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Starting 2018, December 8 will be a special non-working holiday in the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law entitled: An Act Declaring December 8 of Every Year A Special Nonworking Holiday in the Entire Country to Commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines. By  Bartolomé Esteban Murillo  -  [1] , Public Domain,  Link The Philippines, a predominantly catholic country has been celebrating major religious festivities such as Christmas and the Lenten season. But it also pays attention to other major religious sector of the Filipino section such as the Muslims and the Chinese. For Muslims, the country celebrates two Islamic festivals: the Eid'l Fitr and the Eid'l Adha. For the Chinese, the country celebrates the Chinese New Year. This new holiday comes amidst recent disagreements between the government and the Catholic religion over governmental policies. Additional Holiday in 2018 ...

NOT YET . While the Lower House of the Philippine Congress has already approved the bill declaring December 8 as a special non-working holiday in celebration of the Catholic Feast of Immaculate Conception , it is yet to be approved by the Upper House (the Senate) and then signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. So tomorrow is NOT a holiday . The oval track of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. However, some Catholic schools in the country will celebrate the said festival and therefore canceled both office work and classes. If you are studying or working in a Catholic school, please verify with your school official regarding this matter. Also, by coincidence, some cities and municipalities will be on special non-working day tomorrow for reasons such as "founding anniversary" of the city or municipality. Again, please check with your local government if that's the case. Otherwise, tomorrow is a typical Friday. [Read: December 4 and 8, 2017 are NOT Holida...

This week will be a "normal" week for most of us because December 4 and 8 are NOT non-working holidays contrary to popular expectation. Let me explain what happened. Let's start off with December 4. The Philippine Flag.  December 4 Holiday? No More Militant transport group PISTON has planned to hold a two-day nationwide transport strike starting tomorrow, December 4 but as early as this morning, news broke out that they decided to cancel the transport strike. The last time PISTON held a nationwide transport strike last October 16, Malacanang Palace responded by canceling classes and government work. With the strike canceled this time, classes and work will resume normally. And yes, you will have to face the deadly traffic of Monday Manila! December 8 Holiday? Not Yet Late last month, the lower house of the Philippine congress approved a bill that aims to make December 8 an annual special non-working national holiday to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculat...

Proclamation No. 332 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte declares November 13-15, 2017 as a special non-working holiday in the National Capital Region (a.k.a Metro Manila), Bulacan and Pampanga. The purpose of the holiday is to pave the way to the activities in connection with the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit which the country will host this year. Most of the events will be held mostly in Clark, Pampanga and the National Capital Region (NCR). The Philippine Flag. There will be no class and work on the said dates but for those who will be required to work by their employers shall receive a premium of 30% on top of their daily rate. This is in accordance with the  rules set forth by the Labor Code of the Philippines. Opportunity for a Long Weekend Vacation This holiday falls on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday which means a long weekend. This is a perfect opportunity to take a vacation in another place. Please consider the following promo with...

It's official! President Rodrigo Duterte declares Thursday, October 26, 2017 as a special non-working holiday in the province of Cebu including Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-lapu City. The announcement was made via Proclamation No. 333. The purpose of the holiday according to the document is "to give people of the province of Cebu the opportunity to remember, honor and show respect, and join the interment of the late Archbishop Vidal". The popular Roman Catholic religious leader died last October 18 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 86. Since this is a special non-working holiday, those who will be required to work by their employers will receive a premium of 30% on top of their daily rate.

[Updated: Oct. 17, 2017, 12:50AM] Reversing its earlier announcement that classes and work will resume tomorrow, Malacanang Palace just announced that school classes on all levels as well as all government offices under the executive branch of the government are still suspended tomorrow, October 17, 2017. The reason for the cancellation is the continued nationwide protest lead by transport groups opposing the government's plan of "Jeepney modernisation"

Malcanang Palace officially declares July 29, 2014 (Tuesday) as a regular non-working holiday all over the Philippines in celebration of the annual Muslim festival  Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan. The official declaration can be read at official government portal  www.gov.ph . Those who will be required to work at that date shall receive additional compensation based on the existing Labor rules set by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). English: Coat of arms of the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia )

Malacanang Palace officially confirms that June 24, 2014 is a special non-working holiday throughout the city of Manila. This is in celebration of the 443rd Foundation Day anniversary of the City of Manila. Manila was founded by the Spanish conqueror Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1571. Malacañang Palace, the residence of the Philippine president, from the other side of the Pasig River in Manila (Photo credit:  Wikipedia ) The announcement was made by executive secretary via Proclamation No. 766, s. 2014 . For employees who are required to work tomorrow, corresponding additional compensation based on Labor rules shall be given.

Airlines in the Philippines have been very consistent in the past 4 years or more. Everytime there's a holiday, they are more likely inclined to announce promo fares. I remembered what Airphil Express (now PAL Express) and Cebu Pacific announced during the Easter of 2012: Zero Fare . Yes, Zero matching the Egg Hunt, a popular practice during Easter Holiday.

A few updates Day of Valor on April 9, 2014 This Wednesday, April 9 is a national holiday in the Philippines in celebration of the Day of Valor. This is in commemoration of the fall of the military base in Corregidor Island, Bataan in April 9, 1942 (World War 2). For more information about the event, please check this link. [ Background: Day of Valor ] Since this is a regular holiday, employers should follow the pay rules set by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for employees who will be required to render work on that day. New 10-Peso Coin Finally Reached Me The new 10 Peso coin that was released by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) finally reached my coin purse. I'm not sure how it got there but I think it was cool. As previously reported as early as December last year, this new coin was minted in celebration of Andres Bonifacio's 150th birth anniversary last November 30, 2013.  The coin features the same 26.5 mm diameter bimetallic style l...

