MANILA – Malacañang has released the dates of the official holidays for the year 2012.
Among the new non-working holidays next year are the Chinese New Year (January 23) and Nov. 2, or All Souls’ Day.
In Proclamation No. 295, President Benigno Aquino III noted that Chinese nationals all over the world celebrate the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year.
“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; 23 January 2012 may be declared as a special non-working day without detriment to public interest,” he said.
Aquino also noted that November 2, 2012, which is a Friday, falls between All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and a Saturday and has been traditionally declared a special non-working day throughout the country.
The President also declared Feb. 25, the anniversary of the first Edsa revolution, as a special holiday for schools because “the EDSA People Power Revolution, which restored and ushered political, social and economic reforms in the country, serves as an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere as a nation and as a people.”
The regular holidays for 2012 are: New Year’s Day (Jan. 1); Maundy Thursday (April 5); Good Friday (April 6); Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9); Labor Day (May 1); Independence Day (June 12); National Heroes Day (August 27); Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30); Christmas Day (Dec. 25); and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).
The special non-working days: Chinese New Year (Jan. 23); Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 21); All Saints Day (Nov. 1); Additional special non-working day (Nov. 2); and Last Day of the Year (Dec. 31).
Meanwhile, the proclamations declaring the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha – both Muslim holidays – as non-working holidays shall be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar.
