October 31, 2025 non-working holiday in the Philippines — this news was officially announced and it’s got people planning for a much-needed break. If you’re living in the Philippines or just planning to visit, knowing which dates are holidays can really help. Whether you’re looking forward to spending time with family or just catching up on rest, this extra day off matters.
In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about this holiday, why it’s important, and how it fits into the rest of the Philippines holiday schedule 2025. Let’s get into the details, in plain and simple English.
🇵🇭 What Makes October 31, 2025 Special?
The government declared October 31, 2025 (Friday) a special non-working holiday. That means most workers get the day off, but there’s a difference between this and a regular holiday.
💡 A “special non-working holiday” means:
- No work for most employees.
- If you work, you get extra pay (usually 130% of your daily rate).
- No school or government office work in many areas.
This is not a fixed yearly holiday. Instead, it’s often declared to give people time to prepare for All Saints’ Day (November 1), a major tradition in the Philippines.
🧑🤝🧑 Why Is October 31 Important for Filipinos?
In the Philippines, All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2) are not just ordinary holidays. They are spiritual and family-centered days. Filipinos travel to their hometowns to visit the graves of loved ones. Declaring October 31 as a non-working holiday helps people prepare, travel early, and avoid the rush.
🧺 Common Activities on October 31:
- Cleaning and repainting graves
- Buying candles and flowers
- Traveling to provinces
- Visiting markets and groceries for food preparation
- Some also celebrate Halloween with costumes and parties
📅 What Holidays Come After October 31?
This extra day off turns into a long weekend! Let’s look at what follows:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2025 | Friday | Non-working holiday | Special |
| Nov 1, 2025 | Saturday | All Saints’ Day | Special |
| Nov 2, 2025 | Sunday | All Souls’ Day | Observance (not official holiday) |
This means three straight days off for most people. If you’re lucky, your company might even allow extended leave or flexi-time.
📌 What Is a Special Non-Working Holiday?
There are two kinds of holidays in the Philippines:
- Regular Holidays
- Paid even if you don’t work
- Higher pay if you do work (200%)
- Examples: Christmas, New Year, Independence Day
- Special Non-Working Holidays
- No work, but “no work, no pay” applies (unless your company says otherwise)
- If you work, you get 30% extra pay
- Examples: Ninoy Aquino Day, All Saints’ Day, and October 31 (when declared)
🗓 Full Philippines Holiday Schedule for 2025
Here’s a helpful list of confirmed regular and special non-working holidays in 2025 so far:
✅ Regular Holidays:
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- April 17 – Maundy Thursday
- April 18 – Good Friday
- May 1 – Labor Day
- June 12 – Independence Day
- August 25 – National Heroes Day
- November 30 – Bonifacio Day
- December 25 – Christmas Day
- December 30 – Rizal Day
✅ Special Non-Working Days:
- February 25 – EDSA People Power Anniversary
- August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
- October 31 – Day before All Saints’ Day
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day
- December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve
These may still change if the President announces more holidays or “special working days.”
🚌 Travel Plans? Here’s What to Expect
Many Filipinos take this long weekend to visit family, provinces, or tourist spots. But here’s the catch — travel during this time is very busy. If you plan to go out of town, expect the following:
- Bus terminals will be full
- Flights and ferry tickets will sell out early
- Traffic in Metro Manila will be lighter, but roads to provinces will be packed
- Hotel prices might go up
✅ Tips:
- Book your tickets early
- Leave as early as October 30 if possible
- Be patient and polite — everyone’s rushing!
🛍 Should You Expect Sales and Promos?
Yes! Malls and online stores often hold Halloween and Undas sales. Since October 31 falls on a Friday in 2025, expect big weekend sales from:
- Lazada, Shopee
- SM, Robinsons, Ayala Malls
- Airlines and bus companies
- Resorts and hotels
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to shop or take a quick vacation, this is it.
🧠 A Quick Look at the Law Behind Holidays
Most Philippine holidays are announced through Presidential Proclamations. For October 31, 2025, a proclamation was issued by Malacañang. This gives it legal standing. This process helps the country manage traffic, business, and travel effectively.
📣 What Should Employers Know?
If you run a business or manage a team, here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Inform employees early about their schedules
- Coordinate with HR regarding holiday pay
- Respect the purpose of the holiday — many use it for family or spiritual reasons
- Adjust delivery schedules or customer service shifts ahead of time
🙋♂️ My Personal Experience with Undas Travel
Let me tell you something real. Back in 2019, I made the mistake of traveling on the morning of November 1. I thought leaving at 5 AM would be enough. I was wrong. I got stuck in traffic for 6 hours going to Pampanga. Since then, my family and I always take a day off on October 31. Trust me — it makes all the difference.
That’s why I’m happy the government made this official again in 2025. It may seem like just a date, but for millions of families like mine, it helps a lot.