Most will really love this month ! Not for the rainy season but because of the three national holidays being celebrated during the month of August. The first one, Eid'l Fitr will be celebrated this coming Friday . That holiday though is movable because it was based on Islamic lunar calendar. This year, it fell on August 9. Next year though, it would be around July 30. August 21, 2013 Holiday The second holiday is on August 21, also known as Ninoy Aquino Day. This is an annual observance of the death of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. Yes, he is the father of President Benigno "Pnoy" Aquino III. His assassination in 1983 is considered to be the trigger point that leads to 1986 EDSA Revolution. The revolution forced the end of the dictatorial regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos.  

Update : Palace confirms August 9, 2013 (Friday) as a regular non-working holiday nationwide via  Proclamation 629 . Eid’l Fitr , a Muslim Festival marking the end of Ramadan will be celebrated on August 9 this year making the second weekend of August 2013 a long vacation for most employees. But Malacanang Palace is yet to confirm it . According to Proclamation No.459 ,  the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall.

All classes from Elementary to High School in Quezon City is suspended for tomorrow, Monday, July 22, 2013. This is a precautionary measure as militant groups are expected to hold protest rallies near the Congress during the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III which will be delivered tomorrow as well.

For those who are not aware or just wants a clarification, March 30, 2013 is a special non-working holiday in the Philippines. This year, March 30 falls in the Catholic observance known as the Black Sabbath (Black Saturday). This has been declared as early as last year when President Aquino signed Proclamation No. 459 containing the schedule of holidays for the entire year 2013. For those who will be required to report on that day, the employer shall provide additional compensation based on the established rules of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). English: Coat of arms of the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) March 28 and March 29, 2013 Are Also Holidays March 28 and 29 are regular non-working holidays as the Philippines observe the Catholic period known as the Holy Week. March 28 and 29 falls falls on this year's Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Again , those who will be required to work on those days shall rec...

Image via Wikipedia Brace up for another long weekend next week as the entire nation will commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio , a hero who lead fight for Filipino freedom during the Spanish Revolution in the late 1800s. Commonly referred to as Bonifacio Day , this holiday is celebrated annually every November 30 . For this year,  Bonifacio Day  will be celebrated on Friday next week, November 30, 2012 . Please take note that all those who will be required to work on that day shall receive additional compensation according to the existing labor law.

In case you missed it, there would be two upcoming long weekends, one is at the end of the current week and the other would be the end of next week. From previous announcement, October 26 (Friday) has been declared as a Regular national holiday in celebration of Eidul Adha , a Muslim festival. In the following week, November 1 and 2 , which are annual holidays, All Saints Day and All Souls Day  holidays respectively, happened to be on Thursday and Friday. This will be a four-day weekend off from work and school. With these holidays ahead , what are you planning to do? Please share them by commenting. See also: List of 2012 Philippine Holidays

English: Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III (2010-present) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) President Benigno Aquino III declares August 20, 2012 as a regular national non-working holiday in Celebration of the Muslim festival  Eid’l Fitr.  The president made the declaration via  Proclamation No. 455 series of 2012. This would be a good news for employees because on the next day, August 21, 2012 (Tuesday) the country will celebrate Ninoy Aquino Day as previously declared via  Proclamation 295 . This weekend will be a long weekend with the two holidays being Monday and Tuesday. And on the week after next week (Monday, August 27), the country will again be on a national holiday in celebration of the National Heroes Day . Not Good News For Flood Stricken Areas? The National Capital Region and neighboring provinces recently suffered from torrential monsoon rains that left the region soake...

Coat of arms of the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The annual Labor Day is to be celebrated throughout the country this May 1, 2012 (Tuesday) . In line with this Proclamation 295 signed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines declares the date as a regular non-working holiday throughout the entire Philippines. However, for those who will be required by their respective companies to work on duty that day, they are entitled for additional compensation as provisioned in the existing Labor Code . For those who will not go to work, enjoy your vacation!

Image via Wikipedia Malacañang Palace released today  Proclamation No.295 declaring the regular, special (non-working) and special holidays for year 2012 . The full list is shown below: A. Regular Holiday New Year’s Day- January 1 (Sunday) Maundy Thursday - April 5 Good Friday- April 6 Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9 (Monday) Labor Day- May 1 (Tuesday) Independence Day - June 12 (Tuesday) National Heroes Day - August 27 (Last Monday of August) Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Friday) Christmas Day - December 25 (Tuesday) Rizal Day - December 30 (Sunday) B. Special (Non-Working) Holidays Chinese New Year - January 23 (Monday) Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Tuesday) All Saints Day - November 1 (Thursday) November 2 (Friday) - Additional special (non-working) holiday Last Day of the Year  - December 31 (Monday) C. Special Holiday...

                                 Image via Wikipedia The Malacañang Palace via Procalamation No. . 276 declares November 7, 2011 (Monday) as a regular non-working holiday throughout the Philippines. This is for the observance of a Muslim event EIDUL ADHA (FEAST OF SACRIFICE). Eidul Adha is one of the two greatest Muslim feast celebrated annually. All those who will be required by their employers to work on that day should receive extra compensation according to Labor Code. Source:  http://www.gov.ph/2011/10/20/proclamation-no-276-s-2011/