Philippine History Reviewer

The First “Filipinos”

Migration Theory

The first migrants were what Henry Otley Beyer called the “Dawnmen” (or “cavemen” because they
lived in caves.). The Dawnmen resembled Java Man, Peking Man, and other Asian Home sapiens who
existed about 250,000 years ago. They did not have any knowledge of agriculture, and lived by hunting
and fishing. It was precisely in search of food that they came to the Philippines by way of the land bridges
that connected the Philippines and Indonesia. Owing perhaps to their migratory nature, they eventually
left the Philippines for destinations unknown.

Jocano’s Theory

Renowned Filipino anthropologist Felipe Landa Jocano disputes Beyer’s belief that Filipinos descended
from Negritoes and Malays who migrated to the Philippines thousands of years ago. According to Jocano,
it is difficult to prove that Negritoes were the first inhabitants of this country. The only thing that can
positively concluded from fossil evidence, he says is that the first men who came to the Philippines also
went to New Guinea, Java, Borneo, and Australia.

TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY

● 1380 - Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago.

● 1521 - Ferdinand Magellan "discovers" the islands and names them: Archipelago of San Lazaro.

● 1542 - Spanish expedition commandeered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos claims the islands for Spain;
names them "Philippines" after Prince Philip, later King Philip II of Spain; the Philippines becomes part of
Spanish Empire.

● 1872 - Gomburza (Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora) were executed by the
Spaniards.

● 1892 - Jose Rizal founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina.

● 1896 - Katipuneros tear their cedulas & shout in contempt of the Spaniards in what is called the Cry of
Pugadlawin.

● 1897 - General Emilio Aguinaldo establishes the a new republic at Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan.
● 1886 - José Rizal publishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (The Lost Eden); and seers up
independence sentiment.

● 1896 - Spanish execute Rizal for instigating insurrection; public outrage spawns rebellion.

● 1898 - American warship Maine was blown up in Havana harbour, triggers the the Spanish-American
war, the battle of Manila Bay ensues.

● 1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo assembled the Malolos Congress in Bulacan, then declares independence in
Kawit, Cavite

● 1899 - Treaty of Paris ends Spanish-American War, cedes Philippines to U.S. after payment to Spain by
U.S. of $ 20 million. Emilio Aguinaldo declares independence then leads a guerrilla war against U.S.

● 1901 - U.S. captures Aguinaldo; William Howard Taft arrives as first U.S. governor of Philippines.

● 1902 - Insurrection ends; Taft improves economic conditions, settles disputes over church ownership of
land, establishes "Pensionado" program, allowing Filipinos to study in U.S., which helped modernize and
westernize the country.

● 1916 - U.S. congress passes the Jones Law establishing elected Filipino legislature with house and
senate.

● 1934 - U.S. congress approves the Tydings-McDuffie Law promising Philippine independence by 1946;
transition to independence begins.

● 1935 - Filipino people approve constitution creating the Philippine Commonwealth with Manuel
Quezon y Molina as president.

● 1941 - Japanese invades the Philippines, and defeats Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Bataan and
Corregidor; Quezon establishes government in exile in the U.S.

● 1944 - Quezon dies in exile; Vice President Sergio Osmeña assumes the presidency; MacArthur returns
to the Philippines and lands in Leyte with little resistance.

● 1945 - Gen. MacArthur liberates Manila and President Osmeña establishes government.

● 1946 - The U.S. gave the Philippines independence and Manuel Roxas y Acuña is elected as the first
president of the new republic.

● 1965 - Ferdinand E. Marcos is elected by a big majority as president.

● 1972 - Martial Law was declared by President Marcos. This period is marked with human rights abuses
and corruption.

● 1981 - Marcos lifts Martial Law.

● 1983 - Opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino returns from exile and is assassinated on arrival at
Manila International Airport; Aquino's widow Corazon leads the "People Power" protest movement.

● 1986 - Marcos was officially declared winner in a presidential election beating Corazon Aquino amid
charges of fraud; demonstrations erupt; Marcos flees to Hawaii; Aquino is declared president and forms a
new government.

● 1992 - Endorsed by Aquino, her Secretary of Defense Gen. Fidel Ramos wins presidential election. U.S.
Philippine congress rejects a new treaty with the U.S. and Subic Bay naval base and Clark Air Field returns
to Philippine government, ending American military presence in the Philippines.

● 1996 - The government of Ramos agrees to greater autonomy for southern island of Mindanao. Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) ends the guerrilla war with the government.

● 1997 - Asian financial crisis grips Asia and the Philippines escapes the crisis despite series of currency
devaluations.

● 1998 - Former movie actor Joseph Estrada is elected president.

● 2000 - On charges of corruption, the lower house impeach Estrada.

● 2001 - Estrada was forced to step down due to public outrage over corruption allegations. Vice
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumes the presidency.

● 2004 - Presidential election takes place. Arroyo's closest rival (a dear friend of Ex-President Estrada) is
film actor Fernando Poe, Jr. Arroyo narrowly defeats Poe, taking 39.5% of the vote to Poe's 36.6%.

● 2005 - A taped conversation between President Arroyo & an election official surfaced during the 2004
elections implying she influenced the official election results. Calls for her resignation and demonstrations
followed soon after. In September 2005, Congress voted down the filing of an impeachment against
Arroyo.

● 2007 - Former President Joseph Estrada is convicted of plunder, the first ever in the history of the
Philippines.

● 2010 - First automated national elections in the Philippines.

● 2010 - Benigno "Noynoy" Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III wins the Presidential elections and sworn in at
Manila's Rizal Park on June 30, 2010.

● 2016 - Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte, the former Mayor of Davao City assumes the Presidency. He is the
first president to come from Mindanao.
 Spanish Expeditions to the Philippines

The Magellan Expedition

March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan's expedition landed on Homonhon island in the Philippines. He
was the first European to reach the islands. Rajah Humabon of Cebu was friendly with Magellan and
embraced Christianity, but their enemy, Lapu-Lapu was not. Humabon wanted Magellan to kill Lapu-Lapu
while Magellan wanted to convert Lapu-Lapu into Christianity.

On April 17, 1521, Magellan sailed to Mactan and ensuing battle killed Magellan by the natives lead by
Lapu-Lapu. Out of the five ships and more than 300 men who left on the Magellan expedition in 1519,
only one ship (the Victoria) and 18 men returned to Seville, Spain on September 6, 1522. Nevertheless,
the said expedition was considered historic because it marked the first circumnavigation of the globe and
proved that the world was round.

Juan Sebastian de Elcano, the master of ship "Concepcion" took over the command of the expedition
after the death of Magellan and captained the ship "Victoria" back to Spain. He and his men earned the
distinction of being the first to circumnavigate the world in one full journey. After Magellan's death in
Cebu, it took 16 more months for Elcano to return to Spain. The Magellan expedition started off through
the westward route and returning to Spain by going east; Magellan and Elcano's entire voyage took
almost three years to complete.

Spain sends other expedition

After the Spain had celebrated Elcano’s return, King Charles I decided that Spain should conquer the
Philippines. Five subsequent expeditions were then sent to the Islands. These were led by Garcia Jofre
Loaisa (1525), Sebastian Cabot (1526), Alvaro de Saavedra (1527), Ruy Lopez de Villalobos (1542) and
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (1564). Only the last two actually reached the Philippines; and only Legazpi
succeeded in colonizing the Islands.

The Villalobos Expedition

Ruy Lopez de Villalobos set sail for the Philippines from Navidad, Mexico on November 1, 1542. He
followed the route taken by Magellan and reached Mindanao on February 2, 1543. He established
a colony in Sarangani but could not stay long because of insufficient food supply. His fleet left the island
and landed on Tidore in the Moluccas, where they were captured by the Portuguese.

Villalobos is remembered for naming our country “Islas Filipinas,” in honor of King Charles’ son, Prince
Philip, who later became king of Spain.

The Legazpi Expedition

Since none of the expedition after Magellan from Loaisa to Villalobos had succeeded in taking over the
Philippines, King Charles I stopped sending colonizers to the Islands. However, when Philip II succeeded
his father to the throne in 1556, he instructed Luis de Velasco, the viceroy of Mexico, to prepare a new
expedition – to be headed by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who would be accompanied by Andres de
Urdaneta, a priest who had survived the Loaisa mission.
On February 13, 1565, Legaspi's expedition landed in Cebu island. After a short struggle with the natives,
he proceeded to Leyte, then to Camiguin and to Bohol. There Legaspi made a blood compact with the
chieftain, Datu Sikatuna as a sign of friendship. Legaspi was able to obtain spices and gold in Bohol due
to his friendship with Sikatuna. On April 27, 1565, Legaspi returned to Cebu; destroyed the town of Raja
Tupas and establish a settlement. On orders of the King Philip II, 2,100 men arrived from Mexico. They
built the the port of Fuerza de San Pedro which became the Spanish trading outpost and stronghold for
the region.

Hearing of the riches of Manila, an expedition of 300 men headed by Martin de Goiti left Cebu for
Manila. They found the islands of Panay and Mindoro. Goiti arrived in Manila on May 8, 1570. At first they
were welcomed by the natives and formed an alliance with Rajah Suliman, their Muslim king but as the
locals sensed the true objectives of the Spaniards, a battle between the troops of Suliman and the
Spaniards erupted. Because the Spaniards are more heavily armed, the Spaniards were able to conquer
Manila. Soon after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived to join Goiti in Manila. Legaspi built alliances and
made peace with Rajahs Suliman, Lakandula and Matanda. In 1571, Legaspi ordered the construction
of the walled city of Intramuros and proclaimed it as the seat of government of the colony and the capital
of the islands. In 1572, Legaspi died and was buried at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros. In 1574,
Manila was bestowed the title "Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad de España" (Distinguished and ever loyal
city of Spain) by King Philip II of Spain.

Why the Philippines was easily conquered

The best possible explanation is that the natives lacked unity and a centralized form of government.
Although the barangays already functioned as units of governance, each one existed independently of the
other, and the powers that each Datu enjoyed were confined only to his own barangay. No higher
institution united the barangays, and the Spaniards took advantage of this situation. They used the
barangays that were friendly to them in order to subdue the barangays that were not.

Galleon Trade
When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, our ancestors were already trading with China, Japan, Siam,
India, Cambodia, Borneo and the Moluccas. The Spanish government continued trade relations with these
countries, and the Manila became the center of commerce in the East. The Spaniards closed the ports
of Manila to all countries except Mexico. Thus, the Manila–Acapulco Trade, better known as the "Galleon
Trade" was born. The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly. Only two galleons were used: One
sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000 pesos worth of goods, spending 120 days at sea; the
other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos worth of goods spending 90 days at sea.

It also allowed modern, liberal ideas to enter the country, eventually inspiring the movement
for independence from Spain. And because the Spaniards were so engrossed in making profits from
the Galleon Trade, they hardly had any time to further exploit our natural resources.

Basco’s Reforms
Filipino farmers and traders finally had a taste of prosperity when Governor General Jose Basco y
Vargas instituted reforms intended to free the economy from its dependence on Chinese and Mexican
trade. Basco implemented a “general economic plan” aimed at making the Philippines self-sufficient. He
established the “Economic Society of Friends of the Country”, which gave incentives to farmers for
planting cotton, spices, and sugarcane; encouraged miners to extract gold, silver, tin, and copper; and
rewarded investors for scientific discoveries they made.

Tobacco Monopoly
The tobacco industry was placed under government control during the administration of Governor
General Basco. In 1781, a tobacco monopoly was implemented in the Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos
Sur, La Union, Isabela, Abra, Nueva Ecija, and Marinduque. Each of these provinces planted nothing but
tobacco and sold their harvest only to the government at a pre-designated price, leaving little for the
farmers. No other province was allowed to plant tobacco. The government exported the tobacco to other
countries and also part of it to the cigarette factories in Manila.

The tobacco monopoly successfully raised revenues for the colonial government and made Philippine
tobacco famous all over Asia.

The Opening of the Suez Canal

The Suez Canal, which connected the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, was inaugurated in 1869. It
was built by a French engineer named Ferdinand de Lesseps. By passing through the Canal, vessels
journeying between Barcelona and Manila no longer had to pass by the Cape of Good Hope, at the
southern tip of Africa. Thus, they were able to shorten their traveling time from three months to 32 days.

Thanks to the Suez Canal, trading in the Philippines became increasingly profitable. More and more
foreign merchants and businessmen came to the colony, bringing with them a lot of progressive ideas.
The Filipinos not only gained more knowledge and information about the world at large; they also gained
the desire for freedom and improvement in their lives.

The Secularization Controversy

Two kinds of priests served the Catholic Church in the Philippines. These were the regulars and the
seculars. Regular priests belonged to religious orders. Their main task was to
spread Christianity. Examples were the Franciscans, Recollects, Dominicans, and Augustinians. Secular
priests did not belong to any religious order. They were trained specifically to run the parishes and were
under the supervision of the bishops.

Conflict began when the bishops insisted on visiting the parishes that were being run by regular priests. It
was their duty, they argued, to check on the administration of these parishes. But the regular priests
refused these visits, saying that they were not under the bishop’s jurisdiction. They threatened
to abandon their parishes if the bishops persisted.

In 1774, Archbishop Basilio Santa Justa decided to uphold the diocese’s authority over the parishes
and accepted the resignations of the regular priests. He assigned secular priests to take their place. Since
there were not enough seculars to fill all the vacancies the Archbishop hastened the ordination of Filipino
seculars. A royal decree was also issued on November 9, 1774, which provided for the secularization of all
parishes or the transfer of parochial administration from the regular friars to the secular priests.

The regulars resented the move because they considered the Filipinos unfit for the priesthood. Among
other reasons they cited the Filipinos’ brown skin, lack of education, and inadequate experience.
The controversy became more intense when the Jesuits returned to the Philippines. They had been exiled
from the country because of certain policies of the order that the Spanish authorities did not like.

The issue soon took on a racial slant. The Spaniards were clearly favouring their own regular priest over
Filipino priests.

Monsignor Pedro Pelaez, ecclesiastical governor of the Church, sided with the Filipinos. Unfortunately,
he died in an earthquake that destroyed the Manila Cathedral in 1863. After his death, other priests took
his place in fighting for the secularization movement. Among them were Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos and Jacinto Zamora.

