No more long weekends, Filipinos will still travel

By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA

January 23, 2011, 1:31am

Batangas (photo by VINCE G. LOPEZ)

MANILA, Philippines – Goodbye long weekends, hello Philippines?

With P-Noy’s decision not to move holidays to the nearest Monday, this means long weekends or holiday economics are now things of the past. But still, the Department of Tourism (DoT) encourages Filipinos to go out and explore the Philippines. 

“Traveling is now part of the Filipino lifestyle,” said DoT Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon. “Even with the issuance of Proclamation No. 84 that set aside the holiday economics law, we see Filipinos to continue to take holiday trips for leisure purposes and to visit friends and relatives in the provinces. “

Last year, domestic tourism peaked with Filipinos traveling around the country, enjoying their much deserved long weekend R and R. After all, a single day is enough to spend quality time with friends and family. With several day-tour destinations north and south of Metro Manila, vacations are just an hour or two away. From the beach resorts of Batangas to the hot springs of Laguna, a short drive to chilly Tagaytay or a lovely Sunday adventure in Subic – there’s no reason why Filipinos won’t take a breather and travel.

“We anticipate domestic tourism to grow with the new destinations and tourism products now available. Even the toll fee increase would affect the pattern of local travel,” shared Bengzon.

So in spite of abridged holidays and short vacations, mark your calendars and travel on.  Here are the regular holidays and special non-working days for 2011:

A. Regular holidays

• New Year’s Day - January 1 (Saturday)
• Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) -  April 9 (Saturday)
• Maundy Thursday - April 21
• Good Friday - April 22
• Labor Day - May 1 (Sunday)
• Independence Day - June 12 (Sunday)
• National Heroes Day - August 29 (last Monday of August)
• Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Wednesday)
• Christmas Day - December 25 (Sunday)
• Rizal Day - December 30 (Friday)

B. Special (non-working) holidays

• Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Sunday)
• All Saints Day - November 1 (Tuesday)
• Last Day of the Year - December 31 (Saturday)

C. Others

• 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary - February 25 (Friday) – No classes only for schools
• Eid’l Fit’r (Last Day of Ramadan) and Eid’l Adha (Islam Feast of Sacrifice) – to be announced later, based on the Islamic calendar

Source: Manila Bulletin