Plan Your Time Off: Long Weekends in the Philippines in 2024

Every employee looks forward to two things—paydays and holidays. After all, long weekends allow people to spend quality time with their loved ones and enjoy much-needed me-time before getting back to the daily grind.

Plan your vacations wisely by keeping tabs on upcoming holidays. So when is the next long weekend in the Philippines? Here's a quick guide to holidays and long weekends this 2024.

List of Official Holidays in the Philippines in 2024

How many working days are there in a year in the Philippines? Out of the 366 days in 2024, there are 244 working days, 104 weekend days, and 18 holidays in the Philippines.^[1]

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.

📅 Regular Holidays in the Philippines in 2024^[2]

📅 Special Non-Working Holidays in the Philippines in 2024

Under Proclamation No. 453,^[3] Malacañang declared February 9, 2024, the day before Chinese New Year, a special non-working holiday. 

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.

For your easy reference, here are the 2024 holidays at a glance:

Read more: Long Weekend at Last! 10 Ideas for Spending Rest Days with Your Family

Long Weekends in the Philippines in 2024

Looking for long holidays or weekends in April, August, or November? Take note of these long weekends in 2024 to get the most out of your vacation time.

Be strategic in filing your hard-earned vacation leaves. Some holidays fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, so it’s best to file your leave on the sandwiched days.

For example, Araw ng Kagitingan is on April 9, Tuesday. You can file for leave on the working day between this holiday and the nearest weekend (April 6 to 7) to get a four-day weekend!

Don’t let your paid annual VLs go to waste. Use them and take some time to recharge and relax. 

Vacation Planning Ideas for Long Weekends in 2024

Here are some quick ideas as you plan your vacations around long weekends this 2024.

📅 March and April Long Weekend Ideas

Enjoy the four-day weekends this March and April by making the most of the sunny weather. Aside from the usual Visita Iglesia, take the time to recharge and go on a well-deserved break. Take a quick beach trip with friends or enjoy a chill staycation in the metro with your family. 

Just make sure to plan ahead—plenty of establishments pause operations during Holy Week.

📅 November Long Weekend Ideas

Apart from visiting your late loved ones on All Saints' Day, why not relive your fondest memories with them? Go to your beloved’s favorite places. Do activities you both enjoyed.

Got kids? Or thinking of hosting a fun yet low-cost gathering with your friends? Organize a themed Halloween party. 

Since it's typically rainy in November, you might want to just relax and binge-watch movies at home. Stream old favorites and discover new ones on Netflix, iflix, or Pinoy movie sites.

Read more: On Your To-Watch List: Filipino Movie Lines About Life and Money

📅 December Long Weekend Ideas

December has the longest weekend in 2024—lasting for five days—so make the most of it! Hit the nearest resort, relax at a fun family staycation, or attend events like concerts or fan meetings, musicals, and theater plays.

Tick off your 2024 resolutions before 2025 starts—it’s never too late! Try some new activities while you've got a lot of free time. Get started with a few bucket list ideas.

Make sure to plan your reunion and travel schedules carefully, so you won't spread yourself too thin and feel exhausted when you get back to work after your vacation. Spend some time recharging before another year of more adventures.

See also: No NYE Plans? Where to Celebrate New Year Countdown in the Philippines

Final Thoughts

Keep tabs on the long weekends in 2024 so you can plan your trips and vacations well. In doing so, you can give your bosses a heads-up early on and file your vacation leaves strategically. This way, you can fully relax and enjoy your well-deserved break!

Sources:

• ^[1] Working Days in the Philippines 2024 (Excelnotes)
• ^[2] NATIONWIDE HOLIDAYS 2024 (Official Gazette)
• ^[3] February 9 declared as special non-working holiday for Chinese New Year (Philippine Star, 2024)