The Death of Gomburza & The Propaganda Movement

In February 17, 1872, Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (Gomburza),
all Filipino priest, was executed by the Spanish colonizers on charges of subversion. The charges against
Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora was their alleged complicity in the uprising of workers at the Cavite
Naval Yard. The death of Gomburza awakened strong feelings of anger and resentment among the
Filipinos. They questioned Spanish authorities and demanded reforms. The martyrdom of the three
priests apparently helped to inspire the organization of the Propaganda Movement, which aimed to seek
reforms and inform Spain of the abuses of its colonial government.

The illustrados led the Filipinos’ quest for reforms. Because of their education and newly acquired
wealth, they felt more confident about voicing out popular grievances. However, since the illustrados
themselves were a result of the changes that the Spanish government had been slowly implementing, the
group could not really push very hard for the reforms it wanted. The illustrados did not succeeded in
easing the sufferings of the Filipinos; but from this group arose another faction called the
intelligentsia. The intelligentsia also wanted reforms; but they were more systematic and used a peaceful
means called the Propaganda Movement.

Goals of the Propaganda Movement

Members of the Propaganda Movement were called propagandists or reformists. They worked inside
and outside the Philippines. Their objectives were to seek:

▪ Recognition of the Philippines as a province of Spain

▪ Equal status for both Filipinos and Spaniards
▪ Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes
▪ Secularization of Philippine parishes.
▪ Recognition of human rights

The Propaganda Movement never asked for Philippine independence because its members believed that
once Spain realized the pitiful state of the country, the Spaniards would implement the changes the
Filipinos were seeking.

The Propagandists
The Filipinos in Europe were much more active in seeking reforms than those in Manila. They could
be divided into three groups: The first included Filipinos who had been exiled to the Marianas Islands in
1872 after being implicated in the Cavite Mutiny. After two many years in the Marianas, they proceeded
to Madrid and Barcelona because they could no longer return to the Philippines. The second group
consisted of illustrados in the Philippines who had been sent to Europe for their education. The third
group was composed of Filipinos who had fled their country to avoid punishment for a crime, or simply
because they could not stand Spanish atrocities any longer. Still, not all Filipinos living in Spain were
members of the Propaganda Movement. Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez Jaena and Marcelo H. del Pilar were it
most prominent members.

Lopez Jaena was a brilliant orator who wrote such pieces as "Fray Botod," "Esperanza," and "La Hija del
Fraile," which all criticized the abuses of Spanish friars in the Philippines. Del Pilar was an excellent
writer and speaker who put up the newspaper Diarion Tagalog in 1882. His favorite topic was the friars.
Some of his most popular writings included "Caiingat Cayo", "Dasalan at Tocsohan," and "Ang Sampung
Kautusan ng mga Prayle". "Caingat Cayo" was a pamphlet answering the criticisms received by Jose
Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere. "Dasalan…" was parody of the prayer books used by the Church, while
"Ang Sampung Kautusan…" was a satirical take on the Ten Commandments, which highly ridiculed the
Spanish friars.

Jose Rizal was recognized as the great novelist of the Propaganda Movement. He was the first
Filipino become famous for his written works. He wrote a poem entitled “Sa Aking mga Kababata” when
he was only eight years old. His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, clearly depicted the
sufferings of the Filipinos and the rampant abuses committed by the friars in the colony. Because of
his criticisms of the government and the friars, Rizal made a lot of enemies. He was executed at
Bagumbayan (later renamed Luneta Park and now called Rizal Park) on December 30, 1896.

The writings produced by the Propaganda Movement inspired Andres Bonifacio and other radicals to
establish the Katipunan and set the Philippine Revolution in place.

La Solidaridad & La Liga Filipina

La Liga Filipina

In 1892, Jose Rizal (full name: Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo) returned to the Philippines and
proposed the establishment of a civic organization called “La Liga Filipina.” On July 3, 1892, the following
were elected as its officers: Ambrosio Salvador, president: Agustin dela Rosa, fiscal;
Bonifacio Arevalo, treasurer; and Deodato Arellano, secretary. Rizal functioned as its adviser.

La Liga Filipina aimed to:

▪ Unite the whole country

▪ Protect and assist all members
▪ Fight violence and injustice
▪ Support education
▪ Study and implement reforms

La Liga Filipina had no intention of rising up in arms against the government; but the Spanish officials still
felt threatened. On July 6, 1892 only three days after La Liga Filipina’s establishment, Jose Rizal was
secretly arrested. The next day, Governor General Eulogio Despujol ordered Rizal’s deportation to
Dapitan, Zamboanga.

La Liga Filipina's membership was active in the beginning; but later, they began to drift apart. The rich
members wanted to continue supporting the Propaganda Movement; but the others seemed to have lost
all hope that reforms could still be granted. Andres Bonifacio was one of those who believed that the
only way to achieve meaningful change was through a bloody revolution.

La Solidaridad

In order to help achieve its goals, the Propaganda Movement put up its own newspaper, called La
Solidaridad. The Soli, as the reformists fondly called their official organ, came out once every two weeks.
The first issue saw print was published on November 15, 1895.

The Solidaridad’s first editor was Graciano Lopez Jaena. Marcelo H. del Pilar took over in October
1889. Del Pilar managed the Soli until it stopped publication due to lack of funds.

Why the Propaganda Movement Failed

The propaganda movement did not succeed in its pursuit of reforms. The colonial government did
not agree to any of its demands. Spain itself was undergoing a lot of internal problems all that time, which
could explain why the mother country failed to heed the Filipino’s petitions. The friars, on the other hand,
were at the height of their power and displayed even more arrogance in flaunting their influence. They
had neither the time nor the desire to listen to the voice of the people.

Many of the reformists showed a deep love for their country, although they still failed to maintain a
united front. Because most of them belonged to the upper middle class, they had to exercise caution in
order to safeguard their wealth and other private interests. Personal differences and petty quarrels, apart
from the lack of funds, were also a hindrance to the movements success. Lastly, no other strong and
charismatic leader emerged from the group aside from Jose Rizal. Continue to The Katipunan.
The Katipunan Finally Starts a Revolution

The Katipunan is born

Andres Bonifacio was also a member of La Liga Filipina, although he soon lost hope in gaining reforms
though peaceful means. This feeling was especially heightened when Jose Rizal was exiled to Dapitan.
Bonifacio became convinced that the only way the Philippines could gain independence was through a
revolution.

Bonifacio then founded the “Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” (KKK)
on July 7, 1892 in a house on Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo Manila.

The Katipunan had colorful beginnings. As a symbol of the member’s loyalty, they performed the solemn
rite of sanduguan (blood compact), wherein each one signed his name with his own blood.

The members agreed to recruit more people using the “triangle system” of enlistment. Each original
member would recruit tow new members who were not related to each other. Each new member would
do the same thing, and so on down the line. Members were also asked to contribute one Real (about 25
centavos) each month in order to raise funds for the association.

The KKK members agreed on the following objectives:

▪ The political goal was to completely separate the Philippines from Spain after declaring the country’s
independence.
▪ The moral goal was to teach the Filipinos good manners, cleanliness, hygiene, fine morals, and how to
guard themselves against religious fanaticism.
▪ The civic goal was to encourage Filipinos to help themselves and to defend the poor oppressed.

The “Kataastaasang Sanggunian” (supreme council) was the highest governing body of the Katipunan. It
was headed by a supremo, or president. Each province had a “Sangguaniang Bayan” (Provincial Council)
and each town had a “Sangguniang Balangay” (Popular Council).

The Leaders of the Katipunan:

▪ Deodato Arellano -Supremo

▪ Ladislao Diwa -Fiscal
▪ Teodora Plata -Secretary
▪ Valentine Diaz -treasurer
▪ Andres Bonifacio -controller

Jose Rizal and the Katipunan

Jose Rizal never became involved in the organization and activities of the Katipunan; but the
Katipuneros still looked up to him as a leader. In fact, Rizal’s name was used as a password among the
society’s highest-ranking members, who were called bayani.

Andres Bonifacio had already known Rizal during his La Liga Filipina days, although Rizal did not know
Bonifacio personally Nevertheless, Bonifacio so respected Rizal’s intelligence and talent that in June 1896,
he sent Dr. Pio Valenzuela to Dapitan to seek Rizal’s advice on the planned revolution.

Rizal told Valenzuela that the timing was not right for a revolution. The people were not yet ready and
they did not have enough weapons. He suggested that the Katipunan obtain the support of wealthy and
influential Filipinos first, in order to gain financial assistance. He also recommended Antonio Luna as
commander of its armed forces, since Luna had much knowledge and expertise in military tactics.

Valenzuela returned to Manila on June 26 and relayed Rizal’s advice to Bonifacio, who admitted that it
would indeed be fatal for the Filipinos to fight without enough weapons. However, there was no stopping
the Revolution. Bonifacio ordered his men to prepare for battle. He directed them to store enough food
and other supplies. Battle plans were made with the help of Emilio Jacinto. It was suggested that the
revolutionary headquarters be located near the seas or mountains to provide for an easy retreat, if
necessary.

The Katipunan is Discovered

Rumors about a secret revolutionary society had long been in circulation, although no solid evidence
could be found to support them. The big break as far as the Spanish authorities was concerned, came on
August 19, 1896 when a KKK member, Teodoro Patiño told his sister Honoria about the existence of the
Katipunan. Patiño was a worker in the printing press of Diario de Manila. Honoria was then living with
nuns in a Mandaluyong orphanage.
The information upset Honoria so much that she told the orphanage’s Mother Superior , Sor Teresa de
Jesus, what her brother had revealed. Sor Teresa suggested they seek the advice of Father Mariano Gil,
the parish priest of Tondo.

After hearing Patiño’s revelations, Father Mariano Gil-accompanied by several Guardias Civiles
immediately searched the premises of Diario de Manila and found evidence of the Katipunan’s existence.
The governor general was quickly informed. The printing press was padlocked and hundreds of suspected
KKK members were arrested.
The Cry of Pugadlawin

News about the discovery of the Katipunan spread to Manila and nearby suburbs, and Andres
Bonifacio immediately called for a general meeting. Various wings of the Katipunan gathered at the
house of Juan Ramos in Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896. Ramos was the son of Melchora Aquino, also
known as “Tandang Sora” and was later acknowledged as the Mother of the Katipunan."

Bonifacio asked his men whether they were willing to fight to the bitter end. Everyone shouted
their approval, except for Teodoro Plata, who though that it was too soon for a revolution. Heartened by
his men’s response, Bonifacio then asked them to tear their cedulas (residence certificates) to pieces, as a
sign of their defiance and determination to rise against the Spaniards. The men immediately tore up their
cedulas, shouting, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas (long live the Philippines) -known as the Cry of Pugadlawin.

The Katipunan in Cavite

Cavite soon became the center of the Revolution, and the Katipuneros there divided themselves into the
Magdalo and Magdiwang factions. Baldomero Aguinaldo, brother of Emilio Aguinaldo, headed the
Magdalo group, which was stationed in Kawit. General Mariano Alvarez led the Magdiwang group,
which was stationed in Noveleta.

The two groups fought in separate battles. Emilio Aguinaldo overran Kawit on August 31, 1896, while
Alvarez attacked Noveleta. In Bacoor, Aguinaldo tried to intercept Spanish reinforcements coming from
Manila; but he was repulsed and forced to retreat to nearby Imus. Here, on the morning of September 5,
he defeated the Spanish troops under the command of General Aguirre. A hundred Spaniards were
killed and 60 weapons were confiscated. Aguinaldo was hailed as a hero. The adoring Caviteños referred
to him as “General Miong” and no longer “Kapitan Miong.”

General Aguinaldo’s numerous victories in the battlefield made him the acknowledged revolutionary
leader in Cavite. He issued a proclamation on October 31, 1896 enjoining the people to take courage and
continue fighting for Philippine independence.

Owing to the defeat of the Spaniards in Cavite, Camilo de Polavieja replaced Ramon Blanco as
governor general on December 13, 1896. Polavieja was more successful than his predecessor and slowly
regained one-third of the province.

Andres Bonifacio's Execution

While Aguinaldo was recognized as leader by the Magdalo faction, Bonifacio was recognized as the leader
of the Katipunan by the Magdiwang faction. An assembly was held in Imus, Cavite on December 31, 1897
to settle the leadership issue but was not successful. Then on March 22, another assembly was held at
Tejeros (known as the Tejeros Convention) to elect officers of the revolutionary government. Aguinaldo
won as president while Bonifacio was relegated as the Director of the Interior. Bonifacio rejected the
elections and declared it void. Bonifacio later formed the Naic Military Agreement, essentially creating a
government contending Aguinaldo's. Soon after, Bonifacio was captured, stood trial, and was sentenced to
death by a War Council of Aguinaldo's government. Aguinaldo initially commuted the sentence to
deportation but later reversed the commutation upon pressure from Pio Del Pilar and other officers. On
orders from General Mariano Noriel, Andres Bonifacio was executed at the foothills of Mt. Buntis by
Major Lazaro Makapagal on May 10, 1897.

The Revolution Continues

Bonifacio’s death did not deter the Filipinos from fighting for their freedom. The Spanish government, for
its part, doubled its efforts in trying to control Cavite, which was considered the seat of the Revolution.
When Governor General Primo de Rivera replaced Camilo Polavieja on April 27, 1897, he immediately
marched to Naic, Cavite to persuade the Filipinos to surrender. The rebels, however, stood their ground.

Aguinaldo realized that Cavite was no longer safe for his men. They moved to Batangas, where they
temporarily set up camp in the town of Talisay. However, Spanish soldiers were able to pursue them
there. Thus, they retreated to Morong on June 10, 1897 and proceeded to Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan.
The Biak-na Bato Republic

Emilio Aguinaldo established his headquarters in Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan province. The news
immediately spread throughout the country, and the revolutionaries were once more in high spirits.
General llanera, who was in Nueva Ecija, declared his support for Aguinaldo. In July 1897, Aguinaldo
established the Biak-na-Bato Republic and issued a proclamation stating the following demands:

▪ Expulsion of the friars and the return of the friar lands to the Filipinos
▪ Representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes
▪ Freedom of the press and of religion
▪ Abolition of the government’s power to banish Filipinos
▪ Equality for all before the law.

