Palace releases list of holidays for 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos can look forward to eight long weekends next year based on Proclamation No. 831 declaring the regular holidays, special non-working days and special holiday for schools issued by Malacañang for 2015.

Under the proclamation, the following are the regular holidays: Jan. 1, New Year’s Day, which falls on a Thursday; April 2, Maundy Thursday, April 3, Good Friday; April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan (Thursday); May 1, Labor Day (Friday); June 12, Independence Day (Friday); Aug. 31, National Heroes Day (last Monday of August); Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day (Monday); Dec. 25, Christmas Day (Friday); Dec. 30, Rizal Day (Wednesday).

Special non-working days include Feb. 19, Chinese New Year (Thursday); April 4, Black Saturday; Aug. 21, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Day (Friday); Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day (Sunday).

Additional special or non-working days are Jan. 2, (Friday); Dec. 24, (Thursday) and Dec. 31, last day of the year, which also falls on a Thursday.

The special holiday for all schools was declared for Feb. 25 in celebration of the first EDSA revolution in 1986. The event falls on a Wednesday.

The long holidays cover the following dates: Jan. 1 (Thursday) and 2 (Friday); Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday; May 1 (Friday); June 12 (Friday); Aug. 31 (Monday); Nov. 30 (Monday); Dec. 24 (Thursday) and Dec. 25 (Friday) and Aug. 21 (Friday).

The Eid’l Fitr will depend on the Islamic calendar, according to the proclamation signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on behalf of the President.

On Feb. 19, Chinese nationals all over the world will celebrate Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, one of the most revered and festive events not only in China but in the Philippines as well.

“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,” Aquino said.

EDSA People Power Revolution is celebrated because it restored and ushered political, social and economic reforms in the country and serves as an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere as a nation and as a people, the proclamation read.