Narciso Claveria, serving as the Governor-General of the Philippines, recognized the complexities and inaccuracies in the calendar system used in the archipelago. Since Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1521, various anomalies had arisen due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar and the differences between local observances and Spanish practices. As a solution to these discrepancies, Claveria proposed a significant reform to the calendar system utilized in the Philippines. He issued a decree that mandated the skipping of December 31, 1844, thereby eliminating a day from the calendar. This decision sought not only to streamline timekeeping in the Philippines but to align local customs with the standardized calendar used by Spain and much of the world at that time. The action also had practical implications for commerce, governance, and the daily lives of Filipinos, who had been grappling with the consequences of the calendar discrepancies for decades.

The reform constituted a critical juncture in the Philippines' relationship with Spain, reflecting broader themes of colonial administration and integration of local practices into a colonial framework. Through this decree, Claveria intended to establish uniformity across the archipelago while emphasizing his role in consolidating the authority of the Spanish government. The adoption of this new calendar became a point of reference for later adjustments and reforms in the Philippine calendar system, illustrating the ongoing evolution of timekeeping in response to colonial needs and local realities. Claveria’s efforts were part of larger administrative reforms aimed at modernizing the colony and enhancing efficiency in governance, all within the context of Spanish colonial rule.