Got this from an email courtesy of ABS-CBN:

There will be 10 long holidays in 2009.

Last Christmas eve, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1699 that lays out the holiday schedule this year.

First on the holiday list is a three-day weekend before the Easter break.

The observance of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9 (Thursday) was moved to the nearest Monday which is April 6.

This will be followed by the Easter holidays from April 9 (Maundy Thursday) until April 12 (Easter Sunday).

The other regular holidays are:

•Labor Day-May 1(Friday);
•Independence Day- June 12 (Friday);
•National Heroes Day- August 31 (Monday);
•Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Monday);
•Christmas Day- December 25 (Friday); and,
•Rizal Day- December 30 (Wednesday).

Arroyo declared the following as Special Non-Working Days:

•Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Friday);
•All Saints Day - November 1 (Sunday) and All Soul’s Day - November 2 (Monday);
•Christmas Eve - December 24 (Thursday); and,
•New Year’s Eve - December 31 (Thursday).
The president has long been implementing holiday economics to boost domestic tourism and allow Filipinos to have more time with their families.

Holiday economics entails the transfer of some holidays to a Monday or a Friday so that Filipinos may enjoy longer weekends.

Businessmen earlier complained over the recent two-week Christmas-New Year break.

However, Malacañang maintained consultations were made with all sectors concerned, including the business community, before issuing this year's holiday list.

Grabe...bakasyon nanaman ba ang pinaplano nating mga pinoy? :D

Do you believe in Santa Claus? I don’t, but I wish there is really a real Santa Claus who can grant wishes of every people on earth, young and old. When I was a child I thought Santa was real. That he goes down the chimney to put his gifts under our Christmas tree. I later realized that the persons who fill my Christmas stocking with lots of goodies are none other than, my parents. Right. Funny. How could they do that to me? Hahaha!!!

Anyway, Christmas is near. Do you got a wish? Let say Santa is real, and he can grant your wish immediately, what will you wish for? Hmmm…tough question, right? Well, It’s a challenging question, I know. As for me, I can’t think of anything aside from materials things, like the digital camera and Iphone that I’ve been dreaming about. This is because I know that the one thing I want could not fit in his sack of gifts…it can’t be bought. Only God can make it happen. But if it’s only that easy to sit on Santa’s lap and ask him something like what I did at Ceiva’s, it would be great.

Yes, I was able to sit on Santa’s lap and wished for an iphone, but alas, it’s not available. He offered me a digital frame instead, hahaha! But Ceiva’s digital frame is a nice gift for Christmas. I’ve never seen any other digital frame like this. Its sleek design captured my eyes and made me wished to receive one like this on Christmas as well.

Well, anyway the site is actually having a contest where contestants can win $500. You just need to watch Santa’s video, fill in the needed info, upload a photo and wait if you will be picked out from the random raffle draw. So visit here, and play the game. Who knows, you might be the lucky contestant.