Mary Sophia Angela Buenavidez

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has proclaimed July 27, 2025 as a special non-working holiday to commemorate the founding anniversary of Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Photo Courtesy of Presidential Communications Office/PhilLife.

Proclamation No. 729, signed on October 30 was issued “to give members of Iglesia Ni Cristo the full opportunity to participate in the occasion” for their 111th anniversary of the Church of Christ. 

The INC religious group has endorsed Marcos Jr. in the last 2022 presidential elections, along with Senator Robin Padilla, who also pushed the declaration of the INC anniversary as a non-working holiday in March. 

They also endorsed Marcos on his vice presidential run in the 2016 elections, but lost to Leni Robredo.

Earlier this week, the president personally met with INC executive minister and group leader Eduardo Manalo at the INC Central Office in Quezon City.

He expressed thanks and praise for the dedication of the church leader.

Last September 2023, Marcos appointed Manalo as the Special Envoy of the President for Overseas Filipino Concerns.