Esta ley declara el 5 de septiembre de cada año como el "Día de la Excelencia del Servicio a Nuestros Semejantes" en conmemoración del natalicio de Sor Isolina Ferré, reconociendo su labor humanitaria y social en Puerto Rico. La ley exhorta al Gobernador a emitir una proclama y al Departamento de Estado a organizar actividades para reconocer a individuos e instituciones que brindan servicios destacados a la comunidad.
(Approved January 4, 2002)
To declare and establish to $5^{ ext {th }}$ day of September of each year, as the "Day of Excellence of Service to our Fellowmen" upon the commemoration of the birthday of the illustrious human being, Sor Isolina Ferré.
On September 5, 1914, María Isolina Ferré-Aguayo, better known as Sor Isolina Ferré by all the people of Puerto Rico, was born in house number 13 on Ponce de León Street. This woman of stirring convictions, principles and a vocation to serve others, preferred by her own free will, to devote her life to help and cooperate with those less fortunate, regardless of the personal sacrifices this entailed. Her distinguished family respected and valued the decision of this sister and missionary who, with her example impersonated the biblical mandate "to love others as you love yourself".
At the early age of 21, she began her novitiate. For years, she worked and devoted her best efforts to the Coal Mining Region of Cape Verde Island and to the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn. When she returned to our Island, she moved to beach of her native city of Ponce and with the help of divine guidance, had the intuition that she could become an effective instrument in helping a community that was sinking in delinquency, unemployment and extreme poverty. Her main purpose was always the integral development of human beings for their optimum self-improvement as useful citizens of society.
In 1969, together with a group of volunteers and missionaries, she founded a broad community multi-services project known as Youth and Community, a program that has become what today we know the Sor Isolina Ferré Centers. These centers located in El Tuque Beach of Ponce, the Independent Health Centers and the Guayama and Caimito Centers, are recognized as examples of community action. Said centers are projects for services, organization and leadership with a profound humanistic outlook. Their work is directed to: 1) prevention of juvenile delinquency, 2) reduction of the use of drugs and alcohol, 3) strengthening of family values and, 4) rehabilitation of the community through the solution of the problems that affect or prevent its development. This legacy continues to this day, and is a source of inspiration hundreds of youths, men and women to fight, with hope, for their own future and that of their families.
The life and work of Sor Isolina Ferré encompasses much more than the religious and social ambit in which she shone. It is a true memorial to the nature of Puerto Ricans - humble, hospitable, servicing, and most of all concerned for the common welfare. Over all consideration or difference of criteria, Sor Isolina served as a role model to be emulated by future generations. Through her, we acknowledge that God in this infinite wisdom and almighty power chooses those vessels that are useful in carrying out his work of love and blessings for humanity. In the words of Sor Isolina, we find one of the principles that should be applied to the lives of all Puerto Ricans: "La fe, la lucha, la tenacidad de los que sirven y son servidores para conseguir que cada uno sienta su propio valor y haga un esfuerzo y triunfe, es un verdadero milagro" (The faith, struggle and tenacity of those who serve and are the facilitators so that each one can feel their worth and make an effort and succeed, is a true miracle. Free translation).
Today, this Legislature, in discharging its responsibility and duty to recognize and perpetuate those persons who for their own merits have been outstanding in the lives of Puerto Ricans, deem it is pertinent to declare and establish the $5^{ ext {th }}$ day of September of each year as the "Day of Excellence of Service to our Fellowmen", upon the commemoration of the birthday of the illustrious person Sor Isolina Ferré.
Section 1.- To declare and establish the $5^{ ext {th }}$ day of September of each year, as the "Day of Excellence of Service to our Fellowmen", upon the commemoration of the birthday of the illustrious human being, Sor Isolina Ferré.
Section 2.- The Governor of Puerto Rico, through a proclamation, shall exhort the people of Puerto Rico to commemorate $5^{ ext {th }}$ day of September of each year, as "Day of the Excellence of Service to our Fellowmen".
Section 3.- The Department of State of Puerto Rico shall adopt the measures needed to comply with the purposes of this Act, by organizing and celebrating official activities that will recognize and give significance to the contribution of those citizens and public or private institutions or entities that have offered outstanding services or assistance in behalf of the Puerto Rican community.
Section 4.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 7 (H.B. 1554) of the $2^{ ext {nd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to declare and establish to $5^{ ext {th }}$ day of September of each year, as the "Day of Excellence of Service to our Fellowmen" upon the commemoration of the birthday of the illustrious human being, Sor Isolina Ferré, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $5^{ ext {th }}$ of December of 2003.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director