Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano2026 · Date · History · Messages
Republic Act No. 11304 declares February 4 of every year Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano and classifies it as a special working holiday; NHCP material ties February 4 to the 1899 outbreak of the war.
About Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano
Philippine-American War Memorial Day, also called Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano, is observed in the Philippines on February 4 each year.
Republic Act No. 11304 declares it a special working holiday and assigns commemorative roles to the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Why Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano matters
The law frames the day as a commemoration of the sacrifice and bravery of those who fought and died in defense of the Filipino nation during the Philippine-American War.
Historical discussion should remain factual and non-graphic, distinguish remembrance from celebration of violence, and avoid partisan or present-day political claims not established by the reviewed sources.
History of Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano
NHCP historical material identifies February 4, 1899 as the date armed hostilities that became the Philippine-American War began in Manila.
Republic Act No. 11304 was approved on April 17, 2019 and declares February 4 of every year Philippine-American War Memorial Day.
The Act requires DepEd and CHED to ensure appropriate school activities and assigns NHCP responsibility for providing information for a meaningful commemoration.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Congress of the Philippines; approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Republic Act No. 11304
National Historical Commission of the Philippines, with DepEd and CHED roles specified by law
RA 11304 assigns NHCP the public-information role and DepEd/CHED appropriate school-commemoration duties.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Philippine-American War Memorial Day
How to Observe Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano
Read NHCP materials or visit relevant museums, markers and archives to understand the war in its historical context.
Use the day for respectful remembrance of people affected by the conflict rather than graphic reenactment or triumphalist messaging.
Schools and educators can follow current DepEd, CHED and NHCP guidance for commemorative activities.
Keep claims about the conflict tied to reliable historical sources, especially when discussing casualties, motives or responsibility.
Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano Facts
The date is February 4 every year.
Republic Act No. 11304 classifies the day as a special working holiday.
The law uses both the English name and Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano.
NHCP material identifies February 4, 1899 with the outbreak of the Philippine-American War.
The reviewed law does not convert the date into a general non-working holiday.
Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano Messages
Remember the people affected by the war with factual, respectful and non-graphic historical reflection.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Lawphil — Republic Act No. 11304 (opens in a new tab)
Statute
NHCP Registry — Ang Pagsiklab ng Digmaan Laban sa Estados Unidos (opens in a new tab)
National Historical Agency
Senate of the Philippines — Republic Act No. 11304 (opens in a new tab)
Legislative Reference
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano?
4 February annually The documented recurrence rule is: 4 February.
Does Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Philippines / national special working holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano?
The reviewed sources identify Congress of the Philippines; approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as National Historical Commission of the Philippines, with DepEd and CHED roles specified by law.
Is Philippine-American War Memorial Day / Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Philippines. Its fuller verified scope is: Philippines / national special working holiday.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is Philippine-American War Memorial Day?
It is February 4 every year under Republic Act No. 11304.
Is it a non-working holiday nationwide?
No. RA 11304 specifically calls it a special working holiday.
Why February 4?
NHCP historical evidence identifies February 4, 1899 as the outbreak of armed hostilities that became the Philippine-American War.
Which agencies have roles under the law?
RA 11304 assigns school-commemoration duties to DepEd and CHED and an information role to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
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