Complete List of Holidays and Festivals in the Philippines

Last Updated on – Dec 14, 2022 @ 6:26 pm

No work. No classes. Walang pasok.

We commonly associate holidays with taking a break from the daily work grind. But there’s more to holidays than just that.

Philippine holidays and festivals exist for a stronger reason. We aren’t known as one of the countries in Southeast Asia and the world with the most public holidays for nothing.

Whether you’re a Pinoy, new expat, or foreigner visiting the country soon, here’s everything you need to know about holidays and festivals in the Philippines.

Now, it’s associated with vacations and days off. Most businesses, government offices, schools, banks, and other establishments are closed during a holiday.

For Filipinos, spending a holiday is an opportunity to rest and relax with their family.

Types of Philippine Holidays

Public holidays are classified into either regular or special non-working holidays.

There are also local holidays observed in specific cities, towns, and provinces in the Philippines. 

Regular Holidays

Regular holidays are days of religious, cultural, or historical significance observed nationwide every year or as mandated by law.

Most of them have fixed dates, except for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Eid’l Fitr, and Eid’l Adha whose dates vary every year.

There are 12 regular holidays in the Philippines:

1. New Year’s Day – An important celebration among Filipinos, as they welcome the first day of the year with loved ones 
2. Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) – Commemoration of the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942 and the bravery of Filipino and American soldiers who fought during World War II
3. Maundy Thursday – A Christian holiday commemorating the Thursday before Easter when Jesus Christ had the last supper with His disciples 
4. Good Friday – A Christian holiday for fasting and penance commemorating the Friday before Easter when Christ was crucified
5. Labor Day – A tribute for Filipino workers and commemoration of the fight for workers’ rights
6. Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan) – An Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting
7. Independence Day – Commemoration of Philippine independence from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898
8. Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) – An Islamic holiday commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son according to Allah’s orders
9. National Heroes Day – Celebration in honor of all Filipino heroes who fought for the country’s freedom
10.  Bonifacio Day – Commemoration of the birth of Andres Bonifacio, a national hero and the Father of the Philippine Revolution
11.  Christmas Day – An important holiday for Filipino families, as they celebrate the birth of Christ
12.  Rizal Day – Death anniversary of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, and commemoration of his life and works

Special (non-working) holidays

Special non-working days, like regular holidays, are commemorated nationwide for their religious, cultural, or historical importance.

Some of them are celebrated because of traditions, while others are declared through a republic act.

Currently, nine special non-working holidays are observed in the Philippines every year:

1. Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year/Spring Festival) – The first day in the traditional Chinese calendar and most important holiday for the Chinese community in the Philippines
2. EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary – Commemoration of the peaceful demonstrations on February 25, 1986 that ended the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos
3. Black Saturday – The final day of the Holy Week commemorating Christ lying in the tomb before His resurrection on Easter Sunday
4. Ninoy Aquino Day – Death anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and commemoration for his fight for democracy against the Marcos dictatorship
5. All Saints’ Day – A celebration in honor of all Christian saints
6. All Souls Day – A day for remembering deceased loved ones
7. Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – A celebration of the day when the Blessed Virgin Mary (the mother of Christ and Patroness of the Philippines) was conceived without sin
8. Christmas Eve – The day before Christmas Day when Filipino families celebrate a midnight mass and a Noche Buena feast 
9. New Year’s Eve – The last day of the year when Filipinos greet the New Year with a midnight meal called Media Noche

Additional national holidays

Sometimes, Malacañang declares additional special non-working days to boost tourism in the country and allow Filipinos to spend more time with their families.

This usually happens when a regular holiday falls on a weekend, like New Year’s Day 2017 that fell on a Sunday, which prompted the Palace to declare the following day (January 2) as a special holiday.

Also, presidential proclamations are issued to set special non-working days for an election day (presidential/mid-term/Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections) to enable Filipinos to exercise their right to vote.

Local holidays

Special non-working days are also declared in various cities, towns, and provinces in the country, so Filipinos can celebrate festivals and other important events in their hometowns.

In some places, special holidays are set to allow residents to participate in special elections or plebiscites in their area, such as for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in Mindanao on January 2019.

For important events that will lead to road closures and traffic rerouting, special non-working days are also declared in affected areas.

Some examples are Pope Francis’ visit in Metro Manila in January 2015 and the ASEAN Summit in NCR, Bulacan, and Pampanga in November 2017.

Related: Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship for Filipinos

Holiday Pay Rules in the Philippines

Even though work is suspended during holidays, some workers—like in malls, hospitals, BPO companies, media outlets, etc.—may be required to report for work.  

If you have to work on a holiday, you’re entitled to additional pay for that day. Even if you don’t work on a regular holiday, you should still receive your daily rate.

The Philippine Labor Code specifies the pay that employees must receive on a holiday, whether they report for work or not. Regular holiday pay is computed differently from the pay for special non-working days.

Here’s a table you can refer to for your holiday pay computation.

Complete List of Public Holidays in the Philippines 

Here are all the holidays observed in the entire country.

List of Local Holidays in the Philippines

Local holidays listed below are based on the presidential proclamations issued in the past few years. New holidays may be declared upon the president’s prerogative or when a particular place launches a new festival or event. 

For proclamations on newly declared local special non-working days, visit the Official Gazette.

Looking to travel on your next holiday? Check out our list of 79 Visa-Free Countries for Philippine Passport Holders.

What is a Festival?

A festival is a series of special events held every year in a barangay, municipality, city, or province to celebrate and showcase its religious tradition, cultural heritage, and/or history.

