The “non-establishment” doctrine as it is more popularly known in the United States, prohibits or discourages the state from promoting or aiding the church or otherwise discouraging its establishment. In our country, it more popularly known as the “separation of church and state” and this is clearly stated in our 1987 Constitution: “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.” Although there is no state religion, unlike the during the Spanish era, it does not also mean that worship or belief in a god or spiritual being should be prohibited. It simply means, the state should leave the church on its own as much as the church should also leave the state on its own. As our governments moved towards more inclusive policies, this separation has become necessary but more on a peaceful co-existence rather than animosity or even hostility. There have been several laws and policies that became the subject of litigation solely on the subject of “separation of church and state”. One such usual question is the protocol afforded the Pope whenever he visits the country. There are individuals who question the propriety of public expenditures afforded the Pontiff during his apostolic visits. This however is easily answered by the fact that that Vatican is a country where the head of state is the Pope. While the church may call it an apostolic visit, the government considers it a state visit by the head of another country. Just recently, a law was passed declaring the feast of the Immaculate Conception as an official holiday, again causing some eyebrow raising. With the law, it appears that the state is recognizing or promoting the Catholic church with this legal holiday. The enactment of the law may be justified in one of the pronouncements of the Supreme Court with regard to the controversy on the purchase of a wooden statue of St. Vincent Ferrer by a Barangay government. The Supreme Court did not see any violation of the separation of church and state principle and ultimately justified the purchase in these words: “…the barrio fiesta is a socio-religious affair. Its celebration is an ingrained tradition in rural communities. The fiesta relieves the monotony and drudgery of the lives of the masses.” Garces, et al. vs. Hon. Estenzo, etc., et al., The same can be said in all other religious celebrations and festivals held all year round across the country. Usually, local governments allow religious processions through public roads not to promote the belief of the church but to allow its constituents who are also members of the church to fully celebrate and participate in their religious festival. The declaration of December 8 as a legal holiday will allow Filipinos all over the country to fully participate in the celebrations of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which is traditionally celebrated by Catholics. In the end, the separation should not be a wall that must mutually be excluded but more importantly a gentle reminder to the entities not to interfere with others. As the SC said: “…what is prohibited is the use of public money or property for the sole purpose of benefiting or supporting any church. The prohibition contemplates a scenario where the appropriation is primarily intended for the furtherance of a particular church.” (G.R. No. 223395. December 04, 2018)