A charter based on the Cuban Constitution was also drafted by Felix Ferrer and Isabelo Artacho. It was
signed on November 1, 1897. The Biak-na-Bato Constitution provided for the establishment of a Supreme
council that would serve as the highest governing body of the Republic. It also outlined certain basic
human rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to education. Emilio
Aguinaldo and Mariano Trias were elected Supreme Council president and vice president,
respectively.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato

Pedro Paterno, a Spaniard born in the Philippines volunteered to act as negotiator between Aguinaldo
and Gov. Primo de Rivera in order to end the clashes. Paterno’s effort paid off when on, December 15,
1897, the Pact he sign the Pact as the representative of the revolutionaries, and de Rivera as the
representative of the Spanish government. The Leaders are: Emilio Aguinaldo-President, Mariano
Trias-Vice President, Antonio Montenegro-Secretary, Baldomero Aguinaldo-Treasurer, and
Emilio Riego de Dios.

On December 23, 1897, Generals Celestino Tejero and Ricardo Monet of the Spanish army arrived in
Biak-na-Bato and became hostages of the rebels. A ceasefire was declared by both camps and an
agreement between Aguinaldo and the Spanish forces was made -that the Spanish government will grant
self-rule to the Philippines in 3 years if Aguinaldo went to exile and surrender his arms. In exchange,
Aguinaldo will receive P800,000 (Mexican Pesos) as remuneration to the revolutionaries and an amnesty.
After receiving a partial payment of P400,000, Aguinaldo left for Hong Kong on December 27, 1897. Some
Filipino generals, however, did not believe in the sincerity of the Spaniards. They refused to surrender
their arms. Nevertheless, the Te Deum was still sung on January 23, 1898.

The Biak-na-Bato Pact Fails

The Filipino’s and the Spaniards did not trust each other. As a result, periodic clashes between the two
groups still took place even after Aguinaldo’s departure from the country. The Spanish did not pay the
entire agreed amount.
The Spanish-American War

The US Helps Cuba

One year before the historic Cry of Pugad Lawin, a revolution broke out in Cuba -another
Spanish Colony that rose against the rampant abuses of the Spaniards. It became independent in 1898
after three years of revolt, with the help of United States. The Americans were supportive of the Cubans
for various reasons:

▪ First- the US is a free country and Advocated democracy and freedom.

▪ 2nd- the US wants to protect its huge economic interest in Cuba, in the amount of $50,000,000.
▪ 3rd- a lot of stories reached the United States about Spanish maltreatment of Americans living in Cuba
and this greatly angered the US citizens.
▪ Finally, since Cuba was located very near the US it was deemed covered by the protective mantle of the
Monroe Doctrine.

The US interest in the Philippines

At that time Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt , wanted a war to erupt between
the US and Spain so he could strengthen and expand the US Navy, he immediately put his plan into place.
On February 25, 1896, he ordered Commodore George Dewey to make Hong Kong the headquarters
of the American Asiatic Squadron. He also directed Dewey to attack Manila Bay and destroy the Spanish
fleet, the moment hostilities between Spain and US breakout.

The Spanish-American War

Spain did not relish American intervention in its affairs. However, with the Philippine and Cuban
revolutions going on, it could not afford to add the Americans to its enemy list, especially since the United
States had more advanced technology and weaponry. In the face of Spain’s declining power, it tried to
repair its rift with the US in order to avoid a disastrous war. On February 15, 1898, however a fateful
event accrued in Cuba. The American warship Maine was blown up in Havana harbor, resulting in the
death of its 260 officers and crewmembers. Although it was not proven that the Spaniards had sunk the
Maine, the Americans called for war against Spain. Roosevelt was one of many US officials who
considered the destruction of the Maine as act of treason and supported the declaration of war.

Spain declared war on the United States on April 23, 1898. The United Sates declared war against Spain on
April 25, 1898. On May 1, 1898, the United States Navy lead by Commodore George Dewey crushed
the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay and the Spanish naval base at Sangley Point in Cavite. By June, 1898,
the American had control of portions of the Philippine islands. The Spanish-American War ended with the
Treaty of Paris signed on December 10, 1898. The treaty conferred ownership of the Spanish colonies of
Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the United States. In turn, the U.S. paid Spain US$ 20 million.

The Battle of Manila Bay

George Dewey, then a Commodore United States Navy’s Asiatic Squadron was waiting in Hong Kong
when He received a cable from the then secretary of Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, stating that the war had
begun between the US and Spain. Dewey sailed from Hong Kong on board his flagship Olympia with six
other heavily armed ships. He brought with him a report on the location of the Spanish ships in
Corregidor and Manila at dawn of May 1, 1898. Dewey entered Manila Bay almost undetected. When he
saw the Spanish ships, which were under the command of General Patricio Montoya, he ordered his
men to fire. The battle began at 5:41 in the morning and by 12:30 of the same day, the Spaniards were
raising the white flag in surrender. Although The Spanish ships outnumbered those of the Americans; the
weapons of the Americans were far more superior to those of the Spaniards. The battle proved to be too
costly for the Spaniards, who lost 167 men and had 214 others wounded. As for the Americans, no ships
were destroyed, and no soldier was killed or injured. The Battle of Manila Bay is considered one of
the easiest encounters ever won in world history.

The Siege of Manila

By June 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo had captured the whole of Luzon and was ready to storm
Manila with the help of Gregorio del Pilar, Artemio Recarte, Antonio Montenegro, Pantaleon
Garcia, and many other able generals. At that time, the term “Manila” referred to the walled city of
Intramuros. Aguinaldo’s men surrounded the walls of Intramuros. Nearby areas like Tondo, Sta. Cruz, San
Juan, and Caloocan were likewise secured. The Spaniards stubbornly hoped for the arrival of
reinforcements from the Spanish mainland, but none ever came. Aguinaldo on the other hand, was firmly
convinced that it just was a matter of days before the Spaniards surrendered. Therefore, he started
planning for the declaration of Philippine independence.

The Philippine Revolutionary Government

The Malolos Congress

Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree on July 18, 1898 asking for the election of delegates to the
revolutionary congress, another decree was promulgated five days later, which declared that Aguinaldo
would appoint representatives of congress because holding elections is not practical at that time. He
appointed 50 delegates in all (but this number fluctuated from time to time). In accordance with these
two decrees, Aguinaldo assembled the Revolutionary Congress at the Brasoain Church in Malolos,
Bulacan on September 15, 1898.

The atmosphere was festive and the Pasig Band played the national anthem. After Aguinaldo had read his
speech congressional elections were held among the delegates present. The following were among the
most important achievements of the Malolos Congress:

1. In September 29, 1898, ratified the declaration of Philippine independence held at Kawit, Cavite on
June 12, 1898
2. Passage of a law that allowed the Philippines to borrow P 20 million from banks for government
expenses
3. Establishment of the Universidad Literatura de Filipinas and other schools
4. Drafting of the Philippine Constitution
5. Declaring war against the United States on June 12, 1899

Malolos Constitution

A committee headed by Felipe Calderon and aided by Cayetano Arellano, the constitution was
drafted, for the first time by representatives of the Filipino people and it is the first republican
constitution in Asia. The constitution was inspired by the constitutions of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica,
Brazil, Belgium and France. After some minor revisions (mainly due to the objections of Apolinario
Mabini), the final draft of the constitution was presented to Aguinaldo. This paved the way to launching
the first Philippine Republic. It established a democratic, republication government with three branches -
the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial branches. It called for the separation of church and state. The
executive powers were to be exercise by the president of the republic with the help of his cabinet. Judicial
powers were given to the Supreme Court and other lower courts to be created by law. The Chief justice of
the Supreme Court was to be elected by the legislature with the concurrence of the President and his
Cabinet.

First Philippine Republic

The first Philippine Republic was inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan on January 21, 1899. After being
proclaimed president, Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath of office. The constitution was read article by article
and followed by a military parade. Apolinario Mabini was elected as a prime minister. The other cabinet
secretaries were: Teodoro Sandico, interior; Baldomero Aguinaldo, war; Gen. Mariano Trias, finance &
war; Apolinario Mabini, foreign affairs; Gracio Gonzaga for welfare, Aguedo Velarde, public instruction;
Maximo Paterno, public works & communication; and Leon María Guerrero for agriculture, trade &
commerce.

The Philippine National Anthem

Aguinaldo commissioned Julian Felipe, a composer from Cavite province was asked to write an an
instrumental march for the proclamation of independence ceremony. The original title was "Marcha
Filipina Magdalo". This was later changed to "Marcha Nacional Filipina". The lyrics was added in August
1899 based on the poem titled "Filipinas" by Jose Palma. The original lyrics was written in Spanish, then
to English (when the Flag Law was abolished during the American period) then later, was translated
to Tagalog, which underwent another change of title to “Lupang Hinirang”, the Philippine
National Anthem.

Filipino-American Hostilities

Emilio Aguinaldo agreed to hold a peace conference between Filipino and American leaders. The
conference lasted from January 9 to 29 in 1899. It ended without definite results, because
the Americans were actually just biding time, waiting for more reinforcements to arrive from the US.
Hostilities finally exploded between the Filipinos and Americans on February 4, 1899 in San Juan.
An American soldier named Robert Grayson, saw 4 armed Filipino men on San Juan Del Mote Bridge and
ordered them to stop, but they ignored him. This prompted Grayson to fire at the men, who
immediately fired back. The following day MacArthur ordered his troops to openly engage the Filipinos
in battle. The Filipino American War was on. From San Juan, American soldiers marched on to Pasig and
nearby areas. In a matter of days, they were able to overrun Guadalupe, Pateros, Marikina, and Caloocan.

General Antonio Luna and his men showed great heroism when they attacked Manila on the night of
February 24, 1899. They burned the living quarters of the Americans in Tondo and Binondo, and reached
as far as Azarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto Avenue), where they met by formidable American troops.
Luna was forced to retreat to Polo, Bulacan two days later. When American reinforcements arrived in the
Philippines, General Elwell Otis immediately attacked the northern part of Manila, while General Henry
Lawton went to the south. General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. marched to Malolos, which was then the
capital of the Philippine Republic. Malolos was taken on March 31, 1899. By this time, however,
Aguinaldo had already moved his headquarters to San Fernando, Pampanga. General Fredrick Funston
crossed the Pampanga River in April 1899 and entered San Fernando. On May 5, the Americans had
gained control of Pampanga. Fortunately, Aguinaldo was able to flee to San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

The death of Antonio Luna. A significant event that greatly weakened Aguinaldo’s forces was the death
of General Antonio Luna, acknowledged as the best and most brilliant military strategist of the
Philippine Revolution. He was brave, intelligent, and well educated; but he also had a fiery temper, and
was a strict disciplinarian. His harsh and rough manner earned him a lot of enemies, who latter plotted to
kill him. In June 1899 Luna was at his command post in Bayambang, Pangasinan when he received a
telegram allegedly sent by Aguinaldo. The telegram instructed him to proceed to Aguinaldo’s
headquarters in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. On June 5, Luna arrived at the headquarters, a convent on the
town plaza in Cabanatuan, but was told that Aguinaldo left for Tarlac. Angry, Luna went out of the
convent and was met and killed by Captain Pedro Janolino with Kawit, Cavite troops. General Luna was
buried at the nearby churchyard. Aguinaldo's role on his death is not clear and his killers were never
charged or investigated.

Aguinaldo Flees. Philippine military strategies began to fail with the death of Antonio Luna. The generals
started to disagree among themselves, and the Filipinos began losing battles. On November 13, 1899,
General Emilio Aguinaldo fled to Calasiao, Pangasinan with his wife, son, mother sister, and some
Cabinet members. The Americans followed in hot pursuit; but Aguinaldo still managed to elude them.
However, he soon realized that being constantly on the run put the women in his group at great
disadvantage. So, on December 25, 1899, he surrendered them to the American Aguinaldo then
continued his march from Pangasinan to Palanan, Isabela. There he stayed for some time, since the place
was mountainous and difficult to approach. Aguinaldo’s loyal men guarded all roads leading to the area.

End of the Philippine Revolution

Aguinaldo is Captured

Gen. Funston plotted the capture of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. On the night of March 6, 1901, He
boarded the American warship Vicksburg and docked at Casiguran Bay on March 14. From Palanan
Funston group reached Aguinaldo’s headquarters in Palanan on March 23, 1901. The Macabebe Scouts
pretended to have been sent by Lacuna, with the American officials as their prisoners. Thus Aguinaldo
have no idea of his impending capture until Tal Placido of the Macabebe Scouts embraced him.
The Americans then declared the arrest of Aguinaldo and his men in the name of the United States
government. Aguinaldo was brought to Manila and presented to then military Governor-
General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (father of General Douglas MacArthur) at Malacanang Palace. On
April 19, 1901 he finally pledged allegiance to the United States.

The Philippine Revolution Ends

The first to yield to the Americans was by General Simion Ola. He surrendered to Colonel Harry
Bandoltz in Guinobatan Albay on September 25.1903. Other revolutionaries soon followed.

Military Government

General Wesley Merritt was the highest-ranking American official in the Philippines after Spaniards
surrendered Manila on August 13, 1898. He established a military government and became the first
American Military governor of the Philippines. The objectives of the Military government are: 1) to
establish peace and order to the Philippines, and 2) to prepare Philippines for civil governance. The
government in the Philippines can be classified into opposition and collaboration. The Americans used
propaganda and other means to win the Filipinos to their side.

The Schurman

The first commission was chaired by Dr. Jacob G. Schurman, president of Cornell University. Thus it
became known as the Schurman Commission. Their group arrived on the Philippines on February 4, 1899.
The commission proposed the following:

1. Establish civil governments in areas were peace and order had been restored
2. Set up a bicameral legislature with members of the lower house to be all elective
3. Appoint American and Filipino member of the Upper house to head the cabinet
4. Preserve Philippine natural resources
5. Create a civil service system
6. Assign highly qualified Filipinos to important government positions

The US Congress adopted all the recommendation of the Schurman commission.

The Taft Commission

On March 16, 1900, United States President William McKinley appointed the then Judge William
Howard Taft to head the second Philippine Commission, which would also be known as the Taft
Commission. Taft would become Governor-General of the Philippines and later, the president of the U.S.

McKinley wanted to hasten the transition of the Philippine military government into a civil one. The Taft
Commissions was given executive and legislative powers it could use to achieve the President’s objective.

