MANILA, Philippines—There will be at least six long weekends in 2012 based on the holidays declared under Proclamation No. 295, which was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on Nov. 24.
The first will be in January as Jan. 23, Monday, was declared a special nonworking day to mark Chinese New Year.
A longer break will be in April during the Christian observance of Lent, starting with Maundy Thursday on April 5, Good Friday on April 6 and Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9, Monday.
This will be followed by a long weekend in August with the declaration of National Heroes’ Day on Aug. 27, a Monday.
There are two long weekends in November: All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, a Thursday comes with an additional special nonworking day on Nov. 2, a Friday; then there is Bonifacio Day on Nov. 30, a Friday.
The last long weekend is at the end of December with Dec. 31, Monday, the last day of the year, as a special nonworking day.
President Aquino said the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha would be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra).
Single-day holidays may also be gleaned from this list of regular and special holidays for 2012 based on President Aquino’s Proclamation No. 295:
The regular holidays are on New Year’s Day (Jan. 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 (Nov. 30, Friday), Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).
Special nonworking days are Chinese New Year’s Day (Jan. 23, Monday), Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 21, Tuesday), All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1, Thursday), an additional special nonworking day on Nov. 2, Friday, and the last day of the year, (Dec. 31, Monday).
Special holiday for all schools is the anniversary of the Edsa Revolution (Feb. 25, Saturday).