Palace announces holidays for 2013

President Benigno Aquino. AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang has announced the list of holidays and special nonworking days for 2013.

Filipinos have a chance to plan ahead their vacations for next year as there are at least 17 days of holidays and nonworking days, based on Proclamation 459 signed by President Benigno Aquino III.

National holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall be proclaimed only after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined.

“To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall,” said in the proclamation.

February 25, meanwhile, is a special holiday for all schools to commemorate the Edsa People Power Revolution, “which restored and ushered political, social and economic reforms in the country.”

Christmas’ Eve (December 24) has also been declared as a special non-working holiday, “in order to foster closer family ties and enable our countrymen to observe Christmas more meaningfully.”

The full list of the special nonworking days also contains:

March 30, Black Saturday

Aug. 21, Ninoy Aquino Day (Wednesday)

Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day (Friday)

Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day (Saturday)

Dec. 24, Christmas’ Eve (Tuesday)

Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve (Tuesday)

Meanwhile, the regular holidays include:

Jan. 1, New Year’s Day (Tuesday)

March 28, Maundy Thursday

March 29, Good Friday

April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan (Tuesday)

May 1, Labor Day (Wednesday)

June 12, Independence Day (Wednesday)

Aug. 26, National Heroes’ Day (last Monday of August)

Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day (Saturday)

Dec. 25, Christmas Day (Wednesday)

Dec. 30, Rizal Day (Monday)

The proclamation also said that “holidays, except those which are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation.”