The Commission arrives in the Philippines on June 3, 1900. It began legislative work on September 1,
the first law it passed set aside P2 million for the construction of treads and bridges. From September
1900 to August 1902, the Commission was able to enact 440 pieces of legislation for the Philippines.
Some of these laws included the Municipal and Provincial codes, which established municipal
and provincial governments all over the country, and laws organizing the Philippine Constabulary and the
countries judicial system. Aside from enacting laws the commissions also visited various provinces and
help it in the government peace efforts.

The Spooner Amendment

The modification sponsored by Senator John C. Spooner, allowed the US president to fully administer
the Philippines. Thus, the military government of the Philippines was replaced with a civil one albeit
temporary pending the legislation of permanent colonial government by the United States.

Civil Government under Taft

The Philippine civil government was inaugurated on July 4, 1901, with William Howard Taft as its first
governor, the powers and duties of a governor were passed on to Taft. The Taft Commission continuing
functioning as legislative body. Cayetano Arellano was the first Filipino to hold a high position of
government he was named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on May 28, 1899. Gregorio Araneta was
appointed as Secretary of Justice and finance. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Benito Legarda, and Jose
Luzuriaga were selected as members of the Philippine Commissions.

The Philippine Commonwealth Era

The Commonwealth era is the 10 year transitional period in Philippine history from 1935 to 1945 in
preparation for independence from the United States as provided for under the Philippine
Independence Act or more popularly known as the Tydings-McDuffie Law. The Commonwealth era was
interrupted when the Japanese occupied the Philippines in January 2, 1942. The Commonwealth
government, lead by Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio S. Osmeña went into exile in the U.S., Quezon
died of tuberculosis while in exile and Osmeña took over as president. At the same time, the Japanese
forces installed a puppet government in Manila headed by Jose P. Laurel as president. This government is
known as the Second Philippine Republic. On October 20, 1944, the Allied forces led by Gen. Douglas
MacArthur landed on the island of Leyte to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese. Japan formally
surrendered in September 2, 1945.

After liberation, the Commonwealth government was restored. Congress convened in its first regular
session on July 9, 1945. It was the first time the people’s representatives have assembled since their
election on November 11, 1941. Manuel Roxas was elected Senate President, and Elpidio
Quirino was chosen President Pro Tempore. Jose Zulueta was speaker of the house, while Prospero
Sanidad became speaker pro Tempore. The first law of this congress, enacted as commonwealth act 672,
organized the central bank of the Philippines. The commonwealth deal also tackled the issue of
collaboration. In September 1945 the counter intelligence corps presented the people who were accused
of having collaborated with, or given aid to, the Japanese. Included were prominent Filipinos who had
been active in the puppet government that the Japanese had been established. ”A Peoples Court" was
created to investigate and decide on the issue.

Amidst this sad state of affairs, the third commonwealth elections were held on April 23, 1946. Sergio
Osmeña and Manuel Roxas vied for the Presidency. Roxas won thus becoming the last president of the
Philippine Commonwealth. The Commonwealth era formally ended when the United States granted
independence to the Philippines, as scheduled on July 4, 1946.

Important legislations and events during the American period that made the Philippines a commonwealth
of the United States:

The Philippine Bill of 1902 - Cooper Act

United States Congressman Henry Allen Cooper sponsored the Philippine Bill of 1902, also known as
the Cooper Act. The bill proposed the creation and administration of a civil government in the
Philippines. President Theodore Roosevelt signed it into law in July 2, 1902.

Here are some of the more important provisions of the Cooper Act:

▪ Ratification of all changes introduced in the Philippine government by the president of the U.S., such as
the establishment of the Philippine Commission, the office of the civil governor and the Supreme court
▪ Extension of the American Bill of Rights to the Filipinos except the right of trial by jury
▪ Creation of bicameral legislative body, with the Philippine Commission as the upper house and a still-to-
be-elected Philippine Assembly as the Lower House
▪ Retention of the executive powers of the civil governor, who was also president of the Philippine
Commission
▪ Designation of the Philippine Commission as the legislating authority for non-Christian tribes
▪ Retention of the Judicial powers of the Supreme court and other lower courts
▪ Appointment of two Filipino resident commissioners who would represent the Philippines in the US
Congress but would not enjoy voting rights
▪ Conservation of Philippine natural resources

The bill contained 3 provisions that had to be fulfilled first before the Philippine Assembly could be
establishing these were the:

▪ Complete restoration of peace and order in the Philippines

▪ Accomplishment of a Nationwide census
▪ Two years of peace and order after the publication of the census

The Philippine Assembly

The assembly was inaugurated on October 16, 1907 at the Manila Grand Opera House, with US secretary
of War William Howard Taft as guest of honor. Sergio Osmeña was elected Speaker while Manuel
Quezon was elected Majority Floor leader. The Recognition of the Philippine Assembly paved the way for
the establishment of the bicameral Philippine Legislature. The Assembly functioned as the lower House,
while the Philippine Commission served as the upper house.

Resident Commissioners

Benito Legarda and Pablo Ocampo were the first commissioners. Other Filipinos who occupied this
position included Manuel Quezon, Jaime de Veyra, Teodoro Yangco, Isaro Gabaldon,
and Camilo Osias.

The Jones Law

To further train the Filipinos in the art of government, the U.S. Congress enacted the Jones Law on August
29, 1916. It was the first official document that clearly promised the Philippine independence, as stated in
its preamble, as soon as a stable government was established. The Jones Law or the Philippine
Autonomy act, Replace the Philippine bill of 1902 as the framework of the Philippine government. It
provide for the creation of the executive powers. The vice governor general, assisted by his Cabinet,
would exercise executive powers. The vice governor would act concurrently as the Secretary of
Education.

Creation of the Council of State

Upon the recommendation of Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, Governor General
Francis Burton Harrison issued an executive order on October 16, 1981, creating the first Council of
State in the Philippines. It was the Council’s duty to advise the governor general on matters such as the
creation of policies for administering government offices.

The Council held meetings once a week and whenever the governor general called for one. It was
composed of the governor general, the department secretaries, the speaker of the Lower House, and the
Senate president. During Harrison’s term, the executive and legislative branches of government worked
harmoniously with each other.

The Os-Rox Mission

One delegation, however, that met with partial success was the Os-Rox Mission, so called because it was
headed by Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas. The Os-Rox group went to the United States in 1931 and
was able to influence the U.S. Congress to pass a pro-independence bill by Representative Butter Hare,
Senator Henry Hawes, and Senator Bronso Cutting. The Hare-Hawes-Cutting Law provided for a 10-
year transition period before the United States would recognize Philippine independence. U.S. President
Herbert Hooverdid not sign the bill; but both Houses of Congress ratified it. When the Os-Rox Mission
presented the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Law to the Philippine Legislature, it was rejected by a the American
High Commissioner representing the US president in the country and the Philippine Senate, specifically
the provision that gave the U.S. president the right to maintain land and other properties reserved for
military use. Manuel Quezon was tasked to head another independence mission to the united States.
The Tydings-McDuffie Law

In December 1933, Manuel L. Quezon returned to the Philippines from the United States with a slightly
amended version of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting bill authored by Senator Milliard Tydings and
representative McDuffie. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the new U.S. president, signed it into
law on March 24, 1934. The Tydings-McDuffie Act(officially the Philippine Independence Act of the United
States Congress; Public Law 73-127) or more popularly known as the The Tydings-McDuffie Law provided
for the establishment of the Commonwealth government for a period of ten years preparatory to the
granting of Independence.
The Philippine Independence Act is a U.S. law that provided for Philippine independence. It is a slightly
revised version of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 1933 but was vetoed by
U.S. President Hoover. The U.S. Congress overrode the veto but was rejected by the Philippine Senate
upon urgings of Manuel L. Quezon. Quezon wanted an amended bill. The new bill named, The Philippine
Independence Act was authored by Senator Milliard Tydings (Democrat) and Representative John
McDuffie (Democrat). The new president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, signed it into law on March 24, 1934.

The Philippine Independence Act

(Tydings-McDuffie Law)

Public Law 73-127

24 March 1934

An act to provide for the complete independence of the Philippine Islands, to provide for the adoption of
a constitution and a form of government for the islands, and for other purposes.

Salient provisions of the Tydings-McDuffie Law:

1. The organization of constitutional Convention that draw up the fundamental law of the land.
2. The election of the leaders of Philippine Commonwealth.
3. The recognition of Philippine independence on July 4, 19646.
4. The right of United States to establish military bases in the country.
5. Granting the United States president the power to call on all military forces of the Philippines into
service.
6. Reclassifying all Filipinos as aliens and limiting immigration to the United Sates to 50 persons per year.

The Tydings-McDuffie law also specified that the Philippines would practice neutrality. Meaning, it could
not go to war without permission of the United States except when it had to protect itself.

The Philippine Legislature ratified the Tydings-McDuffie law on May 1, 1934. From then on, Filipinos
busied themselves with preparations for the establishment of the Commonwealth government.

Philippine Independence from the Americans

The Philippine-American War erupted in February 4, 1899 in the struggle of the Filipinos for freedom
conflicting with the interests of America to become a world power by establishing overseas empire to
include the Philippines under the US imperial rule.
 The Filipino forces applied conventional, then guerrilla tactics in fighting against the US army as they
become fully aware, under the leadership of General Emilio Aguinaldo, of the strength of the US
military heavily equipped with superior firearms. Although, General Aguinaldo was captured in 1901, the
insurgencies, particularly by the Muslim Moros in the Southern part of the Philippines continued.
Nonetheless, America was preparing Philippines for independence that started with the creation of civil
government. The US President Woodrow Wilson promised Philippine Independence and started to
entrust authority over Filipino leaders with the establishment of the Philippine Senate by
a democratic election. The Philippine Commonwealth, with elected President Manuel L. Quezon, was
instituted in 1935 under the Tydings-McDuffie Act that granted Philippines its self-government, although
the legislative power was not absolute, which still required approval from the US President. At that time,
it was a good start towards the eventual Philippine Independence.

When the events were gearing towards Philippine independence as promised by the United States of
America, the Japanese invasion and occupation bolstered in a surprise. Bataan was surrendered to the
Japanese but President Quezon along with Osmeña fled to America. World War II broke out that created
immense damage to Filipinos with roughly about one million casualties. After the war , Manuel
Roxas was elected President in April 1946 for the independent Second Republic of the Philippines. In a
formal declaration, the American flag was lowered in Luneta, Manila and raised the Filipino National flag
in tri-color of red, white, and blue looked up by proud Filipinos. Finally, independence was granted to the
Republic of the Philippines dated July 4, 1946. The National anthem of the Philippines was played next to
America’s. It was indeed a moment of liberating glory, for all Filipinos after pools of blood were shed in
many revolutions.

July 4, however, holds less inspiration for the Filipinos according to the elected President of the Republic
of the Philippines in 1961, Diosdado Macapagal. Macapagal believes that the June 12,
1896 declaration of the Philippine independence by General Emilio Aguinaldo brings to memory the
heroes of the revolution and therefore, Philippine independence is best commemorated in honor of the
Filipino revolutionary heroes. Hence, President Macapagal changed the date of celebration of the
Philippine independence from July 4 to June 12, which the Filipinos celebrate each year up to this
time. Continue to The Philippines During Martial Law.

The Philippines During Martial Law

Proclamation of Martial Law: On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the
Philippines under Martial Law. The declaration issued under Proclamation 1081 suspended the civil
rights and imposed military authority in the country.

The emergency rule, according to Marcos’s plan, was to lead the country into what he calls a “New
Society”.

Marcos used several events to justify martial law. Threat to the country’s security was intensifying
following the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968. Supporters of
CPP’s military arm, the New People’s Army, also grew in numbers in Tarlac and other parts of the country.
The alleged attempt to the life of then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile gave Marcos a window
to declare Martial Law. Marcos announced the emergency rule the day after the shooting incident.
Marcos also declared insurgency in the south caused by the clash between Muslims and Christians, which
Marcos considered as a threat to national security. The Muslims were defending their ancestral land
against the control of Christians who migrated in the area. The minority group organized the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Malaysia and pushed for the autonomy of Mindanao from the
national government.

EDSA People Power Revolution

The Philippines was praised worldwide in 1986, when the so-called bloodless revolution erupted, called
EDSA People Power’s Revolution. February 25, 1986 marked a significant national event that has been
engraved in the hearts and minds of every Filipino.

Aquino’s death marked the day that Filipinos learned to fight. His grieving wife , Corazon Cojuangco-
Aquino showed the Filipinos and the world the strength and courage to claim back the democracy that
Ferdinand Marcos arrested for his personal caprice. Considering the depressing economy of the country,
Ninoy’s death further intensified the contained resentment of the Filipinos. In the efforts to win back his
popularity among the people, Marcos held a snap presidential election in February 7, 1986, where he was
confronted with a strong and potent opposition, Corazon Aquino. It was the most corrupt and deceitful
election held in the Philippine history. There was an evident trace of electoral fraud as the tally of votes
were declared with discrepancy between the official count by the COMELEC (Commission on Elections)
and the count of NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Elections). Such blatant corruption in that
election was the final straw of tolerance by the Filipinos of the Marcos regime. The demonstration started
to break in the cry for democracy and the demand to oust Marcos from his seat at Malacañang Palace.
The revolt commenced when Marcos' Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and the Armed Forces
Vice-Chief of Staff command of Fidel V. Ramos, both withdrew their support from the government and
called upon the resignation of then President Marcos. They responsibly barricaded Camp Crame and
Camp Aguinaldo and had their troops ready to combat against possible armed attack organized by
Marcos and his troops. The Catholic Church represented by Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin along with
the priests and nuns called for the support of all Filipinos who believed in democracy. Radyo Veritas aired
the message of Cardinal Sin that summoned thousands of Filipinos to march the street of EDSA. It was an
empowering demonstration that aimed to succeed peacefully with the intervention of faith. Nuns
kneeled in front of tanks with rosaries in their hands and uttering their prayers.

