Holidays for 2010 announced
Posted on July 22nd, 2009
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared December 24, 2010, which falls on a Friday as a non-working day, as well as December 27, 2010 (the Monday nearest Rizal Day on December 30,2010) as a regular holiday. This makes a four-day Christmas weekend for the year 2010.
These are just two of the holidays that were declared by the president under Proclamation 1841 which was signed on July 21, 2009. The early release of the special non-working days and special holidays were announced early to give way to the clamor of the business sector.
A previous proclamation, Republic Act 9492, provides that holidays, except those religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law.
“In order to foster close family ties and enable our countrymen to observe Christmas more meaningfully, it is but fitting declare December 24, which will fall on a Friday as an additional special day throughout the country,†the president said.
The declared regular holidays, under Proclamation 1699:
New Year’s Day – January 1
Maundy Thursday – April 1
Good Friday – April 2
Labor Day – May 1
National Heroes’ Day – on the last Monday of August (August 31)
Christmas Day – December 25
Regular holidays which were moved under the “Monday holiday†policy are:
Independence Day – June 14 (nearest Monday to June 12)
Bonifacio Day – November 29 (nearest Monday to November 30)
Rizal Day – December 27 (nearest Monday to December 30)
The EDSA revolution was also declared as a special holiday for all schools on February 22 (nearest Monday to February 25).
The declaring of the national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr or the end of Ramadan, and Eid’l Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice hasn’t been made yet. The announcement will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, “whichever is possible or convenient.†Malacañang will be informed by the Office on Muslim Affairs on which days the holidays shall fall.
