A costume parade in Baguio City, 4 hours north of the capital Manila.
A costume parade in Baguio City, a popular destination for escaping the tropical heat of the lowlands. The city, known as the summer capital of the Philippines, is located at an elevation of more than 4,800 feet above sea level. It's about 4 hours by car north of the capital Manila. Image Credit: Kim Villanueva | Pexels

Manila: There will be five non-working holidays this December in the Philippines, as per the official list.

Holidays ensure proper observance and recognition of significant events and cultural practices in the Asian country.

The list, issued by the Presidential Palace, serves as a guide to help businesses and workers plan accordingly.

Here’s the list of holidays for the rest of 2024:

  • December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (special non-working day)
  • December 24 – Christmas Eve (special non-working day)
  • December 25 – Christmas Day (regular holiday)
  • December 30 – Rizal Day (regular holiday)
  • December 31 – Last Day of the Year

The above holidays are based on the official list for 2024 released by the Office of the President, through Proclamation No. 368, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on October 11, 2023, as per the Presidential Communications Office).

'Holiday economics'
• The Philippines observes “holiday economics”.

• Republic Act No. 9492, or the Holiday Economics Law, rationalises the celebration of national holidays in the Philippines.

• It aims to provide a clear list of regular holidays and nationwide special days, and specify observance rules.

• The RA 9492 does not move the actual dates of the holidays but rather “rationalises” the observance of it by moving its observance to the nearest weekend.

• This would prevent holidays in the middle of weekdays – and would create long weekends.

Holidays for 2025

  • New Year’s Day – January 1 (Wednesday)
  • Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) – April 9 (Wednesday)
  • Maundy Thursday – April 17
  • Good Friday – April 18
  • Labour Day – May 1 (Thursday)
  • Independence Day – June 12 (Thursday)
  • National Heroes Day – August 25 (Last Monday of August)
  • Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Sunday)
  • Christmas Day – December 25 (Thursday)
  • Rizal Day – December 30 (Tuesday)
Banaue Rice Terraces in the Cordilleras, in northern Luzon, Philippines.
Banaue Rice Terraces in the Cordilleras, in northern Luzon, Philippines. Image Credit: Pexels | Palu Malerba

Special (Non-Working) Days:

  • Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Thursday)
  • All Saints’ Day – November 1 (Saturday)
  • Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – December 8 (Monday)
  • Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Wednesday)

Special (Working) Day:

  • EDSA People Power Anniversary – February 25 (Tuesday)

Additional Special (Non-Working) Days:

  • Chinese New Year – January 29 (Wednesday)
  • Black Saturday – April 19
  • Christmas Eve – December 24 (Wednesday)
  • All Saints’ Day Eve – October 31 (Friday)

Eid All Fitr and Eid Al Adha

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is applicable.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) will recommend to the President the actual dates on which these holidays will respectively fall.

INC anniversary

In a separate proclamation, the Palace also declared July 27, 2025 (Sunday) a special non-working day nationwide for the founding anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Bersamin signed Proclamation 729 on Wednesday to “give the members of Iglesia ni Cristo the full opportunity to participate in the occasion.”