With 2019 almost over, we are down to our last two holidays this year. But do not fret, as the government has already announced the list of official holidays for 2020. And you are in luck because there are quite a lot of long weekends to enjoy next year.
The list of official holidays for 2020
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the declaration of official holidays last November 15. The list includes the regular holidays celebrated each year:
- New Year’s Day: January 1 (Wednesday)
- Araw ng Kagitingan: April 9 (Thursday)
- Maundy Thursday: April 9 (Thursday)
- Good Friday: April 19 (Friday)
- Labor Day: May 1 (Friday)
- Independence Day: June 12 (Friday)
- National Heroes Day: August 31 (Monday)
- Bonifacio Day: November 30 (Monday)
- Christmas: December 25 (Friday)
- Rizal Day: December 30 (Wednesday)
Since these holidays already have a fixed date, you automatically get a non-working day with pay. That means you can start planning your quick getaway this early. Check out our quick tips on how to make a great staycation for these holidays.
Aside from the regular holidays, the declaration also listed the special non-working holidays. These are the ones that have varying dates, so you need to take note of them when planning your staycations.
- Chinese New Year: January 25 (Saturday)
- EDSA Revolution: February 25 (Tuesday(
- Black Saturday: April 11 (Saturday)
- Ninoy Aquino Day: August 21 (Friday)
- All Saints Day: November 1 (Sunday)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception: December 8 (Tuesday)
- New Year’s Eve: December 31 (Thursday)
Additionally, the Monday following All Saints Day and the Thursday before Christmas are declared as holidays. For these holidays, you have the option to not report at work, even for those that fall on a Sunday. The absence is without pay but you will not be marked as such on your records. If you do decide to work on the holiday, you will get additional pay aside from your basic wage.
Long weekends galore
With all the holidays lined up, you’re probably wondering where the long weekends fall into. After all, just a day off might not be enough for a relaxing vacation. Lucky for you, there is at least one long weekend coming each month from February to August. These are:
- February 22-25: Due to the 24th being a Monday preceding the EDSA Revolution Anniversary (25th).
- April 9-12: Holy Week
- May 1-3 Labor Day falls on a Friday.
- June 12-14: Independence Day is also on a Friday
- August 21-23: Ninoy Aquino Day is on a Friday
- August 28-31: National Heroes Day on a Monday
For a complete list of long weekends, you can check out the image below. While these are the ones already announced, you should also watch out for other holidays that might be declared throughout the year.
Taking advantage of the official holidays
Now that you know when the official holidays and long weekends are going to be, you probably are thinking of what to do on those dates. Just lazing around the house can be quite boring. So, why not laze at some of the best staycation spots in Metro Manila?
On the other hand, a leisurely day at the park can be a relaxing way to spend that day off. And surprisingly, Manila still has a lot of green spaces you can check out. Bring your kids to these parks and let them unwind as well from all the schoolwork.
The above long weekends are also something that more outdoorsy people are looking forward to. If you are a biker, for example, even a day ride to places like the La Mesa Dam Ecopark would be a great getaway on your day off.
And there are still more that you can do with these days off for next year. Start marking these official holidays and long weekends in your 2020 calendars today. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun on those vacations.