Festivals in the Philippines (locally known as fiestas) commonly feature vibrant street dancing, colorful parades and costumes, cultural presentations, sumptuous food, talent contests, beauty pageants, and other merrymaking activities. 

For tourists, joining a festival is a great way to experience the culture and tradition of a place, as well as the warm Filipino hospitality. 

For locals, holding a festival helps boost tourism and the economy in their area. It also builds a sense of community and strengthens family ties.

Types of Philippine Festivals

Festivals come in various types based on the purpose of celebration. Being a predominantly Catholic nation, most fiestas in the Philippines are religious in nature.

There are also many cultural and food festivals in different parts of the country.

Religious festivals

A reflection of Filipino religion and faith, religious festivals honor the patron saint of a town, city, or province.

Usually, religious festivals hold a mass, novenas, and processions to thank God for a bountiful harvest and other blessings.

Most popular religious festivals in the Philippines:

• Feast of the Black Nazarene (Quaipo, Manila) – The biggest annual religious procession in the Philippines, where barefoot devotees join the procession of the statue of a black figure of Christ
• Ati-Atihan Festival (Kalibo, Aklan) – Known as the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals” in which participants in colorful costumes dance to tribal drum beats in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus)
• Sinulog Festival (Cebu) – A dance ritual honoring the Santo Niño, Cebu’s patron saint
• Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo) – Another festive parade honoring the Holy Child Jesus and commemorating the conversion of the pagan natives to Christianity
• Pahiyas Festival (Lucban, Quezon) – A colorful festival that honors San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, and gives thanks for a bountiful harvest

Cultural festivals

Festivals are an opportunity for Filipinos to celebrate the rich culture of their hometown through cultural shows and lively street performances.

Cultural festivals are mostly a celebration of a place’s indigenous tribes, unique textiles, or overall way of life. Some of them are also held to promote the main agricultural products of a town, city, or province.

Most popular cultural festivals in the Philippines:

• MassKara Festival (Bacolod, Negros Occidental) – A huge, Mardi Gras-like masquerade party   on the streets, which is a reason Bacolod is known as the City of Smiles
• Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City) – Also called Flower Festival, which is a grand parade of floats with floral designs and children dressed in plant and flower costumes
• Kadayawan Festival (Davao City) – A month-long celebration of Davao’s harvest of fruits, flowers, and crops; also a showcase of the city’s unique culture

Food festivals

Philippine cuisines are as varied as the country’s islands. This is why lot of festivals celebrate the signature local dish, fruit, vegetable, or delicacy of a town, city, or province.

Many food festivals in the Philippines celebrate their local food, such as banana, coconut, seafood, lechon (roasted pig), and kakanin (rice cakes).

Food festivals are also held in line with the “One Town One Product” government program that helps communities promote the products their place is widely known for.

Among the food festivals that attract the most number of tourists are the Parada ng Lechon (Balayan, Batangas) where roasted pigs in costumes are the stars of the parade and the Pahiyas Festival (Lucban, Quezon) where houses are decorated with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Historical festivals

Historical festivals commemorate, and sometimes reenact, a key historical event unique to the town, city, or province. 

Most significant historical festivals in the Philippines:

• Kadaugan sa Mactan (Lapu Lapu City, Cebu) – Historic battle between Datu Lapu Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan’s forces
• Sinugdan Festival (Limasawa, Southern Leyte) – First mass in the Philippines
• Sandugo Festival (Bohol) –  Blood compact between Bohol Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi
• Lingayen Gulf Festival (Pangasinan) – Historic landing of the forces led by Gen. Douglas McArthur in Lingayen Gulf in 1945

Dance festivals

Although many religious and cultural festivals involve street dancing, other festivities focus on dance as their central theme.

Examples are the Bailes de Luces in La Castellana, Negros Occidental and the Obando Fertility Dance Festival in Bulacan.

Music festivals

Annual musical events are also held in several parts of the country, catering to music enthusiasts and foreigners who want to witness the Filipino’s love for music. 

The most notable music festivals in the Philippines include the International Bamboo Organ Festival in Las Piñas City, Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival in Pampanga, and Musiko Marching Band Parade in Bacoor City, Cavite.

Arts festivals

Festivals that promote Filipino artistry are very much alive in the Philippines.

The most popular arts festival is the Higantes Festival in Angono, Rizal—the Art Capital of the Philippines. Baguio City, Bicol, and Puerto Princesa City also hold their own arts festivals. 

Festivals for environmental conservation

A few festivals in the Philippines, such as the Caracol Festival in Makati and Sarangani Bay Festival, promote the preservation of nature, marine resources, and biodiversity.

These festivals are a must-visit for tourists who want to support efforts in conserving the environment.

Founding anniversaries

Some Philippine festivals were created for the sole purpose of celebrating the founding anniversary of their respective municipality, city, or province. 

List of Festivals in the Philippines

Every barangay, town, city, and province in the Philippines has its own fiesta.

Also, certain festivals take place in more than one location in the country (albeit in different dates), such as those celebrating the Sto. Niño, San Juan, carabao, lechon, mango, banana, coconut, bamboo, and more.

There’s a fiesta almost every day in the country—a reflection of the Filipinos’ devotion to their faith and their fun-loving nature.

Here is a list of Philippine festivals based on official sources such as national and local government websites and news reports. 

Note that new festivals are launched each year in different parts of the country, while some existing ones are canceled or temporarily suspended, depending on the local government’s prerogative. Also, some festival dates may be moved to another week or month.