List of holidays for 2015

MANILA, Philippines  — Few more months before the year ends, President Benigno Aquino III has declared the national holidays to be observed in 2015.

Malacañang on Wednesday released a copy of Proclamation No. 831, which declares 18 holidays with determined dates.

The proclamation was approved on July 17.

Among those declared as holidays is the Chinese New Year to be celebrated on February 19. The President said in the proclamation that the Chinese New Year is "one of the most revered and festive events" celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines.

"The joint celebration is a manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese-Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people; 19 February 2015 may be declared as a special (non-working) day without detriment to public interest," Aquino said.

The President also said that it is fitting to declare January 2 and December 24 as additional special non-working days to "to foster closer family ties and enable our countrymen to observe Christmas more meaningfully."

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall be issued after their dates have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar.

Based on the list of declared holidays for 2015, there would be at least eight long weekends next year.