Feast of Immaculate Conception today

Japan’s Cardinal Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda will be the main celebrant in the noon mass at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila in observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 60th anniversary of the Minor Basilica today.

Maeda will represent Pope Francis in the celebration. He will be assisted during the mass by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle.

Masses will also be held at 7:30 a.m. and at 6 p.m.

At the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City, a high mass will be celebrated by parish priest Rev. Fr. Dennis Soriano at 3:30 p.m.

The Grand Marian Procession, a prelude to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, was held last Sunday in Intramuros. Several Catholic schools also held Marian vigils and living rosaries last night in anticipation of the feast.

In Catholic churches and Marian shrines across the country, Marian devotees are expected to attend the special commemorative masses in honor of the Principal Patroness of the Philippines.

Novenas, special devotions, candle offerings, and the recitation of the Holy Rosary will also be observed.

Meanwhile, the “no work, no pay” policy shall be in effect on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is a special non-working day under Republic Act No. 10966 which was signed into law on Dec. 28, 2017.

"If the employee did not work, the ‘no work, no pay’ principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day," the Department of Labor and Employment said in Labor Advisory No. 19-18.

Being a special non-working day, the following pay rules shall be applicable:

– For work done, an employee shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his daily rate on the first eight hours.

– For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), an employee shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate.