Rizal Day in the Philippines (Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Rizal) - December 30, the martyrdom of José Rizal
Rizal Day (Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Rizal) on December 30 is a regular public holiday in the Philippines marking the 1896 execution of José Rizal, the national hero whose novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are foundational texts of Philippine independence. The day is observed with flag ceremonies at Rizal Park in Manila and nationwide.
Federal holidayPublished October 18, 2026
- Observed in
- Where observed
- When
- December
- Frequency
- Same date every year
- Days off
- 1 day - federal workers / banks off
- Public status
- Federal / public holiday (banks + federal offices closed)
Rizal Day (Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Rizal) on December 30 is a regular public holiday in the Philippines marking the 1896 execution of José Rizal, the national hero whose novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are foundational texts of Philippine independence. The day is observed with flag ceremonies at Rizal Park in Manila and nationwide.
The one-line summary
Regular public holiday on December 30, observed every year. Marks the 1896 execution of José Rizal, the Philippine national hero. Federal category, iconic tier. The closing civic observance of the Filipino calendar year.
Origin
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna, to a prosperous mestizo family. He studied medicine and ophthalmology at the University of Santo Tomas and later at the University of Madrid and the University of Heidelberg. In 1887 he published Noli Me Tangere (Latin for "Touch Me Not"), a novel that exposed the abuses of the Spanish colonial government and the Catholic religious orders in the Philippines. The book was banned by the Spanish authorities but circulated widely.
In 1891 he published the sequel, El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), which continued the political critique. The novels inspired a generation of Filipino revolutionaries, including Andrés Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan. Rizal himself did not advocate violent revolution, but was arrested and tried for sedition, rebellion, and conspiracy by the Spanish authorities. He was convicted on all charges and executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896, at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park) in Manila. He was 35 years old. His execution is widely regarded as the catalytic event of the 1898 Philippine Revolution.
When it falls
Rizal Day is fixed on December 30, the date of Rizal's 1896 execution. There is no lunar or movable component. The day does not vary by region: it is observed nationwide in all 17 regions of the Philippines, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The day is part of the Christmas-season cluster of late December observances, with the period from December 24 (Christmas Eve) to December 30 (Rizal Day) producing 4-5 consecutive days off when weekends align.
How it is observed
The principal observance is the flag-raising ceremony at the Rizal Park (Luneta) in Manila, where the President or Vice President presides. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) render honours. The President delivers a national address and leads the wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument, a 12.7-metre bronze and granite memorial designed by Richard Kissling and unveiled in 1913.
Schools, government offices, and provincial capitals host their own flag ceremonies. Cultural events include book readings of Rizal's novels, theatrical performances of his life, academic conferences, and literary competitions. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) coordinates the official Manila ceremony. Museums and historical sites (Rizal's home in Calamba, the Fort Santiago prison cell where he was held, and the Bagumbayan execution site) host special exhibitions.
Legal status
December 30 was gazetted as a national holiday in 1901 by the American colonial government (Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission), in recognition of Rizal's role in the independence movement. The holiday has been observed continuously since, including during the Japanese occupation (1942-1945) and the post-independence period. The 1987 Constitution reaffirmed the day as a regular public holiday. The day is gazetted annually in the presidential proclamation of public holidays under Republic Act 9492 (the Holiday Rationalization Act of 2007).
Where it is contested
Rizal Day is broadly uncontested as a federal holiday. The choice of Rizal as the national hero over other candidates (Andrés Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini) was the subject of historical debate in the early 20th century, but the choice of Rizal as the country's principal national hero has been stable since 1901. There is some contemporary discussion about the relative weight of Rizal's novels versus the revolutionary tradition of Bonifacio in the independence narrative, but this does not affect the December 30 observance.
Related Filipino holidays
December 30 falls at the closing of the long Filipino Christmas season, which runs from September 1 to the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. The December cluster includes Christmas Eve (December 24, special non-working), Christmas Day (December 25, regular), and Rizal Day (December 30, regular), producing 4-5 consecutive days off. The day is followed by New Year's Eve (December 31, special non-working) and the extended Epiphany season through January 6. Bonifacio Day (November 30) and National Heroes Day (last Monday of August) are the other principal national-hero observances.
Sources
- Official Gazette of the Philippines, annual proclamation of public holidays.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, biography of José Rizal and his execution.
- National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Rizal Day ceremonies and historical record.
- Rappler, coverage of Rizal Day observances.