With the power of prayers, the armed marine troops under the command of Marcos withdrew from the
site. Celebrities expressed their support putting up a presentation to showcase the injustices and the
anomalies carried out by the Marcos administration. Finally, in the morning of February 25, 1986,
Corazon Aquino took the presidential oath of office, administered by the Supreme Court Associate Justice
Claudio Teehankee at Club Filipino located in San Juan. Aquino was proclaimed as the 11th President of
the Republic of the Philippines. She was the first lady president of the country. People rejoiced over their
victory proving the success of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution, the historic peaceful demonstration.
Although in 2001, there was an attempt to revive People Power in the efforts to oust then
President Joseph Estrada, it was not as strong as the glorifying demonstration in 1986. The bloodless,
People Power Revolution in EDSA renewed the power of the people, strengthened the meaning of
democracy and restored the democratic institutions of government.

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTS & VICE-PRESIDENTS LIST

FIRST REPUBLIC (Revolutionary government/The Philippines was still under Spanish rule)
Emilio Aguinaldo
(1899-1901) President: Emilio F. Aguinaldo
(1897?) Vice-President: Mariano C. Trias (elected VP during the Tejeros assembly)

COMMONWEALTH PERIOD (American Period)

Manuel L. Quezon
(1935-1944) President Manuel L. Quezon (Died in exile in the U.S.)
(1936-1944) Vice-President: Sergio S. Osmeña, Sr.

Sergio Osmenia, Sr.

(1944-1946) President: Sergio S. Osmeña, Sr. (Assumed the presidency upon the death of Quezon while
the Philippine Commonwealth government is in exile in the U.S.)

SECOND REPUBLIC (Japanese Occupation)

Jose P. Laurel
(1943-1945) President: Jose P. Laurel
(1943-1945) Vice-Presidents: Benigno Aquino, Sr. and Ramon Avancena

THIRD REPUBLIC
Manuel A. Roxas
(1946-1948) President: Manuel L. Roxas (Died of a heart attack)
(1946-1948) Vice-President: Elpidio R. Quirino

Elpidio R. Quirino
(1948-1953) President: Elpidio R. Quirino (Assumed the remaining term & re-elected)
(1949-1953) Vice-President: Fernando H. Lopez

Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.

(1953-1957) President: Ramon F. Magsaysay
(Magsaysay died in an airplane crash on March 16, 1957 on Mt. Manunggal in Cebu)
(1953-1957) Vice-President: Carlos P. Garcia

Carlos P. Garcia
(1957-1961) President: Carlos P. Garcia (Assumed the remaining term and re-elected)
(1957-1961) Vice-President: Diosdado P. Macapagal
 Diosdado Macapagal
(1961-1965) President: Diosdado P. Macapagal
(1961-1965) Vice-President: Emmanuel N. Pelaez

Ferdinand Marcos
(1965-1972) President: Ferdinand E. Marcos (the first to win 2 presidential terms)
(1965-1972) Vice-President: Fernando H. Lopez

FOURTH REPUBLIC (Martial Law, "The New Republic" & Parliamentary Government)
Ferdinand Marcos
(1972-1986) President: Ferdinand E. Marcos (unseated by the People Power Revolution)
(Marcos died in exile in Hawaii on September 28, 1989 of Lupus complications)
(1981-1986) Prime Minister Cesar E. A. Virata
(1986) Vice-President: Arturo M. Tolentino (proclaimed but did not serve due to the revolt)

FIFTH REPUBLIC (Under the new "People Power" Constitution)

President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino
(1986-1992) President: Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino
(1986-1992) Vice-President: Salvador H. Laurel

Pres. Fidel Valdez Ramos

(1992-1998) President Fidel V. Ramos
(1992-1998) Vice-President: Joseph Ejercito Estrada

Joseph Ejercito Estrada

(1998-2001) President: Joseph Ejercito Estrada (Deposed by "People Power")
(1998-2001) Vice-President: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
(2001-2010) President: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Assumed Estrada's remaining term & re-elected)
(2001-2004) Vice-President: Teofisto T. Guingona (1st term of Arroyo)
(2004-2010) Vice-President: Manuel "Noli" Leuterio de Castro (2nd term of Arroyo)
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, a.k.a. Noynoy Aquino
(2010-2016) President: Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III
(2010-2016) Vice-President: Jejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

(2016-Present) President: Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte a.k.a. Digong
(2016-Present) Vice-President: Maria Leonor "Leni" Santo Tomas Gerona-Robredo

President of the Senate of the Philippines

More popularly known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer and the highest ranking-official of
the Senate of the Philippines and third highest and most powerful official in the Government of the
Philippines. He/she is elected by the entire body to be their leader. The Senate President is second in
line in succession for the presidency, behind the Vice President of the Philippines and in front of the
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.
The Senate and the House of Representatives were merged into the unicameral National Assembly in
1935 at the onset of the Commonwealth period. It was replaced by the bicameral Commonwealth
Congress (CC) with the amendment of the 1935 Constitution in 1940, with the first election for a senate
elected at large held in November, 1941. However, the outbreak of World War II in the Philippines meant
that the Commonwealth Congress did not convene until 1945.
For leaders of the National Assembly, see Speakers of the National Assembly.
The current Senate President of the 17th Congress of the Philippines is Aquilino Pimentel III, who was
elected on July 25, 2016. He succeeded the former Senate President Franklin Drilon. The first senate
president is Manuel L. Quezon, Sr dating back August 29, 1916.

PHILIPPINE FLAG PICTURES EVOLUTION of the FILIPINO FLAG

Politics of the Philippines
Elections are administered by an independent Commission on Elections every three years starting 1992.
Held every second Monday of May, the winners in the elections take office on the following June 30.

LEGISLATIVE. Congress is a bicameral legislature. The upper house, the Senate, is composed of 24
senators elected via the plurality-at-large voting with the country as one at-large "district." The senators
elect amongst themselves a Senate President. The lower house is the House of Representatives, currently
composed of 292 representatives, with no more than 20% elected via party-list system, with the rest
elected from legislative districts. The House of Representatives is headed by the Speaker.

EXECUTIVE. Executive power is vested to the President; in practice however, the president delegates his
power to a cabinet. The president, who is both the head of state and head of government, is directly
elected to a single six-year term via first past the post. In case of death, resignation or incapacitation, the
Vice President acts as the president until the expiration of the term. The Vice President is elected
separately from the president, and may be of differing political parties. While the vice president has no
constitutional powers aside from acting as president when the latter is unable to do so, the president may
give the former a cabinet office. The cabinet is mostly composed of the heads of the executive
departments, which provide services to the people, and other cabinet-level officials.
The president is also the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, thereby ensuring
civilian supremacy over the military.

JUDICIARY. The judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court and other lower courts. The Supreme Court is
the court of last resort, and decides on constitutionality of laws via judicial review. The president selects
justices and judges from nominees given by the Judicial and Bar Council. The Court of Appeals is the
second highest appellate court, the Court of Tax Appeals rules on tax matters, and the Sandiganbayan
(People's Advocate) is a special court for alleged government irregularities. The Regional Trial Courts
(RTC) are the main trial courts. The Regional Trial Courts are based on judicial regions, which almost
correspond to the administrative regions. Each RTC has at least one branch in each province and handles
most of the criminal and civil cases; several branches of an RTC may be designated as family courts and
environmental courts. Metropolitan Trial Courts try lesser offenses.
The Ombudsman investigates and prosecutes government officials on crimes while in dispensing powers
given by the government. The Office of the Solicitor General represents the government in legal cases.

The Philippines is named after King Philip II of Spain. The Philippines was the first country in Southeast
Asia to gain independence after World War II, in 1946.

Explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the Eastern Visayas “Felipenas” first, and the name was later
applied to the entire archipelago. The country’s official name is the Republic of the Philippines.

The national symbol of the Philippines is the Philippine Eagle, or monkey-eating,

eagle. It is the largest of all eagles and was declared the national bird of the Philippines in 1995. It stands
up to 3.3 feet (1 m) in height and has a wingspan of almost 7 feet (2 m). It is critically endangered; there
may only be around 180–500 eagles remaining. Killing one is punishable by Philippine law by 12 years in
jail and a heavy fine.

The world’s biggest pair of shoes was made in Marikina City, Philippines, in 2002. The wingtips measured
about 17.4 feet (5.3 m) in length, 7.9 feet (2.4 m) in width, and almost 6.6 feet (2 m) in height. Their cost
was 2 million Philippine pesos.

The world record for most women breastfeeding simultaneously was 3,541, set in
Manila, Philippines, on May 4, 2006.

Of the top 10 largest shopping malls in the world, three are found in the Philippines: SM Megamall, SM
North Edsa, and SM Mall of Asia.

The world’s largest pearl was discovered by a Filipino diver in the Palawan Sea in 1934. Known as the
“Pearl of Lao Tzu,” or “Pearl of Allah,” the gem weighs 14 pounds (6.35 kg) and measures 9.5 inches (24
cm) long and 5.5 inches (.4 cm) in diameter. It has a value of over US$40 million. It is believed to be 600
years old.

The Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world and is made up of 7,107 islands located in
the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and the Luzon Strait.
The Philippines is the only majority Christian nation in Asia. Eighty percent of its population identifies as
Roman Catholic.

The Philippines has a population of more than 100 million people, which makes it the 12th most populous
country in the world. Its annual growth rate of around 2% makes it one of the fastest growing countries in
the world..

Mt. Pinatubo on the Philippine island of Luzon erupted on June 15, 1991, and created the largest
mushroom cloud in the world. Its eruption ejected 10 billion metric tons of magma and 20 million tons of
sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere.

The Conus gloriamus, the rarest and most expensive seashell in the world, is one of the 12,000 species of
seashells found in the Philippines. The first examples of these shells sold at auction for about US$5,000.

The yoyo had its beginnings as an ancient Filipino studded hunting weapon attached to a 20foot rope.
The modern yoyo was invented by a Filipino American, and its name yóyo comes from the Filipino
language Ilocano and means “come back.”

The Philippines is home to the world’s longest snake, the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus), which
also happens to be the world’s longest reptile. It can grow to 28.5 feet (8.7 m) in length.

There are between 120 and 175 individual languages spoken in the Philippines, 171 of which are living
while the other four no longer have any known speakers. English and Filipino, based on Tagalog, are the
country’s two officially recognized languages.o

The Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of nurses, supplying roughly 25% of all overseas nurses
worldwide.

The antibiotic erythromycin was invented by Filipino Dr. Abelardo Aguilar in 1949. He sent a sample to his
employer, the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, which promptly patented it. Erythromycin is used for
people who are allergic to penicillin and has saved millions of lives.

The English words “boonies” and “boondocks” is actually based on the Filipino/Tagalog word for
“mountain,” bundok. The word entered the North American vernacular in the 1940s, probably brought
back by soldiers stationed in the Philippines during World War II

San Fernando, Philippines, is known as the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” and is most famous for
its parols (giant Christmas lanterns), which symbolize the star of Bethlehem and can rise 20 feet (6 m) in
the air. Only about 10 giant parols are produced each year to compete in the Ligligan Parul (Giant Lantern
Festival). Each parol costs around US$11,300 to $15,820 to build.d

The Taal Volcano on the Philippine island of Luzon is one of the world’s 17 Decade Volcanoes, which are
volcanoes being specially monitored given their active state and explosive history. Taal is also located in a
lake, which has another lake inside of it, with an even smaller island inside of that lake

A Filipino named Roberto del Rosario patented the first working karaoke machine in 1975, calling it the
“Sing Along System.” The Japanese later translated its name to “karaoke,” which means “singing without
accompaniment.”
In the Philippine island province of Camiguin, there are more volcanoes (7) than towns (5). There hasn’t
been an eruption since the mid1950s, but the island has the most number of volcanoes per square
kilometer in the world.

The University of Santo Tomas was founded in Manila, Philippines, by Dominican monks in 1611. It is the
world’s largest Catholic university in terms of population. Both it and the University of San Carlos in Cebu
City, founded in 1595, are older than Harvard University, which was not founded until 1636.

2015 Events[edit]
January[
 January 2 – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that an eight-year-old girl was a victim of
attempted rape inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on New Year's Day. The incident was the
latest scandal the prison facility had faced since the raids last December 2014.[2]
 January 6 – Importer Lilia Cruz also known as Leah Cruz, Bureau of Plant Industry Director Clarito
Barron, and 119 other persons were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation of direct bribery
and violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at the Office of the
Ombudsman in connection with the alleged garlic cartel last year.[3]
 January 8 – An inmate died and 19 were hurt after a grenade exploded in the maximum security
compound of the NBP.[4] This lead Bureau of Corrections order a lockdown of 14,500 prisoners in the
compound on January 9, suspending their visitation rights. Gang leaders were isolated from the rest
of the prisoners.[5]
 January 9 – The Supreme Court has declared its decision on the unconstitutionality of the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), popularly termed as the pork barrel funds, final and executory.
It can be remembered in November of the previous year, the said court held that "PDAF and previous
pork barrel funds violated the constitutional principle of separation of powers in allowing lawmakers
to wield, in varying gradations, non-oversight, post-enactment authority in vital areas of budget
execution."[6]
 January 12 – Sandiganbayan had found former Board of Nursing member Virginia Diodola-Madeja
guilty of violating the Anti-Corrupt Practices Act and the PRC Modernization Act of 2000 and was
sentenced to 7 years in prison for leaking questions in the June 2006 Nursing Licensure Examinations.
In addition to her imprisonment, she was also ordered to pay a fine of 100 thousand pesos and was
barred from holding any public office.[7]
 January 14 – A bomb destroys a transmission tower in Pagalungan leaving much of the provinces
of Maguindanao and North Cotabato without power.[8]

**Pope Francis' arrival ceremony at Villamor Airbase.

 January 15–19 – Pope Francis visited the country for a five-day state and pastoral visit.[9] The pope
also visited the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte which were affected by the said typhoon last
November 2013.[10] This was the first papal visit the Philippines received in the 21st century.[11]
 January 21 – The Supreme Court en banc dismissed several petitions regarding the disqualification
of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada; 11 justices voted against the disqualification, while 3 voted for it. [12]
 January 23 – An explosion occurred near the bus terminal in Barangay Guiwan, Zamboanga City; 2
people were killed and 53 were injured. The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were tagged behind the
explosion after the failed jailbreak attempt of several ASG members in the prison. [13]

