Malacañang Palace Declares March 17, 2025 as Special Non-Working Holiday in Davao City
Davao City residents are getting a break on March 17, 2025, as Malacañang Palace has declared it a special non-working holiday.
Malacañang Palace announced that the holiday was declared in celebration of Araw ng Pasasalamat, a thanksgiving event for the city’s 88th founding anniversary.
The government made this official through Proclamation No. 825, which recognizes the importance of giving Dabawenyos time to fully enjoy and take part in the festivities. With this holiday, locals can celebrate without worrying about work.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Davao be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration,” the document stated.
Interestingly, the proclamation was signed on March 11, the same day former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and sent to The Hague in the Netherlands for trial over crimes against humanity.
Since Davao has always been known as Duterte’s political stronghold, this has become a big topic of discussion among locals.
The Araw ng Dabaw festivities kicked off on March 1, starting with an opening ceremony at Rizal Park and a Holy Mass at San Pedro Cathedral. The celebration is packed with exciting events, including the Mutya ng Dabaw coronation on March 15 and the lively Parada Dabawenyo on March 16, 2025.
Aside from these main events, different barangays in the city are also expected to hold their own community activities. With the special holiday, everyone in Davao gets the chance to celebrate, join the fun, and appreciate how much the city has grown over the years.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the announcement:
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