Philippines: Ninoy Aquino Day, National Heroes Day — 2 long weekends coming up this August 2023

Manila: Mark your calendar. Decide where you'll be going on vacation next, and make use of the forthcoming long weekends in the Philippines.

This August, every working person in the Asian nation will have two long weekends.

Employees in both the public and private sectors are entitled to two sets of three-day weekends this month.with the exception of those who are mandated to work by their line managers.

Holiday economics

The two forthcoming holidays in August 2023 are:

Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Monday)

In 2004, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9256 declaring August 21 of every year as “Ninoy Aquino Day”.

It commemorates the death anniversary of Former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino J., and is a non-working holiday.

National Heroes Day - August 28 (Monday)

The National Heroes Day is observed every last Monday in August to honour the heroes behind the “Cry of Pugad Lawin", which in 1896 served as the catalyst for the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire and the long struggle for the nation's freedom.

The Philippines eventually earned full independence at the end of World War II, after a protracted battle that put the archipelagic nation against major world powers after centuries of control by Spain, and subsequent colonisation by the United States, and Japan.

Filipinos memorialise their heroes by holding parades, ceremonies at nationalshrines, and fireworks displays.

The Philippine government has included "holiday economics" in its legislation to extend weekends and allow workers and their families to participate in promoting tourism.

List:

The Philippines has a total of 37 holidays in 2023. By law, those who work on official holidays get double (200 per cent) pay, while those who don't get paid 100 per cent.