CASTRO, Bea Janica M.

DE LEON, Inno Benzo C.

BSAR-5D

ECONOMICS

CHOSEN PRESIDENT: Manuel L. Quezon

CHOSEN ECONOMIC POLICY: Proclamation No. 76: Proclaiming the week from August 17 to 23,
of each year as “Made-in-The Philippines Product Week”

I. BACKGROUND AND DETAILS

On August 7, 1933, the Honorable Frank Murphy, then Governor-General of the Philippine
Islands, issued a proclamation and was designated and proclaimed by the late president Manuel
L. Quezon on proclaiming the week from August 17 to 23 as “Made-in-The Philippines Products
Week”.

This aims to celebrate a significant event for Filipino entrepreneurs since it is a natural trait
among people of all entitled countries to love and to feel a special regard for the things that they
consider their own. Economic protectionism that is animated by a sane and sound spirit of
nationalism is a universally accepted rule of national conduct, and nationalism is a factor in the
development of a progressive nation.

Quezon believed that the Philippines will do well to cultivate and develop the spirit of
economic nationalism for their own welfare and benefit and for the greater progress and
development of the country. The expansion and great development of local industries will bring
more wealth, prosperity, and happiness to all the people.

The reason that this proclamation is made is because the Philippines is richly endowed with
the precious gifts of nature, it has an abundance of basic materials of industry, to a certain extent
that we have begun to avail ourselves of these natural facilities and advantages for industrial
growth, but the local industries are still comparatively few and relatively undeveloped during his
administration. He proposed that many of our domestic needs that could be fully supplied with
local products have to be provided for with considerable importations of foreign articles. Quezon
insisted that in order to give the necessary encouragement and stimulus to domestic industries, the
people of this country should patronize Philippine products.

He proclaimed the week from August 17 to August 23 to be ‘Made-in-the-Philippines

Products Week’ and request all the people to observe it as a week in which products of the
Philippines will be used by them for their home and personal needs. This spirit of cultivating and
encouraging home industries will be maintained all the coming years so that it will mark the rise
in this country of a vigorous and healthy spirit of economic progressiveness.

DETAILS

 Made-in-the Philippines Products Week is a celebration that aims to showcase the

very best of genuine Philippine-made products and services, as well as highlight the
ingenuity and talent of Filipino manufacturers, inventors and entrepreneurs. It is typically
characterized by bazaars, tours, exhibits, and product expos. Lectures, seminars and
forums, as well as film screenings and concerts by Filipino artists, are also held as part of
the celebration.
 The Made-in-the Philippines Products Week was a byproduct of the National
Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA)’s long-running campaign to promote
economic nationalism and help foster public confidence in Philippine-made products.
 By law, every Filipino is mandated to celebrate Made in the Philippines Products
Week, especially schools, government offices and other institutions. Historically, the
Made-in-the Philippines Products Week enjoyed wide popularity and patronage among
the people, especially during the 1950’s when Filipinos all over the country supported the
exhibits as it afforded them the opportunity to get acquainted with Filipino products and
companies. More importantly, the exhibits became an expression of nationalism among
Filipino consumers.
 The peak of the exhibits coincided with the golden era of Philippine manufacturing
during the 1950’s decade. The “nationalist laws” and the late President Garcia’s “Filipino
First” policy engendered a pro-Filipino businessman environment that saw the
blossoming of the Filipino entrepreneur.
  Moreover, when the late President Garcia amended the Roxas Proclamation thru
Proclamation 483 declaring the last seven days of February as Philippines Products and
NEPA Week and issued Proclamation 678 designating June 13- November 19 as NEPA
National Products.

II. REACTION OF THE PEOPLE

 The Made in the Philippines Products Week was initially celebrated on August 11,
1936 by virtue of President Manuel L. Quezon’s Proclamation 76 and was subsequently
amended by Manuel Roxas via Proclamation 52 series of 1948, which changed the date
of the Made-in-the Philippines Products Week on February 7-13. The celebration has
been changed numerous times during the past 70 years. As of now, the Made in the
Philippines Products Week is celebrated on August 17-23, by virtue of President Fidel V.
Ramos’ Proclamation 1041 series of 1997.
 Patronizing Filipino-made products is an act of nationalism. Thus, celebrating Made
in the Philippines Products Week is a source of national pride for all Filipinos.
 Generating greater support and patronage of Filipino products will contribute to the
growth and development of local companies and manufacturers, which will in turn
produce more employment opportunities.
 Economic independence is an integral part of nation-building, hence the need to
promote economic nationalism, or the spirit of “Tangkilikan” among Filipinos.
 It is necessary to reaffirm the Filipino’s identity and national pride amidst the
onslaught of foreign products through the consistent patronage of Filipino products,
therefore the necessity to reinvigorate the production and distribution of Filipino-made
products.
 Historically, the Made in the Philippines Products Week enjoyed wide popularity and
patronage among the people, especially during the 1950’s when Filipinos all over the
country supported the exhibits as it afforded them the opportunity to get acquainted with
Filipino products and companies. More importantly, the exhibits became an expression of
nationalism among Filipino consumers.

III. SOURCES
https://www.facebook.com/GubatPhotographersClub/posts/made-in-the-philippines-week-press-
release-legit-pinoy-in-celebration-of-made-in/2875976519082516/
https://lawphil.net/executive/proc/proc1936/proc_76_1936.html
https://www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/140331-global-pinoy-bazaar-august-2016
https://upd.edu.ph/august-in-rp-is-also-history-month/
https://negosentro.com/made-in-the-philippines-products-week-august-17-23/
https://www.facebook.com/GubatPhotographersClub/posts/made-in-the-philippines-week-press-
release-legit-pinoy-in-celebration-of-made-in/2875976519082516/