Nov. 29 declared a holiday

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has declared Nov. 29, Monday, a non-working holiday in observance of Bonifacio Day, which falls on Nov. 30, Tuesday; moving it to Monday in accordance with holiday economics would give employees a long weekend. 

President Aquino has also declared Nov. 16, Tuesday, a non-working holiday in celebration of the Islam feast of sacrifice, Eid’l Adha.

The feast is one of the two major festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide before the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. 

The last holidays Malacañang declared were the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections and Nov. 1 in celebration of All Saints’ Day. 

In 2007, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the bill rationalizing national holidays (holiday economics), effectively giving the public more long weekends to enjoy. The law provides that most holidays, except those with religious significance, be moved to the nearest Monday. 

There are 11 national regular holidays and three nationwide special days observed in the country. 

Under the law, four holidays would continue to be celebrated on a fixed date: Jan. 1 or New Year’s Day; Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day; Dec. 25, Christmas Day; and the last day of the year, Dec. 31. 

Three other holidays: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Eid’l Fitr have always been movable dates and remain unchanged under the law.

The remaining holidays that would be affected by the law are: Araw ng Kagitingan, Monday nearest April 9; Labor Day, Monday nearest May 1; Independence Day, Monday nearest June 12; Ninoy Aquino Day, Monday nearest Aug. 21; National Heroes Day, last Monday of August; Bonifacio Day – Monday nearest Nov. 30; and Rizal Day, Monday nearest Dec. 30. 

“In the event the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday that follows,” a portion of the law reads.