Events, How Tos

How to Maximize the Philippine Holidays in 2012

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The Long Weekends for 2012

Proclamation No. 295  signed last November 24, 2011 provided a list of Official Philippine Holidays and Special Non-Working Days. To the public and private employees as well as the students, this provides an opportunity to plan ahead for possible vacations, out-of-town trips, or for simply having longer quality time with family.
There are  six opportunities for those working in the Philippines to have an extended weekends:
  1. 3 day weekend from January 21(Saturday) to January 23(Monday), the day of the Chinese New Year celebration which has been declared a holiday.
  2. 5 day break from April 5 (Maundy Thursday) to April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan). In fact, this could be an opportunity to take a very long break starting on the31st of  March and only file for a 3-day leave of absence(from April 2 to 4).
  3. 4 day weekend from Thursday November 1 (All Saints Day) to Sunday Nov 4
  4. 3 day weekend from Saturday August 25 to Monday August 27 (National Heroes Day)
  5. 3 day weekend from Friday November 30 (Bonifacio Day) to Sunday December 2.
  6. 3 day weekend from December 29 to New Year’s Day of January 2013.
In addition, there are also holidays that sandwiches weekends, so that taking one day off may also mean longer relaxation times:
  1. May 1 falls on a Tuesday, so one can take Monday April 30 off and get a 4 day extended weekend from April 28 (Saturday) to May1 (MOnday)
  2. One can take a day off on the Monday, June 11 and get a 4 day extended weekend: June 9 (Sat) to June 12 (Tuesday), a holiday
  3. Christmas day is on a Tuesday, so why not take take a break also on December 24, a Monday so you can get a full 4 days off from Dec 22 to Dec 25?
To recap, here is the full list of regular holidays and special non-working holidays for 2012:
Regular Holidays:
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)
Special (Non-Working) Days
Chinese New Year                                                   January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day                                                  August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints Day                                                          November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special (non-working) day                       November 2 (Friday)
Last Day of the Year                                                December 31 (Monday)
Plan you breaks. Enjoy your vacation leaves. You deserved it!