If your global business partners include remote Filipino staff, knowing the official list of public holidays in the Philippines (and how they affect schedules) is more than a nice‑to‑have. It’s a key part of ensuring smooth service, predictable availability and good team morale.
So whether you’re coordinating a sprint with your offshore team, planning customer support coverage, or just want to avoid the dreaded “Why is nobody answering?” on a Thursday, this article is for you.
We’ll walk through the holiday calendar for the Philippines for 2025, give you a peek at the 2026 calendar, and share practical insights for global companies outsourcing talent in the Philippines. Because yes, balancing hustle with authenticity means planning for when your team will be offline for a bit of rest, culture, family and celebration.
Understanding Public Holidays vs Non‑Working Days
Before we dive into dates, let’s clarify a few terms. In the Philippine context you’ll hear phrases like “regular holidays”, “special non‑working days”, “special working holidays”, etc. Knowing the difference helps you plan workload, staffing, compensation and coordination.
- Regular Holidays: These are nationwide non‑working days where employees are generally entitled to their pay even if they don’t work. If they do work, premium pay often applies. Think of these as the major national days off.
- Special Non‑Working Holidays: These are also non‑working days, but the rules are slightly more flexible and often involve “no work, no pay” as the default unless something different is agreed.
- Special Working Holidays (or “special working days”): These are days declared by the government where business generally continues — they’re kind of “holiday‑aware” but not a full day‑off for most.
- Weekend / bridge / long‑weekend considerations: Because the Philippines often schedules national holidays on fixed dates or “last Monday of August” rules, you’ll often see long weekend opportunities. This is very relevant for any company managing offshore staff: you may find “quiet” days where you thought you had full coverage.
For outsourcing operations, knowing when your Philippine team is off means you can proactively reschedule critical tasks, adjust client expectations, or bring in overlap coverage.
2025 Philippine Public Holidays (Official List)
Below is a curated list of key holidays in the Philippines for 2025 that are relevant for global teams. Dates subject to change by proclamation for holidays based on lunar or Islamic calendar, so always keep an eye on official updates.
Regular Holidays
- January 1 (Wednesday) – New Year’s Day.
- April 9 (Wednesday) – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).
- April 17 (Thursday) – Maundy Thursday.
- April 18 (Friday) – Good Friday.
- May 1 (Thursday) – Labor Day.
- June 12 (Thursday) – Independence Day.
- August 25 (Monday) – National Heroes Day (last Monday of August).
- November 30 (Sunday) – Bonifacio Day.
- December 25 (Thursday) – Christmas Day.
- December 30 (Tuesday) – Rizal Day.
- Additional regular holidays tied to Islamic calendar (movable): e.g., Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha.
Special Non‑Working Holidays & Other Days to Watch
These don’t always entail full premium pay and may require paying attention for local/regional applications.
- January 29 (Wednesday) – Chinese New Year (special non‑working day)
- April 19 (Saturday) – Black Saturday (special non‑working holiday)
- August 21 (Thursday) – Ninoy Aquino Day (special non‑working)
- December 8 (Monday) – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (special non‑working)
- December 24 (Wednesday) – Christmas Eve (special non‑working)
- December 31 (Wednesday) – New Year’s Eve (special non‑working)
- Note: Some proclamations may add or adjust special non‑working days (for example regional holidays) so always confirm locally.
Some Long‑Weekend Highlights
Since your offshore team will likely observe these days off, it’s smart to anticipate the “quiet periods”. For example:
- April 17‑20: Maundy Thursday (Thu) + Good Friday (Fri) + Black Saturday (Sat) = long weekend.
- December 24‑31: With Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Rizal Day, New Year’s Eve in the mix. It can become an extended holiday window for many Filipino staff.
As a global business working with Philippine‑based teams, factoring in these “silent zones” is part of good service continuity.
Christmas Bonus & 13th Month Pay in the Philippines: 2025 Guide
Wondering how the Christmas bonus differs from the 13th-month pay in the Philippines? Our 2025 guide explains the distinctions, legal obligations, and practical insights to help employers stay compliant and show appreciation to their teams this holiday season.
2026 Philippine Holidays - Calendar Preview
Here’s what we know so far about holidays in the Philippines in 2026. Keep in mind the government releases official proclamations (e.g., Malacañang’s Proclamation No. 1006 for 2026) which may adjust certain dates (especially for Islamic calendar holidays).
Regular Holidays (selected)
- January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day.
- April 2 (Thursday) – Maundy Thursday.
- April 3 (Friday) – Good Friday.
- April 9 (Thursday) – Araw ng Kagitingan.
- May 1 (Friday) – Labor Day.
