In the Philippines, we have several holidays but these are the ones that we adhere to, the following are the Holidays for 2022 in which we all celebrate, may they be regular holidays, national holidays, special non-working days, or special working days.
1. New Year
January 1, on a Saturday, this is the time when New Year’s Resolutions are made because of the upcoming year ahead. It is a day off from the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Many Filipino people unite on New Year’s Eve, which is on December 31, to celebrate a midnight meal known as the Media Noche. It is also common to stay awake to greet the coming of the New Year. New Year’s Day is also characterized by Filipinos lighting fireworks and making a lot of noise to drive away evil spirits. This belief originated from the Chinese.
The elderly encourage children to jump at the stroke of midnight so that they will grow up tall. Many people display 12 circular fruits and wear clothing with a polka dot pattern to symbolize money. It is also a popular practice to open all the doors and windows at the stroke of midnight to let in the good luck. Many Filipino families also read the Christian bible and attend a church midnight mass. It is also common for many Filipinos to blend religion and superstition in celebrating New Year’s Day.
2. Chinese New Year
This is a special non working holiday when we celebrate the Chinese New Year on a Tuesday. Although it is not an official holiday in the Philippines, all the establishments remain open. However, some streets in several Chinatowns in different cities were closed to honor this celebration. This holiday gave the opportunity to both Chinese-Filipinos and Filipinos in the country to enjoy the celebration. This became possible because of the Proclamation declared by President Benigno S. Aquino.
3. Valentines day
Just like any other country, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the Philippines on the 14th of February. A lot of Filipinos, especially lovers, in Filipino called magkasintahan, prepare for this day in order to remind and show their loved ones how much they treasure and care for them.
4. EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
Celebrated on the 25th of February, the People Power Revolution is a special non-working 2022 holiday in the Philippines observed each year. The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that began in 1983 and culminated in 1986 with the overthrow of President Marcos.
5. Araw ng Kagitingan
Also known as Bataan Day and Bataan and Corregidor Day, is a national observance in the Philippines which commemorates the fall of Bataan to Japanese troops during World War II. It falls on April 9, although in 2009, its celebration was moved to April 6 to avoid it from coinciding with Maundy Thursday.
6. Maundy Thursday
To celebrate holy week, Maundy Thursday marks the event before Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. Aside from fasting, most Filipinos refrain from activities such as drinking alcohol, eating meat, and having intercourse with their partners. Some people visit 14 churches to symbolize the 14 stations of the cross. This is another 2022 holiday wherein people get to pray to their heart’s content about their worries and sorrows.
7. Good Friday
Good Friday is a 2022 holiday that is a part of a religious holiday week in the lead-up to Easter Sunday in the Philippines. This is the time when many Filipinos refrain from engaging in worldly activities such as listening to loud music or drinking alcohol.
8. Black Saturday
This is a public holiday, it is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. In the predominantly Roman Catholic in the Philippines, the day is legally and colloquially known in English as Black Saturday, given the colour’s role in mourning. Traditional taboos from the previous day are carried over and are sometimes broken; swimming is only allowed in the afternoon.
9. Labor Day
This was first observed in the Philippines on May 1at 1903 when a hundred thousand workers marched through Malacanang, demanding fairer working conditions from the ten American-led government. On April 8th, 1908, the Philippine Assembly passed a bill officially recognizing the first of May as a national holiday in 2022. The first official celebration of Labor Day took place on May 1st, 1913, when 36 unions convened a labor congress at Cine Oriente on C.M. Recto Street, then known as Azcarraga Manila.
10. Eid’l Fitr
This is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-Fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr. It is a public 2022 holiday, a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-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.
11. Independence Day
Fourth of July became Republic Day, still a national holiday, in 1964. During the period of Martial Law under President Ferdinand Marcos, July 4 was changed to Philippine-American Friendship Day and relegated to a working holiday.
12. Ninoy Aquino Day
It is a non-working 2022 holiday in the Philippines observed annually on August 21 (now a special working day in order for the economy to bounce back due to the effect of the pandemic) commemorating the assassination of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
13. National Heroes Day
This is celebrated on august 29, on a Monday. An annual celebration pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9492, declaring the last Monday of August of every year as an official National Holiday that honors all the known unsung heroes of the Philippines who have fought for the nation’s freedom.
14. All Saint’s Day
Celebrated by Roman Catholics on November 1st. On this day, the church recognizes and honors those that have reached heaven. All Saints Day falls on the first day of November and is also known as Hallowmas, Feast of All Saints, and All Hallows’ Day. A 2022 holiday that shows our compassion for those saints who’ve already made it to heaven.
15. All Soul’s Day
All Soul’s Day is a day of almsgiving and prayers for the dead. The intent was for the living to assist those in purgatory. Bells are tolled to comfort those being cleansed and candles are lit to guide poor souls languishing in the darkness. In other countries, cakes are distributed among children, singing and prayer meets are also organized.
16. Bonifacio Day
A National Public Holiday in the Philippines is Celebrated every 30th of November to remember the birth anniversary of the country’s greatest hero, Andres Bonifacio. He is considered the Father of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish Colonization, and we celebrate this for his camaraderie and bravery.
17. Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
It is on a Wednesday, December 8, 2022, this is a catholic feast celebrating Mary’s conception without sin. Even though this feast day occurs in the liturgical season of Advent, which prepares the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.
18. Christmas Eve
Days are awaiting before the big Christmas Day, this is when all the preparations are set and meals are prepared for the big day, Gifts are being wrapped and the place is lit up with Christmas lights to display the kindred spirit of the Holidays. This is celebrated on the day before Christmas, December 24.
19. Christmas Day
December 25, the most awaited time of the year for children all around the world of all ages, they’ll receive presents from “Santa Clause” and have a wonderful dinner with all their family members gathered. It is also the birth of Jesus Christ and we sing carols to commemorate the celebrations and hymns.
20. Rizal Day
Celebrated on the 30th of December, Rizal Day ceremonies are held at Rizal Park in Manila. This is usually held early in the morning, led by the President and Vice President, and involves the raising of the national flag at Independence Flagpole, followed by a flypast by the Philippine Air Force and the laying of a wreath at the Rizal Monument. 2022 Holiday that we all get to see live on our phones or television screens
21. Last day of the Year
This is a special working day, as said by the president that “For the country to recover from the adverse economic impact of Covid-19, there is a need to encourage economic productivity by, among others, minimizing work description and commemorating some special holidays as special (working) days instead,” the proclamation read.
Written by Aaron Cruz
