National Heroes Day: How to Celebrate with Your Remote & Hybrid Filipino Team

Key Takeaways:

1. Frame the Day as Shared Legacy
   Use National Heroes Day to connect your team’s current work to a broader Filipino narrative of contribution and impact.
2. Turn Activities into Cultural Knowledge Transfer
   Design celebrations that go beyond fun. Use them to exchange stories, history, and values that deepen mutual understanding in distributed teams.
3. Position Cultural Respect as a Brand Differentiator
   Showcase how honoring Filipino heritage strengthens both team loyalty and your reputation with global clients.

For many Filipino professionals working in remote or hybrid setups, national holidays like National Heroes Day offer more than a day off. They’re an opportunity to connect meaningfully with their teams and culture. For leaders managing teams in the Philippines, this holiday presents a chance to boost morale, reinforce national pride, and align your company culture with the values your Filipino team holds dear.

Whether you’re a global manager working with a distributed workforce or a local HR leader looking to drive engagement, here’s how you can lead your Filipino team in celebrating Araw ng mga Bayani, intentionally, inclusively, and impactfully.

What is National Heroes Day in the Philippines?

Araw ng mga Bayani is observed every last Monday of August to honor the unnamed and known heroes who contributed to Philippine independence, nation-building, and the fight for democracy. Unlike holidays that focus on one individual, like Jose Rizal Day and Ninoy Aquino Day, this holiday recognizes collective heroism. Something that resonates deeply with Filipino values of bayanihan (community spirit) and pagkakaisa (unity).

Why is August 26 National Heroes Day? 

This holiday was originally celebrated on August 30 to honor the Cry of Pugad Lawin, marking the start of the Philippine Revolution. However, under Republic Act No. 9492, the date was moved to the last Monday of August to align with the holiday economics policy and create a long weekend. In 2025, it falls on August 25, not August 26.

Is National Heroes Day a regular holiday?

Yes. Araw ng mga Bayani is classified as a regular holiday under the Philippine Labor Code. This means employees are entitled to holiday pay whether they work or not, and additional compensation if they render service on this day.

Why It Matters for Remote and Hybrid Filipino Teams

Many remote workers feel disconnected from company culture, especially when it comes to national observances. For Filipino employees, this holiday is not just a commemoration. It’s a reminder of values like sacrifice, resilience, and courage that echo in their own professional lives.

Companies that acknowledge this holiday with intentionality send a clear message: we see you, we value your identity, and we care about more than just productivity.

How to Celebrate National Heroes’ Day with Your Remote & Hybrid Filipino Team

Here are practical, culture-conscious ways to make the most of the holiday with your team, no matter where they are.

1. Host a Virtual “Bayanihan Hour”

Facilitate a short online session where employees can share stories about modern-day heroes in their communities: healthcare workers, teachers, or even family members. Keep it casual, voluntary, and reflective.

Why it works:
It resonates with the Filipino value of togetherness and empowers your team to help shape your company culture.

2. Recognize Team Members Who Embody Heroic Values

Celebrate employees who have shown resilience, leadership, or community service in the past year. Tie the recognition to Araw ng mga Bayani themes.

Ideas:

• Launch a “Modern Hero Award” for team members who went above and beyond.
  
• Send personalized thank-you cards or care packages.
  

Watch how this modern-day Gen Z Bayani shares his raw, real, and vivid story:

3. Sponsor a Teamwide Volunteer Initiative

Partner with a local nonprofit and invite your team to participate in a remote volunteering opportunity like writing letters for frontliners, helping students with digital literacy, or mentoring younger professionals.

Why it matters:
Volunteering strengthens a sense of purpose and aligns your brand with socially responsible practices.

4. Launch a Hero-Themed Teams Channel

Create a dedicated space where team members can post quotes, tributes, or memories tied to heroism, whether personal or historical. You can also post trivia questions and give away small rewards to build lighthearted engagement.

5. Send a Thoughtful Broadcast Message

Craft a company-wide message that:

• Acknowledges the historical importance of Araw ng mga Bayani
  
• Recognizes your team’s contributions as modern-day professionals
  
• Encourages reflection on what it means to be part of a values-driven company
  

Make sure it comes from senior leadership for maximum impact.

6. Give a Day Off or Offer Flex Hours

If operations allow, offer a true break, especially if your team has been working under tight deadlines. If a full day off isn’t possible, give teams flexible hours or a reduced workload on that Monday.

Is National Heroes Day a double pay?

Yes. As a regular holiday, employees who work on National Heroes’ Day are entitled to 200% of their daily wage for the first 8 hours. If it falls on a rest day, they receive an additional 30%. Those who don’t work are still entitled to 100% of their daily wage, provided they’re present or on paid leave the day before.

Bonus: Align the Celebration With Company Values

Use this holiday to reinforce your company’s core values, whether it’s integrity, innovation, teamwork, or resilience. You can align your messaging and initiatives with these values to strengthen team buy-in and deepen cultural alignment.

Final Thought: Why Cultural Relevance Drives Engagement

Filipino remote professionals thrive in companies that show genuine cultural sensitivity. Taking time to acknowledge holidays like National Heroes’ Day, beyond performative gestures, builds trust, loyalty, and long-term retention.

Engagement doesn’t always come from complex programs. Sometimes, it’s as simple as saying: “We know what this day means to you, and we’re celebrating it together.”