Events
A company Christmas party gets booked in reverse. The date goes first, then the room, then everything that has to fit inside the room. December 2026 carries five holidays and special days, so the date is where most of the planning happens.
Fix the date against the December calendar
The 2026 holidays are set by Proclamation No. 1006. Five of them fall in December, and each one changes something about a party held on or near it.
| Date | Day | What the proclamation makes it |
| 8 Dec | Tuesday | Special (non-working) day |
| 24 Dec | Thursday | Additional special (non-working) day |
| 25 Dec | Friday | Regular holiday |
| 30 Dec | Wednesday | Regular holiday |
| 31 Dec | Thursday | Special (non-working) day |
Holiday dates can change a quote. Under Article 94 of the Labor Code, anyone required to work on a regular holiday is paid twice their regular rate, and special (non-working) days carry their own DOLE pay rules. That covers the caterer, the AV team and the venue staff as much as your own people. Ask each supplier how its quote handles a holiday date.
The calendar has one more constraint. December 2026 has four Fridays, the 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th, and the last of them is Christmas Day.
5
Holidays and special days in December 2026: the 8th, 24th, 25th, 30th and 31st. Choose the party date after you have checked it against all five.
What to book, and when
Work backwards from the date. Each step depends on the one before it, which is why the order matters more than the exact week.
→ September to October: the date and the venue. The venue sets your capacity, your load-in window, what sound and light are already in the room, and whether outside caterers are allowed. Everything after this waits on those answers. A company party is a private event with a fixed guest list, so ask for the venue’s private-function packages and exactly what each one includes.
→ October: the program and the people in it. Host, performers, a band or a DJ, and anyone giving a speech. Performers are booked by date, so lock them in as soon as the venue is confirmed.
→ October to November: sound, light and stage. Ask what the venue’s in-house audio-visual package covers before you hire anyone else. A room with its own PA system may still need more once a band plugs in. Confirm when your suppliers can load in, because the room may have another booking earlier that day.
→ November: food, prizes and anything printed. Menu tasting, dietary counts, giveaways, raffle prizes and signage. If there is a raffle, settle the permit question now rather than in December.
→ First week of December: the headcount and the run of show. Final numbers to the venue, then a minute-by-minute event itinerary that every supplier receives. Book rehearsal time in the room if anyone is performing.
Raffles, fireworks and drones
Makati’s Citizen’s Charter lists a special permit for bingo and raffles and another for fireworks displays, both from the Office of the City Administrator. The fireworks permit also needs a BFP permit and a PNP licence. If a drone will film the night, the Civil Aviation Authority requires drones used for commercial work to be registered. Other cities publish their own lists, so ask your venue which ones apply at its address.
Where PUNX fits
PUNX runs corporate events and brand activations from Makati: 50-plus people, founded 2023, with P&G, San Miguel, Petron, GCash and Sun Life on our client list. If you would rather hand the party over, from the venue and the program to the production and the photos and video that come out of it, that is what our events agency in the Philippines team does.
Still comparing suppliers? These four questions sort a shortlist quickly.
FAQ
When should you book a venue for a company Christmas party?
As soon as the date is fixed. The venue sets your capacity, load-in window, in-house AV and catering rules, so everything else waits on it. For a December party, that means September or October.
Is 24 December 2026 a holiday in the Philippines?
Yes. Proclamation No. 1006 makes Thursday, 24 December 2026 an additional special (non-working) day. 25 and 30 December are regular holidays, and 8 and 31 December are special (non-working) days.
Do holiday dates cost more for a company party?
They can. Under Article 94 of the Labor Code, anyone required to work on a regular holiday is paid twice their regular rate, and special (non-working) days carry their own DOLE pay rules. That includes your suppliers’ staff, so ask how each quote handles a holiday date.
Does a company Christmas raffle need a permit?
In Makati, the Citizen’s Charter lists a special permit for bingo and raffles from the Office of the City Administrator. Rules vary by city, so check with your venue and your city hall.
Related
Brand activation and events — what PUNX runs, and how
Private event — what makes a company party one
How to choose an agency — the four questions that sort a shortlist
Planning the year-end party?
Tell us the date, the headcount and the budget. We will tell you what to lock first.