**The 44 police officers who perished during the clash.

 January 25 – 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were killed
after a clash took place in Tukalinapao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao against armed fighters including
those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
PNP-SAF's objective is to pursue Zulkifli Abdhir also known as Marwan and Basit Usman as part of
Oplan Exodus and killed the former. The deaths of the PNP-SAF officers ignited debate on the
proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law which will be the foundation of a new autonomous entity
called Bangsamoro.[14][15]
 January 26 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun”
Binay and five others in contempt and are now facing arrest due to the alleged continued snub
of Binay and other Makati officials on an ongoing Senate probe.[16] 3 days later, Binay was arrested
and forced to appear in the Senate hearing but the detention was deferred leading to his release. [17]
 January 27 – The Department of Justice rejected the appeal by United States Marine Lance Corporal
Joseph Scott Pemberton to drop the murder charges against him over the Death of Jennifer Laude,
a transwoman Filipina. The trial began on March 23.[18]
 January 29 – Despite of the incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, The Government of the
Philippines and the MILF signed a protocol for the decommissioning of rebel firearms in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.[19]
 January 31 – Two Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed after the PAF trainer aircraft SF-260FH
Number 1034 crashed around 300 meters off the shoreline of Barangay Bucana, Nasugbu,
Batangas while attending their performance for the upcoming 70th Anniversary of the liberation of
Nasugbu from the Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II.[20]
February[edit]

 February 2 – Former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos was acquitted on the 2007
electoral sabotage case by the Pasay Regional Trial Court. [21]
 February 3 – The Supreme Court affirms the unconstitutionality of the Disbursement Acceleration
Program on its new ruiling. Voting 13-0, the SC partially granted the government's Motion for
Reconsideration on the DAP. Projects and programs that not covered by the General Approriations
Act is valid and the authors may be liable. [22]
 February 5 – The Department of Foreign Affairs filed two protest notes questioning China for
ramming Filipino fishing boats and the collecting of giant clams over the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de
Masinloc).[23]
 February 14 – 50 rebel members of the New People's Army figured in a failed attack and shootout
inside a police station in Mati, Davao Oriental. 4 soldiers and a NPA member were killed.[24]

**MV Princess of the Stars which had capsized on June 21, 2008 at the height of Typhoon Frank.

 February 16 – Maritime Industry Authority has formally cancelled the license of Sulpicio Lines, now
operating as Philippine SpanAsia Carrier, for carrying passengers in the sea due to the sinking of MV
Princess of the Stars in 2008.[25]
 February 18 – Masbate Governor Rizalina Lanete surrendered to the Philippine National Police
Criminal Investigation and Detention Group authorities after the Sandiganbayan had issued a warrant
of arrest against her in connection with her participation in the PDAF scam.[26][27]
 February 24 – The Supreme Court had decided on the affirmity of dismissal of PMA Cadet Aldrin Jeff
Cudia, last year due to honor code violations.[28]
 February 25
 Former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives party-list Representative Edgar Valdez
surrendered to sheriff of Sandiganbayan. Valdez is facing one count of plunder and seven counts
of graft for allegedly receiving P57.78 million worth of kickbacks from the PDAF scam.[29]
 AFP declared its all-out offensive campaign against the MILF break away group, the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters.[30] On March 3, Maguindanaowas placed under the state of calamity
due to the continuing battle between the military forces and the BIFF. [31] In an encounter
happened on March 7, the AFP confirmed that 139 members including commanders of the BIFF
were killed, including a kin of BIFF founder Ameril Umbra Kato.[32] On March 30, The Armed
Forces of the Philippines announced the termination of the all-out offensive against the rebel
group.[33]
 February 28 – A total of 26 people were killed among them were 2 soldiers and 24 members of
the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu.[34]
March[edit]

 March 1–3 – The Third ASEAN Chief Justices' Meeting, led by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria
Lourdes Sereno and her counterparts from the ASEAN countries, was held in Boracay Island, Aklan.[35]

**Japanese battleship Musashi (1944). The wreck of the ship was found on March 4 in the Sibuyan Sea.

 March 4 – The wreck of the World War II Japanese battleship Musashi was found by Paul Allen and
his team in the Sibuyan Sea. Musashi was one of the two biggest Japanese battleships ever built; it
was attacked and sunk by American aircraft on October 24, 1944 in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.[36]
 March 6 – The Office of the Ombudsman's special panel of investigators filed complaints against Vice
President Binay, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and 22 individuals, in connection with the overpriced
Makati City Hall II Parking Building. Ombudsman will start the preliminary probe after the filing of the
cases.[37] On March 11, The Ombudsman was suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and other city
officials for 6 months in connection with this case. Binay has not followed the decision. [38] On March
16, plunder and graft charges were filed against Vice President Binay and Mayor Binay for the alleged
overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II. The elder Binay was then city mayor and the younger
Binay a city councilor at the time of the construction. [39] On the same date, the Court of Appeals has
released a temporary restraining order for the preventive suspension of Mayor Binay.[40] On April 6,
The Court of Appeals has indefinitely extended its halt order on the preventive suspension of
embattled Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay, as the appellate court issued a writ of preliminary
injunction in favor of the local chief executive.[41] On the other hand, Acting Mayor Romulo Peña was
ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government to step down and return from his
previous post as vice mayor.[42] On November 11, Dismissed Makati Mayor Binay has won his case in
the Supreme Court against the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to his case. [43]
 March 8 – British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney filed a case for the continued detention of
former president and Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo against the government
before the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a body under the United Nations Commission
 on Human Rights.[44] On October 2, The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has
released its opinion that the detention of former President Arroyo "violates international law" and is
"arbitrary on a number of grounds."[45]
 March 9
 DFA confirmed the execution of Joven Esteva, an Overseas Filipino Worker who was charged of
murder on the killing of his employer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2007.[46]
 Sajid Ampatuan, the son of Andal Ampatuan Sr., has been ordered to be temporarily released by
a Quezon City court after he posted bail for an amount of P11.6 million; Sajid was charged with
murder in connection with the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009 that had killed 57
people including 31 journalist.[47]
 March 15 – Justice for Islamic Movement founding chairman and former vice chairman of the BIFF,
Mohamad Ali Tambako and five others were arrested in General Santos City.[48]
 March 17 – The Philippines submitted its 3,000-page document containing additional volumes of
arguments, evidence and maps seeking to nullify China’s sweeping claim over the resource-rich South
China Sea to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.[49]
 March 20 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines transported 17 suspected members of the Abu
Sayyaf Group from the Zamboanga City jail to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig over security
concerns raised by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.[50]
 March 22 – The first of three new C-295 medium lift aircraft under the Philippine Air
Force Modernization Program arrived at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.[51]
 March 26 – President Aquino III has signed Republic Act No. 10656 into law that postpones
the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to October 2016.[52] This postponement was the fourth time.
On March 25, the Commission on Elections had deferred the SK elections to April 25.[53] Previously,
the election was supposedly to be held on October 28, 2013; it was again postponed to February 21,
2015.[54][55]
April[edit]

 April 6 – Gemma Adana, the Municipality Mayor of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay was abducted by a
heavily armed group in her house.[56] On October 12, Mayor Adana has been released after over six
months in captivity.[57]
 April 14 – In connection with the serious illegal detention case, Janet Lim Napoles, the mastermind of
the PDAF Scam, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt and was sentenced of reclusion
perpetua.[58]

 April 20 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines has released the pictures of the continue reclamation
of China in the South China Sea.[59]
 April 21 – The Supreme Court voided an agreement between the Commission on Elections and
Smartmatic-TIM for the P300-million diagnostics and repair of the 80,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan
machines for the 2016 polls.[60]
 April 22 – SC released a Temporary Restraining Order for the memorandum issued by
the Commission on Higher Education on the removal of Filipino and Literature college subjects as
part of the K to 12 education program.[61]
 April 29 – The execution of the convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso was postponed.[62][63]
May[edit]
Abdul Basit Usman

 May 3 – Abdul Basit Usman, the most wanted bomb expert in the country, was killed by a MILF group
unit, and not by his followers, as early reported in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.[64][65][66][67]
 May 6 – The Court of Tax Appeals has lifted the warrant of arrest it issued against Jeane Catherine
Napoles, the daughter of Janet Lim Napoles, after she failed to show up for her arraignment on a
P17.46-million tax evasion case.[68]
 May 8
 The Commission on Elections conducted recall election in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Incumbent
mayor Lucilo Bayron successfully defended his seat. [69][70]
 Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo D. Lucenario died in a helicopter crash in Pakistan;
other diplomats and the two helicopter pilots, who were with Lucenario, were also killed in the
said incident.[71]
 The Moro Islamic Liberation Front registers the United Bangsamoro Justice Party as its vehicle to
run in future elections.[72]
 May 11 – The Court of Appeals has frozen 242 bank accounts and insurance policies belonging to Vice
President Jejomar Binay, some members of his family and close associates, who are suspected of
being his dummies.[73]
 May 13 – At least 72 were killed in a big fire inside the Kentex Manufacturing slippers factory in Brgy.
Ugong, Valenzuela City.[74][75] The incident was the third worst fire in Philippine history. [76]
 May 20 – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the complaint filed by former Iloilo Provincial
Administrator Manuel Mejorada against Senator Franklin Drilon, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson,
DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., and other officials involved in the construction of the Iloilo
Convention Center.[77]
June[edit]

 June 3 – The United States Embassy turned over to the Philippine government a check amounting to
some $1.3 million as the second tranche of proceeds from the forfeited assets of former Armed
Forces of the Philippines military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.[78][79]
 June 4 – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III agreed to
start negotiations on an accord for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, as the two
nations aim to bolster security ties amid China's increasing assertiveness at sea. [80]

 June 5 – President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order 183 that created the Negros Island
Region to improve the delivery of public services in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, which
forms part of the new region.[81][82]
 June 16 – The first phase of decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front's fighters had
begun.[83]
 June 22 – Vice President Jejomar Binay resigned from his post in President Benigno Aquino
III's Cabinet as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and
presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers is effective immediately. [84]
 June 25
 The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against Optical Media Board
chairman Ronnie Ricketts and four others for allegedly allowing the return of confiscated
copyright violating DVDs and VCDs to the Sky High Marketing Corporation in 2010. [85]
  Raul Pangalangan, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law, was elected
judge of the International Criminal Court.[86]
 All local airlines can now enter the European airspace after the European Commission had
removed the Philippines from the European Union Air Safety List. [87]
 June 29
 The Philippines has halted the repair of its airstrip on Pagasa Island of the disputed Spratly
Islands due to its pending suit at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The
Hague challenging China's claim over the waters.[88]
 Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has approved the preventive suspension
of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay in connection with his supposed involvement in the alleged
anomalous construction of a ten-storey building in Makati Science High School.[89]
 June 30
 The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed former Philippine National Police chief Director
General Alan Purisima and 10 other officials for entering into an anomalous contract with courier
service Werfast Documentary Agency in 2011.[90]
 The Philippines and six other countries defer joining the newly established Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank.[91][92]
 The Supreme Court of the Philippines asks the government to respond to a petition seeking to
repeal a law banning same-sex marriage in the country.[93]
 Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a lawsuit against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement in the Supreme Court.[94]
July[edit]

 July 1 – The Philippine National Oil Company–Exploration Corporation announced the discovery of a
major natural gas reserves of 71-billion cubic feet.[95]
 July 2 – MB Kim Nirvana, a motorized banca bound for Camotes Islands from Ormoc, Leyte which
carried 173 passengers, capsized off the coast of Ormoc killing 62 of its passengers. [96][97]
 July 3 – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the filing of graft charges against
former Metro Rail Transit 3 General Manager Al Vitangcol III and five incorporators of Philippine
Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation in connection with alleged irregularities in the
MRT-3's interim maintenance contract.[98]
 July 7 – Oral arguments on the Philippines' claim over the West Philippine Sea had begun in The
Hague, Netherlands.[99]

Hernando Iriberri

 July 10 – Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, former 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army was
designated as the newest AFP Chief of Staff in the turn-over ceremonies led by President Aquino III
in Camp Aguinaldo. Iriberri's predecessor Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang has retired from military
service.[100]
 July 14 – Dir. Ricardo Marquez, director for operations since December 2013 has been named the
new chief of the Philippine National Police.[101]
 July 15 – Major General Eduardo Año, who was linked to the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in
2007, was instated the new chief of the Philippine Army.[102]
 July 17 – Nine miners were killed when a mining site collapsed following a rain-induced landslide in
Caluya, Antique.[103]
 July 20 – Vice President Jejomar Binay filed a P200-million damage suit arising from alleged libelous
statements against Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano; Ombudsman Conchita
Carpio-Morales; former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado; and eight others.[104]
 July 21 – President Benigno Aquino III signed into law two of his priority economic bills: the Philippine
Competition Act (Republic Act 10667), as well as amendments to the 50-year-old Cabotage Law
(Republic Act 10668), during a ceremony in Malacañang attended by members of Congress. [105][106]
 July 23 – The Iglesia ni Cristo has expelled Tenny Manalo, the widow of INC's former executive
minister Eraño Manalo, and their son, Angel Manalo after they appeared in a YouTube video claiming
their lives are in danger and that some ministers have allegedly been abducted. [107]
 July 24 – The Department of Science and Technology's free Wi-Fi project was launched.[108]
 July 27 – President Aquino III delivered his 6th and final State of the Nation Address at Batasang
Pambansa.[109]
 July 28 – Two environmental groups Basel Action Network and BAN Toxics have submitted the case
questioning the Canada's imported trash in the Philippines to the Basel Convention.[110]
 July 29 – The Court of Appeals grants Krisel Mallari's plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining
order and writ of preliminary injunction against Sto. Niño Parochial School. [111]
August[edit]

