What is the Araw ng Kagitingan Holiday on April 9 holiday, and how to compute the pay for the employees who show up for work on the day?
What is the April 9 holiday?
The whole nation of the Philippines commemorates the 9th day of April each year. This day is to pay tribute to the Filipino war veterans and American soldiers who endured and died at the hands of the Japanese.
The Day of Valor, or Araw ng Kagitingan, remembers the fall of Bataan in the siege during World War II and the valor of the Filipino and American troops who fought the invading Japanese forces.
Araw ng Kagitingan, also referred to as Bataan Day, derives its name from the Bataan Peninsula. It is a national observance that serves as a remembrance of the death of tens of thousands of captured soldiers during the Death March.
This Death March followed the surrender of the United States Army general at the time to the opposing forces of the Japanese troops.
The deadly march stretched from Bataan to Tarlac and Camp O’Donnell San Fernando, Pampanga, covering over 140 kilometers. During this unfateful time in history, Filipino and American soldiers were forced to walk continuously with little to no food. While thousands of soldiers died along the way, some survived and were brought to a prison camp.
Though it was a defeat for the Filipino forces and its allies, the Day of Valor serves as an annual commemoration of the heroism of the fallen soldiers. Ultimately, this celebration is put into law by virtue of Executive Order No. 203, s. 1987.
Is April 9 a holiday?
As published in the Official Gazette of the Philippines, April 9 is a regular holiday. Under Proclamation No. 368 issued last October 2023, the Philippine president declared April 9 as the date of commemoration for this year’s Araw ng Kagitingan.
Araw ng Kagitingan, or Bataan Day, is one of the Philippines’ national regular holidays. The national regular holidays list includes:
- New Year’s Day
- Maundy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Labor Day
- Independence Day
- National Heroes Day
- Bonifacio Day
- Christmas Day
- Rizal Day
Although the Day of Valor is usually celebrated and commemorated on the 9th day of April, there are cases when it was celebrated on a different day due to conflict with another holiday or as ordered by the current president. Just like this year, observance of the Day of Valor will be done on April 9. However, April 10 has been declared a national holiday in honor of the Day of Valor.
Proclamation of April 9 or Araw ng Kagitingan as a Holiday
Araw ng Kagitingan is now a regular holiday. But this was not always the case. The recognition of April 9 as a holiday started with former President Elpidio Quirino’s proclamation (Proclamation No. 381, series of 1953) to set the ninth of April of the year 1953 as Bataan Day.
Bataan Day as a Special Public Holiday
The following year, 1954, former President Ramon Magsaysay proclaimed the Bataan revolution anniversary (9th of April) as Bataan Day and declared it a Special National Holiday. In 1955, President Magsaysay signed another proclamation declaring April 9 as Bataan Day and a Special National Holiday.
Bataan Day as a Legal Holiday
It was not until 1961 that the House of Representatives finally passed a republic act (Republic Act No. 3022) to formally declare April 9 as Bataan Day and a legal holiday. A legal holiday is a government-recognized national holiday. Furthermore, government offices, academic institutions, and businesses observe this as an employee rest day, and there are no classes.
Araw ng Kagitingan as a Regular Holiday
Former President Corazon Aquino changed the April 9 holiday from Bataan Day to “Araw ng Kagitingan” in 1987. Additionally, the commemoration was made a regular national holiday. Other names for the holiday include Day of Valor or Bataan and Corregidor Day.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo then further amended the Administrative Code of 1987. The amendment allows the “Araw ng Kagitingan” to be celebrated on the 9th of April if it’s a weekday. Alternatively, it is on the nearest Monday to April 9 should it fall on a weekday.
April 9 Holiday Pay Rules
In the Philippines, there are various laws that cover the computation of compensation during holidays. The computation also depends on the type of holiday. For April 9 or Araw ng Kagitingan, the computation for the compensation of employees is based on that of a regular holiday.
Unworked Holiday
Unworked regular holidays entitle employees to receive 100% of their daily basic wage and the designated Cost of Living Allowance or COLA for the day. Computation for the wages of employees who do not work on Araw ng Kagitingan follows the following formula:
Holiday pay = (daily rate + COLA) x 100%
Worked Holiday on a Regular Workday
If the Araw ng Kagitingin falls on an employee’s regular workday or ordinary working days, employees who worked for the first eight hours deserve 200% of their daily basic wage or what we call double pay. Computation for the compensation of the employees follows this formula:
Holiday pay = (daily rate + COLA) x 200%
Suppose the employee worked for over eight (8) hours. In that case, the hours worked in excess of eight hours are paid 30% more than the normal hourly rate on top of the double pay. The computation follows this formula:
Overtime holiday pay = hourly rate based on the daily basic wage x number of hours worked in excess of 8 hours x 200% x 130%
Worked Holiday on an Employee’s Rest Day
If an employee works on the Day of Valor that falls on their rest day, they are entitled to receive 30% more of their daily wage on top of the applied 200%. The computation for such compensation follows this formula:
Holiday pay = [(daily rate + COLA) x 200%] + [30% x (daily rate x 200%)]
Employees who work for over eight hours are entitled to an additional 30% of their hourly rate. The following formula applies:
Overtime holiday pay = hourly rate based on the daily basic wage x number of hours worked in excess of 8 hours x 200% x 130% x 130%
How do locals celebrate the April 9 holiday?
Araw ng Kagitingan is marked with various ceremonies, activities, and traditions across the Philippines. Here’s how it is typically celebrated:
National Ceremony at Mount Samat Shrine
The highlight of the celebrations takes place at the Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan. The President of the Philippines usually leads this ceremony, which includes a wreath-laying event, military parades, and tributes to veterans. The Shrine is a significant historical site, symbolizing the bravery of the soldiers during the Battle of Bataan.
Parades and Reenactments
In many towns and cities, locals have parades featuring local government officials, veterans, military personnel, and students. Moreover, there are also historical reenactments of the Battle of Bataan and the Death March to educate the younger generations and honor the memory of the soldiers.
Educational Programs and Exhibits
Schools and universities often organize programs that include film screenings, lectures, and exhibits about World War II and the Bataan Death March. These programs aim to instill a sense of patriotism and historical awareness among students.
Local Celebrations and Memorial Services
Communities hold ceremonies and services at local memorials and parks. These events may include prayers, flag-raising ceremonies, and speeches by local leaders. In areas directly on the route of the Death March, such as Pampanga and Tarlac, residents hold special memorials and activities to remember the soldiers’ sacrifices.
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