Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law declaring September 8 of every year, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church, a “national special working holiday.”

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the oldest Marian solemnities and one of the principal feasts of the liturgical devotion to the Blessed Mother.

A working holiday means that there will be classes in schools, while offices and other establishments will be open.

It is the second Marian feast to be declared a holiday in the Philippines. In 2017, Duterte declared December 8 a special non-working holiday to mark the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. He paid homage to Mary and described her as “selfless” when she accepted the invitation to be Jesus Christ’s mother “so that the plan of salvation be realized.”

The president, who has been a vocal critic of Catholic leaders, called Mary “the epitome of faith and source of inspiration” for many Christians, especially during challenging times.