- June 12 (Friday) – Independence Day.
- August 31 (Monday) – National Heroes Day (last Monday of August).
- November 30 (Monday) – Bonifacio Day.
- December 25 (Friday) – Christmas Day.
- December 30 (Wednesday) – Rizal Day.
- Note: Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha dates are still To‑Be‑Announced (TBA) based on the Islamic calendar.
Special Non‑Working Holidays (selected)
- February 17 (Tuesday) – Chinese New Year.
- April 4 (Saturday) – Black Saturday.
- August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day.
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day.
- November 2 – All Souls’ Day.
- December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
- December 24 – Christmas Eve.
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve.
Why This Matters for Outsourcing
Knowing the 2026 calendar ahead of time gives you lead time for staffing, project planning, customer support coverage, deliverables scheduling and generally aligning your global operations. When you’re working with remote Filipino teams, a Thursday (or Friday) holiday in the Philippines might mean a 4‑day weekend locally, so adjust accordingly.
Living and Doing Business in the Philippines
The Philippines is fast becoming a top destination for businesses seeking growth and a high quality of life. With its strategic location in Southeast Asia, a young, skilled workforce, and strong English proficiency, it’s an ideal place for entrepreneurs and companies to expand.
Tips for Global Businesses Working with Filipino Teams
Here are practical take‑aways to integrate into your outsourcing strategy:
1. Sync Your Calendars Early
Don’t wait until a holiday is upon you. Load the Philippine holiday calendar into your scheduling tool, share it with stakeholders, and mark “quiet zones” where responses may slow. Because when your remote team is enjoying a long weekend in the Philippines, you don’t want to wonder why a ticket is unanswered.
2. Build for Overlap or Buffer
For global service desks or client‑facing operations, plan for either overlap hours or buffer days. Example: if a major Philippine holiday falls on a Thursday, your Filipino staff may also take Friday (bridge day) off. Pre‑plan coverage accordingly.
3. Use the Holiday as a Culture Moment
Rather than viewing the holiday as a “pain point”, look at it as a remote‑team engagement opportunity. Encourage your Filipino team to share how they celebrate, ask about local traditions, and show cultural awareness. Builds connection, trust and authenticity.
4. Plan Project Milestones with Holiday Awareness
Avoid scheduling major launches, product releases or client demos in the Philippines on or immediately after a national holiday. Factor in that your “working day” may shift. For example: in 2025, the Philippines has a long weekend around April 17‑20. Acknowledge this in your timeline.
5. Communicate Clearly with Clients
If your clients assume “24/7 availability”, clarifying holiday & non‑working holiday dates in the Philippines helps set expectations. Example language: “Please note: our Philippine‑based team will be observing the national holiday on June 12 (Independence Day). We will resume standard operations the following working day.”
6. Check for Movable Dates
Some holidays, especially those based on the Islamic calendar (like Eid al‑Fitr, Eid al‑Adha) shift each year. Keep an eye on official proclamations in the Philippines.
7. Leverage the Long Weekends for Remote Team Morale
When your Philippine team gets a long weekend, consider offering optional activities: remote get‑together, team celebration or reflection. This supports morale, retention and culture, which is especially important for outsourced talent.
How iScale Solutions Helps
At iScale Solutions, we’re not just about outsourcing talent, we’re about building connections, human‑to‑human. We help global businesses plan their offshore operations in the Philippines with foresight. That means we:
- Incorporate the Philippine holiday calendar (2025 & 2026) into team scheduling and operations.
- Align coverage models so that you never lose momentum when our Filipino staff are off.
- Offer cultural‑awareness training so your offshore team feels seen, connected and integrated into your global operations.
- Provide planning support for your long‑term strategy: hiring, scaling, workload mapping and holiday impact.
If you’re planning to build or scale your remote team in the Philippines, let’s talk. We’ll help map your year (holiday zones included) so you stay on track, your team stays motivated, and your global operations stay sleek.
Conclusion
Understanding the holiday landscape in the Philippines isn’t just an HR checkbox. It’s a strategic tool for your outsourcing success. Those “non‑working” days may feel like interruptions but in truth, they’re opportunities. Opportunities to plan wisely, to show respect for culture, to build stronger remote‑team relationships, and to maintain seamless service.
Whether you’re looking at the calendar for 2025 or already preparing for 2026, the key is: know. plan. adapt. And if you partner with iScale Solutions, you’re not just outsourcing talent, you’re outsourcing smart, human‑centred operations.
Here’s to smooth sailings, thoughtful scheduling, and the occasional Filipino fiesta (a welcome change from spreadsheets and stand‑ups). Bring on the next long weekend.