 August 7 – Senator Gringo Honasan, former CIBAC congressman and now TESDA chair Joel
Villanueva, and 7 other former and incumbent lawmakers were charged before the Office of the
Ombudsman in connection with the pork barrel scam.[112]
 August 16 – Pamana, a 3-year old Philippine Eagle, was shot dead inside her forest sanctuary
in Mount Hamiguitan, 2 months after she freed in time for Independence Day.[113]
 August 17 – Philippine Air Force receives 10 brand-new helicopters for combat utility and attack to be
used for internal security operations.[114]
 August 18 – The Supreme Court has granted the bail petition of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the
three senators facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.[115]
 August 20
 Two Coast Guard officers who kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group were escaped after the
massive operation by the military against the terrorist group in Sulu. [116][117]
 President Aquino has signed Republic Act 10669 into law that declaring August 18 of every year
as Jesse Robredo Day in honoring the late interior and local government secretary Jesse
Robredowho died in a plane crash in the waters off Masbate City on August 18, 2012.[118]
 August 21 – The Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of two Alpha Phi Omega (APO) members
for the hazing of University of the Philippines-Los Baños student Marlon Vilanueva in 2006, the first
conviction under Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. [119]
 August 24 – President Benigno Aquino III has given instructions for the Bureau of Customs to stop the
physical inspections of balikbayan boxes unless X-ray and K-9 examinations give rise to suspicions
that they contain prohibited items.[120] On the Senate hearing last September 3, Bureau of Customs
chief Alberto Lina went apologized to the inconvenience brought about the alleged opening of
balikbayan boxes by Customs personnel.[121]
 August 27–31 – Iglesia ni Cristo members staged demonstrations near the DOJ office and later in
EDSA to call on Sec. De Lima to focus on important issues such as the SAF 44 case and not on the case
filed by an ex-INC minister against Sanggunian members. They protests on alleged violations of the
separation of church and state.[122]
September[edit]

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue

 September 7 – The PNP's Highway Patrol Group started their duties as traffic enforcers deployed in
the Epifanio De los Santos Avenue (EDSA), particularly in 6 major chokepoints where traffic build-up
had identified.[123]
 September 8 – President Aquino III has announced the appointment of former Liberal Party (LP)
Secretary General Mel Senen Sarmiento as the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, replacing
Mar Roxas.[124]
 September 10 – Human Rights Watch criticized the response of President Benigno Aquino III to
reports on the murders of an indigenous Lumad family and the alleged rape of an
indigenous Manobo girl by soldiers and militiamen of the Philippine Army. The Philippine Commission
on Human Rights condemned the killingsand linked the Bagani paramilitary group and the Army’s
36th Infantry Battalion who it believes were of the opinion that a Manobo school was an
"NPASchool".[125][126][127]
 September 11 – The Basilan Regional Trial Court, officially declared the Abu Sayyaf Group as a
terrorist group.[128]
 September 18 – 1 person was killed in a bomb explosion on a bus in Zamboanga City; 28 were
injured.[129]
 September 20 – Joel Reyes, former Palawan governor and his brother, Mario, former Coron,
Palawan mayor were arrested by Thai police due to overstaying in Phuket, Thailand. The Reyes
Brothers are primary suspects in the killing of Palawan environmental journalist Gerry Ortega in
January, 2011, the two deported back to Manila, four days later. [130]
 September 21 – 3 foreigners and a Filipina were kidnapped by dozen armed men at a resort in
the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.[131]
 September 30 – Former Abra governor Vicente Valera, found guilty with 2 counts of murder,
sentenced to up to 40 years in prison in relation to the killing of his rival, former Abra Representative
Luis Bersamin in 2006.[132]
October[edit]

 October 9 – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal in service and the eventual
perpetual disqualification to run in any political positions for former Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay,
in connection with the overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. [133]
 October 13 – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front signed a
“unified declaration” calling for the approval the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law as an embodiment of
each other’s separate peace pacts with Malacañang.[134]
 October 17–28 – PAGASA confirmed that the haze from Indonesia had reached Mindanao. Typhoon
Lando and the northeast monsoon were linked to the haze that had affected the island.[135][136] The
haze affected operations of airports in Mindanao and Visayas. [137] On October 28, PAGASA declared
that the country was free from haze.[138]

Typhoon Lando's Track

 October 18 – 46 dead, 82 injured and 268,877 families were affected after heavy rains and floods due
to Typhoon Lando shuts down Luzon.[139]
 October 21 – Ombudsman sacked five officials of the Technology Resource Center, particularly
Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan for their alleged participation in the PDAF scam. [140]
 October 26 – President Benigno Aquino III signed the amended Public Employment Service Office bill
into law during the 15th National PESO Congress at the Philippine International Convention Center in
Pasay City.[141]
 October 30 – The United Nation-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled that it has the
jurisdiction to hear the maritime claim of the Philippines against China.[142]
November[edit]

 November 3 – The Court of Appeals had started to hear the writ of amparo and habeas
corpus petitions of expelled Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca II against the leaders of the
church, including executive minister Eduardo Manalo and three members of the Sanggunian, in
connection with the illegal detention and abduction of Menorca by the church officials. [143]
 November 4 – The UN Department of Safety and Security warned their staff assigned in the country
against the tanim-bala modus at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[144]
 November 5 – The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity officially declared Tubbataha Reef in Sulu Sea as the
35th heritage park.[145]
 November 17 – Voted 5-4, the Senate Electoral Tribunal denied the petition filed by aspiring 2016
presidential candidate Rizalito David for the disqualification of Grace Poe as Senator.[146]

 November 18–19 – The Philippines hosted the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, organizing a
series of economic meetings in the country until November, which was highlighted by the APEC
Economic Leaders Meeting near the end of the summit. [147][148]
 November 20 – Princess Jacel Kiram and Malaysian politician Nurul Izzah Anwar posted a photo
demanding Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to free opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim which was
received negatively in that country, prompting Nurul Izzah to apologize. [149]
 November 24 – The Quezon City RTC has found Jason Ivler, the principal suspect in the ambush of the
Renato Ebarle, Jr. son of former Presidential Chief of Staff Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, Sr. guilty
over the crime of murder, happened 6 years ago. He was sentenced reclusion perpetua or at least 30
years in jail and ordered to pay more than P9.3 million pesos in damages to the Ebarle family
members.[150]
 November 25 – Eight armed men who have identified as supporters of ISIS, together with an
Indonesian bomb trainer, were killed in an encounter by military troops in Palimbang, Sultan
Kudarat.[151]
 November 28 – The first two of the 12 KAI T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jets, made by the Korea
Aerospace Industries, that the government purchased from South Korea arrived at the Clark Air
Base in Angeles, Pampanga.[152]
December[edit]

 December 1
 U.S. Marine L. Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, suspect in the death of Jennifer Laude one year ago,
was found guilty of homicide by the Olongapo Regional Trial Court with a sentence 6–12 years in
prison.[153] The court also ordered for Pemberton to pay ₱4.5 million (US$130,000) to the Laude
family.[154]
  Grace Poe was disqualified by the COMELEC 2nd Division from being president after failing to
reach the 10-year residency requirement for a presidential candidate. [155]

President Benigno Aquino III inspecting a FA-50PH Golden Eagle

 December 5 – The Philippine Air Force receives two FA-50 lead-in fighter jets, two C-295 medium-lift
fixed-wing aircraft and six Augusta 109 attack helicopters for territorial defense, search and rescue,
disaster response and combat operations. [156]
 December 9 – The Office of the President has ordered a 60-day preventive suspension order
against Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama for alleged culpable violation of the constitution, grave
abuse of authority, grave misconduct and oppression over the destruction of local government
projects in his city.[157]
 December 11 – Grace Poe's certificate of candidacy is cancelled by the COMELEC 1st Division after a
2-1 vote, barring her from running as president after failing to comply with the ten-year residency
requirement by the Philippine Constitution.[158][159]

Typhoon Melor (Nona) approaching Samar

 December 13–17 – Typhoon Melor (locally called Nona) makes landfall in Northern Samar and made
more landfalls before dissipating. Forty-two are killed during the typhoon and damages cost over ₱6
billion ($136 million).[160][161]
 December 18 – President Aquino declared a state of national calamity due to the onslaught
of Typhoon Melor (locally named as: Nona) that hit different provinces in Luzon and Visayas.[162]

Holidays[edit]

2015 will be the 119th year of the commemoration of Dr. Jose P. Rizal's death.
On July 17, 2014, the government had already announced at least 18 Philippine holidays for 2015 as
declared by virtue of Proclamation No. 831, series of 2014. [163]Note that in the list, holidays in italics are
"special non-working holidays," those in bold are "regular holidays," and those in non-italics and non-bold
are "special holidays for schools."
In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are
also "special days."

 January 1 – New Year's Day

 January 2 – Special non-working holiday
 February 19 – Chinese New Year
 February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution
 April 2 – Maundy Thursday
 April 3 – Good Friday
 April 4 – Black Saturday
 April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
 May 1 – Labor Day
 June 12 – Independence Day
 July 17 – Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan)
 August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
 August 31 – National Heroes Day
 September 25 – Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifices) [164]
 November 1 – All Saints Day
 November 30 – Bonifacio Day
 December 24 – Special non-working holiday (in observation of the Christmas season)
 December 25 – Christmas Day
 December 30 – Rizal Day
 December 31 – Last day of the year (in observation of the coming New Year's celebration)

Business and economy[edit]

 January 1 – The ASEAN Economic Integration comes into force. The integration aims to create a
single economic market within the region.[165][166]
 January 9 – In a report released by the National Economic and Development Authority, the
Philippines outperformed other economies in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of export trade in
2014.[167]
 January 12 – Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific was fined an amount of 50 million pesos by the Civil
Aeronautics Board after more than ten thousand passengers were affected by 288 flight delays and
20 flight cancellations caused by the airline from December 24 to 26 of last year.[168]
 January 20 – The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its economic growth forecasts for the
Philippines. In the said forecast, the country's economic growth in 2015 is expected to be at 6.3%,
and 6.2% in 2016.[169] In the 2nd quarter report, the forecast slightly raised to 6.7% percent
compared to 6.6% due to higher government spending.[170]
 January 28 – In the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom, the country ranked 76th freest economy and
one of the ten most improved economies in the world. The country had ranked 89th in 2014. [171]
 May 12 – The Department of Transportation and Communications announced the development of a
nationwide regulations for ride-sharing apps, making the Philippines the first country to do so.[172][173]
 October 12–14 – The Philippines hosted the 15th Forbes Global CEO Conference held in Manila. CEOs
and business leaders from different parts of the world attended the event. [174]
 November 30 – The Philippines' largest liquor producer Emperador Inc. buys Spain's Fundador for
€275 million ($291 million).[175]
 December 31 – The Philippines joins the AIIB, signing the Articles of Agreement.[176][177]

Health[edit]

 February 11
 Department of Health (DOH) released a report on the recorded cases of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the country last 2014 alone had reached 6,011. Records in
previous years had showed that the prevalence of the disease was high compared to the 2013
record cases of 4,814. All in all, there were already 22,527 cases of HIV disease since 1984. [178][179]
 A 32-year-old Filipino nurse from Saudi Arabia, who was also 1 month pregnant, was the
country's first Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) case, DOH confirmed
after the test turned out to be positive of the said virus. [180] The Evangelista Medical Hospital
 in San Pedro, Laguna, the facility where the patient was first admitted, was temporarily closed by
DOH for fourteen days. On February 17, all those who had exposure or had contact with the said
nurse were tested negative of the said virus.[181] On March 6, The Department of Foreign
Affairs confirmed three Filipino female healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia who were infected
with MERS-CoV.[182]
 February 19 – In a report published by the World Health Organization, the Philippines was one of the
countries in Western Pacific that were reported to have the highest dengue cases.[183]
 February 23 – DOH confirmed the death of a returning female OFW musician from China, few days
after she arrived last February 14. The death might be a possible case of the Bird Flu virus. [184]
 July 6 – DOH confirmed the second detected case of MERS-CoV in the country. [185] The patient who
had contracted the virus was from the Middle East and was referred to the Research Institute for
Tropical Medicine last July 4. Another person, who was also showing symptoms, was placed in
isolation after he had close contact with the said patient;[186] eight others, who also had contacted
with the patient, were identified. DOH is in the process of tracking all the people whom the patient
had contacted with.[187]
 July 10 – About 2,000 people in the Caraga region, mostly school children, experienced food
poisoning after reportedly eating durian and mangosteen candies. [188][189][190] The next day,
the Department of Health in Caraga region has declared a food poisoning outbreak due to the
incident.[191]
 July 29 – Around 300 school children from various public schools in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga
del Norte and Misamis Occidental were rushed to hospitals after they complained of stomach pain
and vomiting after taking deworming medicines during the nationwide deworming activity of
the Department of Health.[192]
 October 1 – Bulacan province, officially now placed under State of calamity due to increase of cases
of dengue virus. Since January, more than 11 were recorded deaths due to the strain virus. [193]
 December 23 – The Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's
first dengue vaccine, the Dengvaxia.[194]

Sports[edit]
For the full list of events related to Philippine sports in 2015, see 2015 in Philippine sports.

