With most vacation plans for this year foiled by the COVID-19 pandemic, families and friends may now start planning their vacations for next year---should the health situation improve--- as Malacañang released the list of holidays for the year 2021.
The Palace on Friday came out with a copy of Proclamation no. 986 which listed down the regular and special holidays to be celebrated next year.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate the implementing guidelines for the Proclamation which will take effect immediately.
Regular holidays
Based on President Duterte's proclamation signed on July 30, the following are declared as regular holidays:
- New Year's Day (January 1, Friday)
- Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9, Friday)
- Maundy Thursday (April 1)
- Good Friday (April 2)
- Labor Day (May 1, Saturday)
- Independence Day (June 12, Saturday)
- National Heroes Day (August 30 or the last Monday of August)
- Bonifacio Day (November 30, Tuesday)
- Christmas Day Saturday
- Rizal Day (December 30, Thursday)
Meanwhile, the special non-working days are the following:
- Chinese New Year (February 12, Friday)
- The 35th EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (February 25, Thursday)
- Black Saturday (April 3)
- Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21, Saturday)
- All Saints' Day (November 1, Monday)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8, Wednesday)
- The Last Day of the Year or New Year's Eve (December 31, Friday)
The Palace likewise declared the following as additional special non-working days:
- All Souls' Day (November 2, Tuesday)
- Christmas Eve (December 24, Friday)
The Proclamation noted the EDSA People Power Anniversary as an important holiday to commemorate the restoration and ushering of political, social, and economic reforms in the country.
The Holy Week meanwhile is noted as one of the most cherished traditions of the predominantly Catholic people in the country.
The All Saints' and All Souls' holidays are seen to strengthen family ties by providing more time for them, while Christmas Day commemorative activities will promote domestic tourism.
Eid holidays
Meanwhile, the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid'l Fitr (End of Ramadan), and Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), will be issued after the approximate days of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President of the actual dates on which the said holidays shall fall. Republic Act No. 9849 provides that Eid'l Adha be celebrated as a national holiday.