Official Holidays for 2025 as Declared by Marcos

[Tommy T.]

I knew there were a lot of official days off nationally and this confirms it.

Of course there are locally declared holidays that don't appear on this list. It's a wonder anything gets done!

Per webpage on MSN.com at "https://www.msn.com/en-ph/lifestyle/travel/list-2025-holidays-and-long-weekends-in-the-philippines/ar-AA1tgoFP?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=f4baf5590809488395c23be9f32caa26&ei=20"

>List of 2025 official holidays in the Philippines

Many of the holidays and special non-working days fall on a weekend or the middle of the week like Wednesday and Thursday, so make sure to plan those vacation leaves accordingly if you plan to maximize your break.

Regular holidays

New Year's Day - January 1 (Wednesday)

Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9 (Wednesday)

Maundy Thursday - April 17 (Thursday)

Good Friday - April 18 (Friday)

Labor Day - May 1 (Thursday)

Independence Day - June 12 (Thursday)

National Heroes Day - August 25 (Monday)

Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Sunday)

Christmas Day - December 25 (Thursday)

Rizal Day - December 30 (Tuesday)

Special non-working days

Chinese New Year - January 29 (Wednesday)

Black Saturday - April 19 (Saturday)

Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Thursday)

All Saints' Day Eve - October 31 (Friday)

All Saints’ Day - November 1 (Saturday)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary - December 8 (Monday)

Christmas Eve - December 24 (Wednesday)

Last Day of the Year - December 31 (Wednesday)

Special working day

EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary - February 25 (Tuesday)

Immediately after the release of the official calendar, Marcos issued Proclamation No. 729 declaring the founding anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on July 27, 2025 as a special non-working day. Don’t get too excited, though, as this date falls on a Sunday.<

[craftbeerlover]

4 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

I knew there were a lot of official days off nationally and this confirms it.

Of course there are locally declared holidays that don't appear on this list. It's a wonder anything gets done!

not to mention closing early prior to a holiday.  I went to pay a bill last Thursday (knowing Friday was a holiday).   When I got there (1210) I was informed they were closed because of a holiday.   Fiestas are another one to add to the list, as well as some really bizarre closings.   I would be willing to bet, after factoring in all the local and semi-local holidays it would add up to a month of no work each year. 

Edited Monday at 08:51 AM by craftbeerlover

[Mike J]

Maybe part of the reason there are so few "real days in school actually learning stuff" is because they are being prepared for the work force?  

[Tommy T.]

16 hours ago, craftbeerlover said:

I would be willing to bet, after factoring in all the local and semi-local holidays it would add up to a month of no work each year. 

I think you might lose that bet? The above listed holidays add up to 18. Considering there are only roughly 20 working days in a month and then adding up the various local holidays and "holiday prep" days such as you mentioned, I think closer to 1 1/2 months or more of no work days.

Then back to education.... Take the above "official" days off nationally and locally, then add in all the school holidays - handing out report cards????, sports days, singing and dance competitions... there are not many days left for learning, as weak as that sector already is... So sad.

[BrettGC]

Funnily enough the government appears to be blissfully ignorant (willfully ignorant?) that foreign companies do look at exactly this when making decisions about investing in any given country.  

[scott h]

14 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

I think you might lose that bet?

You forgot to add all the holidays that are "no work, no pay". 

[BrettGC]

Interesting graphic:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-with-the-most-holidays

A broader look at the numbers world-wide by country:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_public_holidays

[Tommy T.]

Interesting stats. But think of this... Look at India, for example, with all their holidays and then look at how advanced that country is with technology. Sure we are talking apples vs oranges with the relative economies, but still, with all their holidays, that country somehow manages to be productive.

Here it's brain and skill drain. I have a friend who is a nurse now in USA. She worked without pay in a hospital here in PI for several months during the pandemic. Then she was whisked away by her boyfriend to USA. After some difficult times, she managed to obtain her green card and now makes over a six figure income, as an ER nurse.