Any employee is looking forward to two things—paydays and holidays. Well, who doesn’t? Long weekends in the Philippines allow people to spend some quality time with their loved ones, and that much-needed me-time before getting back to the daily grind.
Plan your vacations wisely for the rest of the year by keeping tabs on upcoming holidays in the Philippines. So, when is the next long weekend, you ask? Here's a quick guide to the holidays and long weekends in the Philippines for 2023.
Official Holidays in the Philippines 2023
Out of the 365 days in 2023, there are 242 working days,[1] 105 weekend days, and 18 holidays in the Philippines.
Philippine holidays are grouped into two—regular and special non-working holidays. Regular holidays typically have a fixed date, like New Year’s Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Day. On the other hand, special non-working holidays are more flexible. They're typically enacted by Congress or declared by the President.
📅 List of Regular Holidays in the Philippines 2023
Related article: Holiday Pay Rules and Computation in the Philippines
📅 List of Special Non-Working Holidays in the Philippines 2023
Note: Under Proclamation No. 90,[2] Malacañang declared two additional special non-working days for 2023: January 2 (the day after New Year's Day, which fell on a Sunday) and November 2 (All Soul's Day).
Also, the President declares separate holidays for Eid’l Fitr, the end of Ramadan, and for Eid’al Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice. The declaration is typically announced after the dates for these Islamic holidays are determined according to the Islamic calendar. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos informs the Office of the President of the dates for these Islamic holidays.
When are the Long Weekends in the Philippines This 2023?
Take note of these long weekends in the Philippines for 2023 to get the most out of your vacation time.
Proclamation 90 moves some holidays to the nearest Monday or Friday from their original dates, which fall on a weekend. This has resulted in more long weekends in 2023 to boost domestic tourism in the Philippines.
Long weekends also allow Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of holiday economics, especially in April—the longest weekend in 2023—which lasts for five days.
When to Schedule Your Vacation Leaves for 2023
If the long weekends in 2023 in the Philippines are not enough for you, you can extend them further. This is where being strategic in filing your hard-earned vacation leaves or VL comes into play.
Some 2023 holidays in the Philippines fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, so it’s best to file your leave on these sandwiched holidays. For example, All Saints' Day (November 1) falls on a Wednesday and All Souls' Day (November 2) on a Thursday. You can file for leave the day between them and the nearest weekend (November 3) to get a long five-day weekend.
If you have more than 10 paid VLs annually, don’t let them go to waste. Use them and take some time to recharge and relax. File for VL on December 9 (Friday) after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary holiday to get another four-day long weekend in 2022.
Vacation Planning Ideas for Long Weekends in 2023
Done planning your vacation leaves? Great! Here are some quick ideas you may consider as you start planning your vacations around long weekends in the Philippines this 2023.
📅 April Long Weekends
The long Holy Week break is a perfect time for relaxation and reflection. You can hit the nearest beach resort, have a fun staycation with your family, or do the Visita Iglesia that you've been postponing for the last few years due to the pandemic.
Just recently, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 201[3] declaring April 21, 2023 a regular holiday in observance of Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan) throughout the Philippines. Another long weekend in April to spend more time for yourself and your loved ones!
Read more:
- Religious Tourism Places to Nourish Your Body, Mind, and Spirit
- 8 Tips to Beat Traffic This Holy Week
📅 August Long Weekends
You can maximize your holidays if you know how to plan right. For example, the August long weekends (thanks to the Ninoy Aquino Day and National Heroes' Day holidays) are a good time to take a breather before the busy Ber months begin.
Since it's a rainy season, you might want to just relax and binge-watch movies at home. Here are our recommended Pinoy movie sites where you can stream local films.
📅 November Long Weekends
Like in August, November has two long weekends you can look forward to: Undas and Bonifacio Day.
Apart from visiting your late loved ones on All Saint’s Day, why not spend the weekend reliving your fondest memories with them? Go to your and your beloved’s favorite places. Perhaps, do activities that you both enjoyed.
📅 December Long Weekends
December has three long weekends in 2023, so make the most of them! Plan your reunion and travel schedules carefully, so you won't spread yourself too thin and get haggard when you get back to work after your vacation.
📅 End of the Year Weekend
End the year with a bang! Tick off your 2023 New Year’s resolution before 2024 starts—it’s never too late!
Or perhaps try some new activities while you've got a lot of free time? Get started with these bucket list ideas.
However, if the Christmas holidays have already left you tired, why not spend a few days recharging before another year of more adventures and surprises?
Read more: 5 Unique and Family-Friendly Vacation Ideas for the Holiday
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the holidays and long weekends in the Philippines in 2023, start plotting your trips and vacations. In doing so, you can give your bosses an early heads-up and file your vacation leaves strategically. It also allows you to schedule your activities properly.
Sources:
- [1] Working Days in the Philippines in 2023 (Excelnotes)
- [2] Proclamation No. 90 Declaring the Regular Holidays and Special Non-Working Days for 2023 (Official Gazette)
- [3] Proclamation No. 201 Declaring Friday, 21 April 2023, a Regular Holiday in Observance of Eid'l Fitr (Official Gazette)
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