One more holiday in April- 73rd Araw ng Kagitingan

For the month of April 2015, Filipinos will have one more day break from work as the entire nation will commemorate National Heroes Day "Araw ng Kagitingan".

In April 9, 1942, over 60,000 Filipinos and 11,000 Americans were forced to walk 140 kilometers from Bataan to San Fernando by the Japanese invaders. Along the way, many prisoners were murdered and died starving, sick and dehydrated.  It was also called the "Death March".

April 9 is among the 11 regular holidays in Presidential Proclamation 831, the list of all holidays observed in the Philippines for 2015.

The Civil Service Commission on the other hand, mandates all government units and agencies to observe the event in a week long commemoration from April 5 to 11, 2015 in various forms.   These include enjoining activities of the Veterans and holding flag raising ceremonies; putting up of tarpaulins and info materials about the history of the event. 

According to Executive Order 203 of the Department of Labor and Employment, the following pay rules will apply on that day:

1. If it is an employee's regular workday
   • If unworked - 100%
   • If worked
     • 1st 8 hours - 200%
     • excess of 8 hours - plus 30% of hourly rate on said day
    
2. If it is an employee's rest day
• If unworked - 100%
• If worked
• 1st 8 hours - plus 30% of 200%
• excess of 8 hours - plus 30% of hourly rate on said day
• 
  The remaining Regular Holidays are :
  

  Labor Day	-	May 1
  Independence Day	-	June 12
  National Heroes Day	-	Last Sunday of August
  Bonifacio Day	-	November 30
  Eidul Fitr	-	Movable Date
  Christmas Day	-	December 25
  Rizal Day	-	December 30