Palace releases list of regular, special holidays for 2023

Malacañang on Tuesday, August 23, released the list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2023.

The list was contained in Proclamation 42 signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The following days are declared as regular holidays and special days for 2023:

Regular Holidays
January 1 (Sunday) – New Year’s Day
April 9 (Sunday) – Araw ng Kagitingan
April 6 – Maundy Thursday
April 7 – Good Friday
May 1 (Monday) – Labor Day
June 12 (Monday) – Independence Day
August 28 (last Monday of August) – National Heroes Day
November 30 (Thursday) – Bonifacio Day
December 25 (Monday) – Christmas Day
December 30 (Saturday) – Rizal Day

Special Non-Working Days
February 1 (Tuesday) – Chinese New Year
February 25 (Saturday) – EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
April 8 – Black Saturday
August 21 (Monday) – Ninoy Aquino Day
November 1 (Wednesday) – All Saints’ Day
December 8 (Friday) – Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion of Mary
December 31 (Sunday) – Last Day of the Year

Additional Special Non-Working Day
November 2 (Thursday) – All Souls’ Day

The Edsa People Power Revolution’s 37th anniversary must be observed, according to Proclamation 42 “which ushered in the nation’s political, social, and economic reforms.

Additionally, the declaration notes that Black Saturday, which occurs on April 8, 2023, has historically been designated as a special non-working day across the nation in honor of Holy Week, which is “one of the most cherished traditions of our predominantly Catholic people.”

Republic Act (RA) 10966 mandates that December 8 of each year be observed as a special non-working holiday countrywide in observance of Mary’s Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The proclamation states that in order to honor the passing anniversary of former senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., August 21 of each year must likewise be designated as a national holiday.

In order to “strengthen family ties by providing more time for the traditional All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day activities, as well as promote domestic tourism.” November 2, which was designated as a special working day in 2022, has been announced as an additional special non-working day in 2023.

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of the Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined, in the accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.

The Department of Labor and Employment is required under Proclamation 42 to publish the implementing regulations.

The proclamation must be printed in a publication with wide circulation before it becomes effective “immediately.”