Every working person always looks forward to receiving their paycheck and having a vacation. Holidays are the time for Filipinos to have fun and bond with their family and friends and take time for themselves before returning to their jobs.
The amazing thing about the Philippines is despite the fact that employees have to work for 247 days a year, the country has one the most number of public holidays in the world which is only preceded by India and tied with Columbia as per a study by Gulf Business.
There are holidays that do not have the same date each year, these flexible dates are called special non-working holidays which are made into a bill by Congress and proclaimed by the President. On the other hand, holidays with a fixed date are called regular holidays. Start scheduling your travel to Philippines and vacation activities by keeping track of their holidays and long weekends. Here is a quick guide of seven long weekends and 19 holidays next year and for the remainder of 2020.
How many holidays per year?
The Philippines has a fixed 10 regular holidays annually. For the calendar 2021, it starts with New Year’s Day falling on a Friday. After about three months we have April 1, which is Maundy Thursday, and April 2, Good Friday. Just the following week, the Araw ng Kagitingan will be celebrated on April 9. To give recognition to all the workers throughout the Philippines, May 1 is declared as Labor Day. In the month of June, Independence Day will be celebrated on the 12th that will fall on a Saturday. We must not also forget the National Heroes’ Day on August 30 and Bonifacio Day on November 30. Finally, we have Christmas Day then followed by Rizal Day on December 30.
For the year 2021, there are nine proclaimed Special Non-Working Holidays. First, Chinese New Year will be on February 12 to be followed by the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary on the 25th of the same month. Black Saturday will also be a holiday on April 3. In August, Ninoy Aquino Day will be celebrated on the 21st. November 1, All Saints’ Day, and November 2, All Souls’ Day are set as remembrance days. For the month of December, the 8th is for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and then we have Christmas Eve and the last day of the year.
Two more special holidays will be declared by the President which are the end of Ramadan or Eid’l Fitr and the Feast of Sacrifice or Eid’al Adha. These proclamations are usually declared after the dates are decided according to the Islamic calendar and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos notified the President’s Office of said dates.
In order to maximize your leaves, take note of several long weekends. First, there will be a three-day New Year’s Weekend at the beginning of the year. This will be followed by another long weekend from February 12-14. During Holy Week, you will take a break from April 1 to 4. Later on, you will have a National Heroes’ Day weekend from August 28-30. The same goes with All Saint’s Day that starts on October 30. Christmas weekend will be from December 24-26. Lastly, you will have an end-year and new year-long weekend.
If you think you need more time to rest, you can extend your vacation. For holidays that are set on a Tuesday or Thursday, make sure to schedule your leave on sandwiched holidays. For instance, the EDSA Revolution Anniversary is set on a Thursday next year thus, you can file for vacation leave on Friday so that you can enjoy a four-day long weekend. Here are the best days to schedule your leaves in 2021.
How to start the year with a weekend?
To have a four-day long weekend at the beginning of the year, file for leave on January 4, Monday. The Chinese New Year will be on a Friday so file a leave on February 15, Monday. You can also have a five-day weekend by scheduling a leave on April 5, Monday, after the Holy Week weekend. Another four-day weekend is from April 9-12 by filing a leave on April 12. File for leave on August 31 to celebrate National Heroes’ Day from August 28-31. Do it on November 29 to have a four-day vacation from November 27-30. Another five-day break is from December 8-12 by going on leave on December 9 and 10. Lastly, on December 23 for a four-day break and on December 29 to have a five-day vacation.
In case you still want to take advantage of the remaining holidays this year, you can still file for leave on December 7 to enjoy a four-day long weekend from December 5 to 8. An eight-day long weekend from December 24-31 if you file for leave on December 28 and 29 plus the New Year long weekend for a very long and enjoyable vacation.
Where can I find money for a good vacation?
Being aware of the upcoming holidays and tips will help you make the most out of it so start planning now. Go and visit local destinations, try their native delicacies, and more importantly, rest and spend time with the people who matter most to you.
Aside from taking advantage of your paid vacation leaves, another benefit of being employed is that you can borrow money for emergency situations. If you need money lending manila urgently for emergency expenses, you can borrow from Robocash. You do not have to submit numerous documents and wait long in line to be granted a quick loan. All you need to do is access robocash.ph then upload a valid government ID, fill-up the online form, and wait for a few minutes for your loan to be processed. As long as you are a Filipino citizen aged 21-70 years old then you are qualified. You will receive the money in your bank account or in other ways described on the official website. Do not worry – the loan amount will arrive within 24 hours. However, always remember that the loan must be returned on time and can be used only in extreme cases.