Yes — Monday, August 31, 2026 is a regular holiday nationwide. It’s National Heroes Day (Araw ng mga Bayani), and because it lands on a Monday, it creates a three-day weekend — the second long weekend of the month, just over a week after Ninoy Aquino Day. Here’s everything you need to know.
August keeps giving in 2026. Just nine days after the Ninoy Aquino Day long weekend, Filipinos get another one — this time for National Heroes Day, and this time it’s a regular holiday, which comes with a different (and more generous) pay rule than the special non-working holiday earlier in the month.
New to this cluster? Check out Walang Pasok: Is August 21, 2026 a Holiday in the Philippines? for the first long weekend of the month, and August 2026’s Double Long Weekend: Where to Go and When for how to plan around both.
QUICK FACTS
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| Holiday type | Regular holiday |
| Also known as | Araw ng mga Bayani |
| Legal basis | Republic Act No. 9492 (2007), moving the observance to the last Monday of August |
| Commemorates | All Filipino heroes, known and unknown, beginning with the 1896 Cry of Pugad Lawin and the Philippine Revolution |
| Originally observed | Last Sunday of August, under Act No. 3827 (1931) |
| Falls on | 243rd day of 2026 |
| Long weekend? | Yes — Saturday, Aug 29 through Monday, Aug 31, no leave filing required |
WHY WE OBSERVE NATIONAL HEROES DAY
National Heroes Day traces back to the Cry of Pugad Lawin in August 1896, the pivotal moment when Andrés Bonifacio and the Katipunan launched the armed uprising that began the Philippine Revolution against more than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Unlike Rizal Day (December 30) or Bonifacio Day (November 30), which each honor one specific historical figure, National Heroes Day is deliberately collective — it recognizes all Filipinos, named and unnamed, who fought and sacrificed for the country’s freedom, justice, and nationhood.
The observance was first established under Act No. 3827 in 1931, originally falling on the last Sunday of August. It was moved to its current date — the last Monday of August — under Republic Act No. 9492, signed in 2007, which shifted several Philippine holidays to the nearest Monday specifically to create predictable long weekends and support domestic tourism. In 2026, that puts the observance on August 31.
Want the official confirmation for this date? See Malacañang Confirms: Ninoy Aquino Day 2026 Is a Special Non-Working Holiday — the same Proclamation No. 1006 that confirmed August 21 also confirms August 31 as a regular holiday.
REGULAR HOLIDAY VS. SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY
This is the same distinction that trips people up every year — and it’s especially relevant this August, since the two long weekends follow different pay rules:
- National Heroes Day (Aug 31) is a regular holiday — you’re entitled to your full daily wage even if you don’t work.
- Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug 21) is a special non-working holiday — pay follows the “no work, no pay” rule by default.
HOLIDAY PAY RULES FOR AUGUST 31, 2026
Because National Heroes Day is a regular holiday, DOLE’s pay rules are more favorable than for a special non-working holiday:
- You don’t work: You still receive 100% of your daily wage, provided you were present or on leave with pay on the workday immediately before the holiday.
- You work (first 8 hours): You receive 200% of your basic daily wage — double pay.
- The holiday also falls on your rest day, and you work: You receive an additional 30% on top of the 200% rate (effectively 260%).
- Overtime work: An additional 30% of your hourly rate on the holiday, on top of whichever rate above applies.
- Two regular holidays falling on the same day: Not applicable this year, but when it happens, pay can reach 300% for those who work.
Always confirm with HR for company-specific policy, since some employers compute holiday pay slightly differently for monthly-paid versus daily-paid staff.
For a full breakdown on Holiday Pay Rules in the Philippines read How to Compute Holiday Pay in the Philippines (2026 Guide)
THE SECOND LONG WEEKEND OF AUGUST
Because August 31, 2026 falls on a Monday, it stretches into a three-day weekend — Saturday, August 29 through Monday, August 31 — with zero leave credits needed. Combined with the Ninoy Aquino Day long weekend just nine days earlier (August 21–23), this makes August 2026 a rare two-long-weekend month.
🕯️ HOW FILIPINOS COMMEMORATE THE DAY
- Wreath-laying ceremonies at heroes’ monuments and historical sites nationwide, often led by local government units.
- School and community programs highlighting lesser-known heroes alongside familiar names like Rizal, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, Mabini, and Gabriela Silang.
- Flag-raising ceremonies in government offices and schools, where classes are generally suspended nationwide.
- Family gatherings and travel, since the three-day weekend makes it a popular window for short domestic trips.
FAQS
Yes — it’s a regular holiday nationwide, observed as National Heroes Day.
No. Independence Day (June 12) commemorates the 1898 declaration of independence from Spain; National Heroes Day commemorates the 1896 start of the revolution and honors all Filipino heroes collectively.
Yes — since it’s a regular holiday, you’re entitled to 100% of your daily wage even if you don’t report to work, provided you met the attendance requirement the day before.
200% of your basic daily wage for the first 8 hours, or 260% if it also falls on your rest day.
Yes, government offices are closed nationwide, and banks generally follow the same schedule, though ATMs and digital banking remain available.
No — Ninoy Aquino Day on August 21 (a Friday) created a separate three-day weekend earlier in the month, making August 2026 a two-long-weekend month.
THE BOTTOM LINE
August 31, 2026 is confirmed: walang pasok, full holiday pay if you don’t work, and a three-day weekend to close out the month — the second one August has to offer. Between this and Ninoy Aquino Day, it’s shaping up to be one of the most long-weekend-friendly Augusts in recent memory.
🏛️ Continue exploring our August 2026 holiday coverage: Walang Pasok: Is August 21, 2026 a Holiday in the Philippines? · How to Compute Holiday Pay in the Philippines (2026 Guide) ·
This is a living article — we’ll update it with any DOLE labor advisories or presidential proclamations affecting the 2026 holiday schedule.
SOURCES
- Cebu Daily News / Inquirer, “August 31 holiday: What is National Heroes Day?”.
- Wikipedia, “National Heroes Day (Philippines)”.
- PublicHolidays.ph, “National Heroes Day 2026, 2027 and 2028”.
- Awareness Days, “National Heroes’ Day 2026: 31 August 2026”.
- PH Life Answers, “National Heroes Day 2026 Philippines: August 31 Holiday & Pay Rules”.
- National Today, “National Heroes Day of Philippines — August 31, 2026”.
- HolidayAPI, “When is National Heroes’ Day in the Philippines?”.
