kasimanwa in Antique. In this Congress, alongside Representative Antonio Agapito “AA” Legarda Jr. and Representative Felimon Espares, and with the leadership of Committee Chairman Senator JV Ejercito, we are making significant strides toward achieving national recognition and formal declaration of this important milestone.

Anini-y is the southernmost municipality of Antique and is located near the boundary with Iloilo. It is approximately 40 kilometers from the provincial capitol and 85 kilometers from Iloilo.

During the Spanish era, Anini-y was already an independent town with a Baroque church in its town proper.

Anini-y became an arabal of Dao (now Tobias Fornier) in 1840 and in 1903, during the American period. Anini-y was integrated into the Municipality of Dao under Philippine Commission Act No. 961.

Executive Order 253 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on August 5, 1949 separated Anini-y from its mother town.

Mr. President, Araw ng Anini-y is not merely a celebration of its independence from its former town; it is also a tribute to the rich history of Anini-y as one of the earliest settlements in Panay. This occasion honors its cultural heritage, the enduring progress of the municipality, and the remarkable triumphs of its people.

Duru-duro gid nga salamat!

Isang luntiang Pilipinas sa ating lahat!