MANILA, Philippines - The country will have 18 holidays this year and four long weekends including one this month.
According to Proclamation No. 655 signed by President Benigno Aquino III, Jan. 31, Friday, is a special non-working holiday due to the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
The long weekend on Holy Week will start on April 17, Maundy Thursday.
There will be another long weekend on August since the last Monday of the month will be the National Heroes Day, a regular holiday.
The Christmas holidays this year will also be longer as December 24, Wednesday, and December 26, Friday, are declared as special non-working days.
The list of holidays this year, from an infographic provided by the Official Gazette:
| REGULAR HOLIDAYS | ||
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Wednesday |
| Araw ng Kagitingan | April 9 | Wednesday |
| Maundy Thursday | April 17 | Thursday |
| Good Friday | April 18 | Friday |
| Labor Day | May 1 | Thursday |
| Independence Day | June 12 | Thursday |
| National Heroes Day | August 25 | Monday |
| Bonifacio Day | November 30 | Sunday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Thursday |
| Rizal Day | December 30 | Tuesday |
| SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAYS | ||
| Chinese New Year | January 31 | Friday |
| Black Saturday | April 19 | Saturday |
| Ninoy Aquino Day | August 21 | Thursday |
| All Saints' Day | November 1 | Saturday |
| Additional special non-working day | December 24 | Wednesday |
| Additional special non-working day | December 26 | Friday |
| Last Day of the Year | December 31 | Wednesday |
| SPECIAL HOLIDAY (for all schools) | ||
| EDSA Revolution Anniversary | February 25 | Tuesday |