Guide to the Philippine Holidays
Holidays in the Philippines are influenced by the country’s colonial predecessors. It includes important events like the commemoration of national heroes’ days. Republic Act 9492 states that holidays will be moved to the nearest Monday, unless they are modified by law, by order or by proclamation. The only exceptions are holidays dated by religious doctrines. With President NoyNoy Aquino’s administration, however, this practice has been stopped.
National Holidays
It is the President’s prerogative to announce the next working day a holiday, especially if the original holiday falls on a Sunday.
January 1
New Year’s Day
Chinese New Year
Date is based on the Lunar Calendar
February 22
EDSA Revolution Day: in commemoration of People Power 1
April 9
Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), Bataan Day
May 1
Labor Day
June 12
Independence Day
August 21
Ninoy Aquino Day
August 31
Araw ng Mga Bayani (National Heroes Day)
November 1
All Saints’ Day
November 2
All Souls’ Day
November 30
Bonifacio Day
December 25
Christmas Day
December 30
Rizal Day
December 31
New Year’s Eve
Holidays: Religious in Nature
Roman Catholic
Month of April (though the Holy Week sometimes begins in late March)
- Holy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Easter
Iglesia ni Cristo Day/ Church of Christ Day
(Special non-working public holiday – Anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo)
July 27
Islam
Based on the Islamic Calendar
- End of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr)
Regional Holidays
Regional holidays are usually commemorated in particular regions and cities depending on the day the holiday falls.
Sinulog
Cebu and Tacloban
January 16
Ka Blas Ople Day
Bulacan
February 3
Biñan Liberation Day (Special working holiday)
Laguna
February 5
Mandaluyong Liberation and Cityhood Day (Regular Public Holiday)
Mandaluyong City
February 9
Evelio Javier Day (Regular Public Holiday)
Antique, Capiz, Aklan, and Iloilo
February 11
Parañaque Day (Regular Public Holiday)
Paranaque City
February 13
Valenzuela City Day/Araw ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (Special working holiday)
Valenzuela City
February 14
Cebu City Charter Day (Regular Public Holiday)
Cebu
February 24
Musikahan Festival (Regular Public Holiday)
Tagum City
February 21 to 27
Muntinlupa City Charter Day (Special non-working holiday)
Muntinlupa City
March 1
Founding Day – Araw ng Tagum (Regular Public Holiday)
Tagum City
March 7
Founding Day of Compostela Valley (Special working holiday)
Compostela Valley
March 8
Araw ng Davao (Special non-working public holiday)
Davao City
March 16
Liberation of Panay (Regular Public Holiday)
Iloilo
March 18
San Juan Day/Araw ng San Juan (Special non-working public holiday)
March 27
Cagayan de Oro Charter Day (Special non-working public holiday)
Cagayan de Oro City
June 15
Founding day (Special non-working public holiday)
Benguet
June 18
Naga City Charter Anniversary
Local Holiday
June 17
Surigao del Sur Day – Araw ng Surigao del Sur (Special non-working public holiday)
Surigao del Sur
June 19
Feast of Forest – Pista Y ang Kagueban (Special working holiday)
Palawan
June 19
Laguna Day – Araw ng Laguna (Special non-working holiday)
Laguna (Dr. Jose Rizal’s Birthday)
June 19
Manila Day – Araw ng Maynila (Special non-working public holiday)
Manila
June 24
Tacloban Day/Araw ng Tacloban (Special non-working public holiday)
Tacloban
June 30
Tacloban City Charter Day (Regular public holiday)
Tacloban
June 30
Araw ng Davao (Regular public holiday)
Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur
July 1
Pasig Foundation Day/Araw ng Pasig (Special non-working public holiday)
Pasig City
July 2
Apolinario Mabini Day (Special working holiday)
Tanauan, Batangas
July 23
Provincial Charter Day (Regular public holiday)
Cebu
August 6
Butuan City Charter Day/Adlaw Hong Butuan (Local holiday)
Butuan City
August 1
Ablan Day and Laoag Day (Special non-working holiday)
To celebrate the birthday of former Ilocos Norte Governor Roque Ablan
August 9
Manuel Luis Quezón Day/Kaarawan ni Quezon (Special working holiday)
Quezon Province, Aurora Province, Quezón City
August 19
Kagay-an Festival (Special non-working holiday)
Cagayan de Oro City fiesta
August 28
Baguio Day (Special non-working holiday)
Baguio City
September 1
Osmeña Day (Regular public holiday)
Cebu
September 9
San José del Monte City Day (Regular public holiday)
San Jose del Monte City
September 9
Surigao City Day (Regular city holiday)
Surigao City
September 10
Battle of Pulang Lupa and Marinduque Day (Special non-working public holiday)
Marinduque
September 13
Siquijor Day (Special non-working public holiday)
Siquijor
September 17
Sultan Kudarat Charter Day (Special working holiday)
Sultan Kudarat
September 18
Oroquieta City Day (Special non-working public holiday)
Oroquieta City
October 16
Leyte Landing Day (Regular public holiday)
Tacloban
October 20
Quirino Day (Special non-working holiday)
Province of Ilocos Sur
November 16
Pasay City Day Araw ng Pasay (Special non-working public holiday)
Pasay City
December 2
Pampanga Day (Special non-working holiday)
Province of Pampanga
December 11
Founding Day (Special working holiday)
General Trías, Cavite
December 13
Lopez Jaena Day (Regular Public Holiday)
Iloilo
December 18
-Mark Anthony Daposala-
