Facts About the Official Philippine Holidays

It's likely that you'll receive a wide range of responses if you ask a Filipino about his or her favorite holiday. Despite the fact that Christmas is the most widely celebrated holiday in the Philippines, several other festivals are also widely observed throughout the year.

The Filipinos celebrate approximately 50 holidays each year, each one a unique opportunity to learn about and participate in our own Filipino traditions. In fact, according to a study by Gulf Business, the Philippines has more national holidays than many other countries-- among these countries, India ranks first, followed by Colombia and the Philippines.

These various holidays help us to have a deeper appreciation for our culture as a whole as well as gain familiarity with our own customs.

So, start thinking about the remainder of the year's vacations now by keeping track of future holidays in the Philippines!

Facts About the Official Philippine Holidays

The holidays celebrated in the Philippines fall into three categories: the regular holidays, special non-working holidays, and the recently proclaimed special working days due to the pandemic. Such holidays as New Year's Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Day are examples of those that are celebrated annually on the same day. Meanwhile, the rules for non-working holidays are less rigid since in most cases, they are either announced by the President or passed by Congress.

Regular Holidays in PH

January 1 – New Year's Day

Similar to New Year's festivities in other regions of the globe, this holiday is observed on January 1st in the Philippines. Usually, families gather for a big meal in the spirit of celebrating the coming of a new year and the good fortune that it may bring.

April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan

This festival celebrated annually on April 9 is also called "Day of Valor" to honor the Filipino people for their role in the WWII triumph against the Japanese. There are a number of activities and ceremonies being held this day, with the wreath-laying ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery being one of the most well-attended.

Holy Week: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is remembered on this Christian holiday. It is a major holiday for Filipino Christians and Christians everywhere. People observe this week as a time of mourning and reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by attending church services and contemplating the events of His sufferings and death.

May 1 – Labor Day

Observed annually on May 1st, Labor Day honors Filipino employees and the contributions they've made to the country's economy. On this day, several various events, including parades and rallies, are conducted, many of which are sponsored by labor unions. It's no surprise that this celebration is significant, given that the Philippines is home to almost 10 million employees. Supporting workers' rights in this manner means a lot to the Filipino people.

June 12 – Independence Day

The day the nation declared its freedom from colonial rule. There are a number of activities and festivities planned on this day, but one of the highlights is the flag-raising ceremony at Rizal Park in Manila.

August 29 – National Heroes' Day

In commemoration of the revolutionary heroes who laid the groundwork for Philippine independence, the Filipino people commemorate this day annually on June 12. The National Heroes Day Weekend 2022 is one of the long weekends this year--giving employees three (3) days of holiday from August 27 to 29.

November 30 – Bonifacio Day

Bonifacio was an original member of the Katipunan, a revolutionary organization that operated in secret. He was the driving force behind the uprising in the Philippines that ultimately led to our independence from the Spanish colonial government.

December 25 – Christmas Day

When discussing Filipino celebrations, Christmas must inevitably be included. Most Filipinos celebrate this significant festival. In the Philippines, the Christmas season officially begins on December 16 and lasts until January 6.

December 30 – Rizal Day

Filipinos all across the world take time off on December 30 to celebrate Rizal Day in honor of José Rizal, the country's national hero. At 1896, on December 30, Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan, Manila.

Special Non-Working Holidays in PH 2022

• February 1, 2022 – Chinese New Year
• February 25, 2022 – EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
• April 16, 2022 – Black Saturday
• August 21, 2022 – Ninoy Aquino Day
• November 1, 2022 – Tuesday (All Saints' Day)
• December 8, 2022 – Thursday (Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary)

Special Working Holidays in PH 2022

• November 2, 2022 - Wednesday (All Souls' Day)
• December 24, 2022 - Saturday (Christmas Eve)
• December 31, 2022 – Saturday (last day of the year)

Additionally, the President makes holiday declarations for Eid'l Fitr, marking the completion of Ramadan, and for Eid'al Adha, celebrating the Feast of the Sacrifice. It is when the Islamic calendar has been used to identify the dates for these festivals that the announcement is made public. When certain Islamic Holidays come around, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos notifies the Presidency.

PBBM declared October 31st as a Non-Working Holiday This Year

On October 18, 2022, President Ferdinand R. Marcos announced October 31 to be a national holiday in the Philippines. In advance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the proclamation was signed by the President, which are observed annually on November 1 and 2, respectively, in the country.

It can be remembered that former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 1236 in October 2021, the first day of November, a Tuesday this year, as a special non-working day. However, in an effort to assist the country's economic rebound from the negative effects of the 2019 coronavirus illness (Covid-19) epidemic, Nov. 2 was proclaimed as a special working day.

More Non-Working Special Holidays to Expect on November 2023

Moving forward, both November 1 and 2, 2023, will be observed as special non-working days in accordance with Proclamation 32, which was issued by the President in August of this year. This is in addition to the previous special holiday established by Pres. Marcos Jr.

During the traditional celebrations of All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day, President Ferdinand R. Marcos has designated November 2, 2023, as a special non-working day to further facilitate domestic tourism and to provide Filipinos more time to spend with their families.

Make Your Long Weekends Worthwhile With Lumina Homes Site Tripping!

Paydays and vacations are the two things that every worker anticipates most eagerly. When the Philippines celebrates a holiday, it's a chance for people to reconnect with friends and family and take some time off to recharge before returning to work.

Plan your long weekend getaways and vacations for the rest of the year now that you know when the holidays will be celebrated in the Philippines. If you know how to organize things properly, you can make the most of your vacation time.

It also helps you plan out your time efficiently. This has been a difficult year; thus, you must maximize its potential!

Make the most out of this coming long weekend by starting to make an investment with the house and lot in the Philippines. Lumina Homes offers site tripping with our over 50 communities nationwide.

Invite the whole family and check out our most in-demand affordable house and lot for sale in our showroom and explore our community amenities that every Filipino will surely enjoy!

Stay tuned on this website and in our social media accounts to know Lumina Homes offices' schedule and book a site tripping to personally see our quality and affordable house and lot units.