 February 11–27, Cycling – The fifth year of the Ronda Pilipinas has commenced. Two qualifying
rounds were held in Visayas and Luzon within February 11 to 17. Mindanao qualifiers was cancelled
due to the clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.[195]
 February 16 – Athlete of the Year and 2014 Asian Games gold medalist for BMX cycling, Daniel
Caluag led the 73 awardees in the 2014 PSA Annual Awards held at the One Espanade
in Pasay.[196][197]
 February 26 – March 1, Racing – The Shell Eco-marathon Asia, a racing competition of enviro-friendly
proto-type cars invented and designed by engineering students in the Asia-Pacific region, was held
at Quirino Grandstand, Manila.[198]
 March 8, Triathlon – Australian Tim Reed and Great Britain national Parys Edwards claimed the
championship title in the inaugural edition of Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 held in Subic
Bay, Zambales.[199]
 March 14, Volleyball – The Ateneo Lady Eagles has won their second straight championship in
the UAAP Season 77 women's tournament finals. Alyssa Valdez was named as the Most Valuable
Player of the season, while Amy Ahomiro claimed her Finals MVP award. [200]
 April 8, Basketball – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) recognized 40 greatest players played
for the league in 4 decades as part of their 40th anniversary celebratory rites held at the Resorts
World Manila.[201]
 April 14–19, Basketball – Cagayan de Oro hosted the 2015 SEABA Under-16 Championship.[202]
 April 25–26, Triathlon – Subic Bay hosted the 2015 ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup.[203]
 April 28 – May 3, Touch Football – The Philippine national touch football team, composed of both
men and women and collectively known as Philippine Pythons, competed in the Touch Football
World Cup held in New South Wales, Australia.[204]
 May 1–9, Volleyball – The Philippines hosted the first 2015 Asian U23 Women's Volleyball
Championship. The Philippines placed seventh.[205]

 May 3, Boxing – Dubbed as the "Battle for Greatness" or the "Fight of the Century," Floyd
Mayweather Jr. kept his undefeated fight record after he had defeated Manny Pacquiao via a
unanimous decision in a match held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[206]
 May 3–9, Multi-sport – The City of Tagum of the province Davao del Norte hosted the 2015 Palarong
Pambansa. More than 12,000 student-athletes, coaches, and officials from 17 regions participated in
the multi-sports event.[207]
 May 14
 Basketball – Chito Narvasa was named as the newest PBA commissioner, replacing Chito Salud.
Narvasa will start his work on the start of Season 71 of the said league. [208]
 Volleyball – The Petron Blaze Spikers earned their consecutive victory after the team won the
Finals title of the 2015 PSL All-Filipino Conference upon defeating Shopinas.com Lady
Clickers during set 4. Former FEU star Rachel Anne Daquis was proclaimed as the MVP.[209]
 May 16, Mixed Martial Arts – Frankie Edgar defeated Urijah Faber via unanimous decision on the
main fight of the first UFC event in the country, UFC Fight Night: Manila held at the MOA Arena. Mark
Muñoz also gave his final farewell fight on the event.[210][211][212]
 June 8, Basketball – UCLA-commit Kobe Paras successfully defended his title in the FIBA 3x3 Slam
Dunk Contest in Hungary, fending off challengers from the United States, Uruguay, and the host
nation.[213]
 June 5–16, Multi-sport – The country's athletes competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian
Games in Singapore.[214][215] The Philippines placed sixth overall, earning 29 gold, 36 silver and 66
bronze medals.[216]
 July 12, Boxing – Donnie Nietes, known as the longest-reigning Filipino boxing champion, won the
title defense against Mexico's Francisco Rodriguez via majority decision in Cebu.[217]
 July 19, Boxing – Nonito Donaire made short work of his French opponent, stopping Anthony Settoul
in just two rounds of their 10-round bout at the Cotai Arena in Macau. [218]
 August 7, Basketball – In a vote of 14 against 7, China won the bidding against the Philippines for the
hosting rights of the 2019 FIBA World Cup held in Tokyo, Japan.[219]
 August 26 – President Aquino signed the Republic Act 10676 or more known as the Student-Athletes
Protection Act that lead to the removal of the two-year residency rules in collegiate leagues including
UAAP.[220]
 August 29 – September 6, October 3, Basketball – Philippine men's national basketball team won the
silver medal of the 2015 William Jones Cup held at Taipei, Taiwan. Gilas ended with a record of 6
wins, and 2 losses.[221] Gilas also won the silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. China
officially got the ticket for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[222]
 October 3 – The NU Pep Squad won their third straight title in the 2015 UAAP Cheerdance
Competition held in the SM Mall of Asia Arena and well attended by more than 26,000 spectators. [223]
 October 18, Boxing – Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs. The World at StubHub Center in Carson,
California, Donnie Nietes, Albert and Jason Pagara and Mark Magsayo are all emerged victorious
against their Latino counterparts.[224]
 December 6–8, Tennis — The country has hosted again, the second leg of the 2015
season of International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).[225]
 December 12, Boxing – Nonito Donaire defeated Mexican boxer Cesar Juarez to claim the
vacant WBO super bantamweight title in Puerto Rico.[226]

Entertainment and culture[edit]

For the events related to Philippine television in 2015, see 2015 in Philippine television; for films, see List of
Filipino films of 2015; and for music, see 2015 in Philippine music.

 January 9 – The winners for the 13th Gawad Tanglaw awards for television, radio and film were
revealed.[227]
 January 26 – Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa failed to enter the Top 5 of the Miss Universe
2014 pageant held in Miami, Florida.[228]
 January 29 – The winners of the 1st MITV Gawad Kamalayan Awards were announced; the said
awards was organized by Mapua Institute of Technology.[229]
 February 5 – Viva Entertainment and SM Cinemas joint forces for the launching of the "SineAsia"
theater featuring Asian movies dubbed in Filipino.[230]
 February 11 – ABS-CBN TV Plus or the Mahiwagang Black Box, a digital terrestrial television box
brand, has been launched during the ceremonial switch-on and launching held at the ABS-CBN
Compound.[231]
 February 14 – Police Officer 1 Mariano Flormata, Jr., more popularly known as Neil Perez, was
crowned as the winner of the Mister International 2014 pageant held in Seoul, South Korea.[232]
 February 26 – A Metro Manila Film Festival Cinema, a mini-theater showing the movie entries of the
MMFF, in Guadalupe, Makati, was inaugurated by the MMDA. [233]
 February 28 – Aiko Melendez, for her portrayal in the film Asintado, was awarded the Best Actress in
a Foreign Language Film in the International Filmmakers Festival of World Cinema in London,
England.[234]
 March 15 – Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, a three-timer contestant of the Binibining Pilipinas, won the title
of Miss Universe Philippines in this year's pageant.[235]
 March 16 – CNN Philippines was launched; prior to its launching, the channel was known as 9
News.[236][237] The rebranding was done after Turner Broadcasting System inked a partnership and
licensing deal with Nine Media Corporation in October of last year.[238]
 April 11 – Cherie Gil hailed as the Best Actress in the 2015 ASEAN International Film Festival and
Awards Night, on her role as opera singer in the film Sonata. Nora Aunor was honored as the Lifetime
Achievement Awardee.[239]
 May 7 – In a formal rites, Vigan City was formally introduced to the public as part of the "New 7
Wonder Cities".[240]
 May 14 – Batangas-based shadow play dance troupe El Gamma Penumbra, who also once
joined Pilipinas Got Talent, won the inaugural season of Asia's Got Talent aired on AXN Asia.
Filipino classical crossover singer Gerphil Flores also placed third in the competition.[241]
 May 31 – Angelia Gabrena Ong of Manila was hailed as the 2015 Miss Philippines Earth, on its Grand
Coronation Night held at the Mall of Asia Arena.[242]
 June 7 – Comedian Melai Cantiveros was named the first grand winner of Your Face Sounds
Familiar held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila.[243]
Manila Metropolitan Theater.

 June 10 – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) now officially owns the Manila
Metropolitan Theater (MET), after the signing of the deed of absolute sale between the NCCA and its
previous owner, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).[244][245]
 June 16 – The Supreme Court released a Temporary Restraining Order for the construction of the
controversial Torre de Manila condominium also known as the National photobomber, which culture
advocates have slammed for destroying the view of the historic Rizal Shrine.[246]
 July 22 – American singer Chris Brown was placed under the Philippine government's immigration
lookout bulletin, hours before his solo concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.[247] Brown was able to
leave Manila on July 24 after he had filed a departure clearance due to a legal issue between him and
Iglesia ni Cristo that prevented him from leaving the Philippines. [248]
 August 15 – Martika Ramirez Escobar's creation "Pusong Bato" and Angelie Mae Macalanda's Wawa
was given top honors for both Best Short Film, and Special Jury Prize, respectively in the 2015
Cinemalaya Awards Night.[249]
 August 30 – Elha Nympha, coached by Bamboo Mañalac, won the second season of The Voice
Kids held at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre, Resorts World Manila.[250]
 September 13 – Reniel Villareal, an Overseas Filipino Worker designated in the Middle East, won the
crown of Mister International Philippines 2015.[251]
 September 17-20 - Universal Events & Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Al Ahli Holding Group
launched the first Asia Pop Comic Convention in World Trade Center, Manila which would become
the largest pop culture convention in the country.[252]
 October 4 – The Iglesia ni Cristo bagged two new Guinness world record for the largest audience for a
film screening and the largest audience at a film premiere with 43,624 attendees for the Felix
Manalo movie.[253]
 October 5 – TV5 and Cignal Digital TV inked a deal with Bloomberg for the launching of Bloomberg TV
Philippines, a 24/7 English business news channel.[254]
 October 8 – Ann Lorraine Colis was crowned as the Miss Globe 2015.[255]
 October 12 – The Church of God International's gospel choir, Ang Dating Daan Chorale, broke the
world record for the largest gospel choir when 8,688 chorale members performed at the Smart-
Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
 October 24 – Eat Bulaga! held a benefit concert dubbed as "Sa Tamang Panahon" ("In the Right
Time") at the Philippine Arena to raise funds for libraries in certain schools in the Philippines. With
sold out tickets, the concert highlights Kalyeserye's Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards or
the AlDub love team. The Twitter hashtag #ALDubEBTamangPanahon made 41 million tweets,
becoming the most tweeted event in the world for 2015. [257]

 November 6 – Filipina Transgender Trixie Martistela was crowned Miss International Queen on the
pageant's coronation night at the Tiffany Show Theater in Pattaya, Thailand.[258]
 November 8 – Jimboy Martin and Miho Nishida were both crowned as the Big Winners of the
recently concluded Pinoy Big Brother: 737. The season's big night was held at Albay Astrodome
in Legazpi, Albay.[259]
 December 6 – Miss Philippines Angelia Ong was named the 2015 Miss Earth in its coronation
night held at the Marx Halle in Vienna, Austria, marking the first time in the pageant's nearly 15-year
history that a country has won back-to-back titles. [260]
 December 13 – Actress Denise Laurel was named the second grand winner of Your Face Sounds
Familiar held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila.[261]
 December 19 – Brgy. Dolores stood against 10 other barangays and claimed their 2nd consecutive
title in the 2015 Giant Lantern Festival held in Robinsons Starmills, Pampanga.[262]
 December 20 – Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was crowned as the 64th Miss Universe after
the pageant rites held in Las Vegas, Nevada, marking the country's third win after Gloria
Diaz in 1969 and Margarita Moran-Floirendo in 1973.[263]
 December 31 – Leren Mae Bautista crowned as the 2015 Miss Tourism Queen International. [264]

Deaths[edit]
January

 January 9 – Susan Calo Medina, travel writer and host of Travel Time (b. 1941)[265][266]
 January 11 – Arturo Pacificador, former assemblyman and board member of Antique (b. 1931)[267]
 January 13 – Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, half-brother of Jamalul Kiram III (b. 1940)[268]
February

 February 13 – Elmer Ramos, Vice Mayor of Maigo, Lanao del Norte[269]

March

 March 2 – Patricio Luis Lim, chairman and CEO of The Peninsula Manila (b. 1916)[270]
 March 4 – Jam Sebastian, part of JaMich, a real-life couple who gained popularity
in YouTube (b. 1986)[271]
 March 8 – Ramil Cruz, coaching staff and former player of the UP Fighting Maroons basketball team
(b. 1966)[272]
 March 14 – Liezl Martinez, actress, TV host and MTRCB board member (b. 1967)[273]
 March 27 – Josefino Cenizal, composer, director and actor (b. 1919)[274]
April

 April 1 – Roel Cortez, singer (b. 1967)[275]

 April 14 – Ameril Umbra Kato, founder of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (b. 1946)[276]
 April 17
 Gary Ignacio, vocalist of the Alamid band (b. 1966)[277]
 Richie D'Horsie, comedian (b. 1957)[278]
 April 30 – Lang Dulay, dreamweaver (b. 1924)[279]
May

 May 3 – Abdul Basit Usman, bomb making expert (b. 1974)[280]

 May 8 – Domingo Lucenario Jr., Philippine ambassador to Pakistan (b. 1960)[71]
 May 12 – Enrique Cojuangco, Representative of 1st District of Tarlac (b. 1941)[281]
June
 June 13 – Junix Inocian, actor and comedian (b. 1951)[282]
 June 19 – Florante Raspado, Vice Mayor of Jones, Isabela[283]
 June 24 - Bert Gorgonio, Former TV Patrol Mindanao anchor and First Anchor of TV Patrol General
Santos [284]
 June 28 – Leoncio Pitao, New People's Army commander[285]
July

 July 5 – Archie King, CEO of Victoria Court motel chain[286]

 July 7 – Julia Buencamino, actress (b. 1999)[287]
 July 8
 Lucita Soriano, TV and movie actress (b. 1941)[288]
 Robert Campos, movie actor (b. 1940)[289]
 July 15 – Pocholo Montes, actor (b. 1946)[290]
 July 17 – Andal Ampatuan, Sr., former Governor of Maguindanao and principal suspect in
the Maguindanao massacre (b. 1941)[291][292]
 July 24
 Jimboy Salazar, singer and actor (b. 1973)[293]
 Florenz Regalado, member of the Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986 and Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (b. 1928)[294]
 Aida Roxas, actress (b. 1942)[295]
 July 28 – Neal H. Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnnist (b. 1930)[296]
August

 August 2 – Marcelo Ong, member of the Masculados Dos (b. 1985)[297]

 August 5 – Jose Romulo, actor (b. 1931)[298]
 August 6 – Amado Pineda, former GMA news weatherman and meteorologist (b. 1938)[299]
 August 11 – Arturo Macapagal, former Olympian shooter and brother of former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo (b. 1942)[300]
 August 14 – Rizal Alih, former armed group leader who led the 1989 Camp Cawa-Cawa, Zamboanga
City siege (b. 1946)[301]
 August 15 – Rene Mariano, psychic and DWIZ 882 anchor[302]
 August 17 – Butz Aquino, former Senator and Representative of Makati (b. 1939)[303]
 August 18 – Romulo Olazo, abstract painter (b. 1934)[304]
 August 29 – Francis Varela, Education Undersecretary (b. 1967)[305]
September

 September 13 – Jose Conrado Benitez, former Deputy Minister for Human Settlements (b. 1944)[306]
 September 16 – Elmer Panotes, 2nd District Representative of Camarines Norte (b. 1940)[307]
 September 17 – Alan Paguia, attorney (b. 1954)[308]
 September 19
 Aries Rufo, investigative journalist (b. 1969)[309]
 Esmail Kiram II, reigning Sultan of Sulu (b. 1939)[310]
October

 October 5 – Joker Arroyo, former senator (b. 1927)[311]

 October 8 – Elizabeth Ramsey, singer, comedian (b. 1931)[312]
 October 10 – Richard F. Heck, American scientist and Nobel laureate in Chemistry (b. 1931)[313]
 October 12 – Randy Climaco, Mayor of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.[314]
 October 13 – Rizzini Alexis Gomez, 2012 Miss Tourism International titleholder (b. 1990)[315]
 October 20 – Dario Otaza, Mayor of Loreto, Agusan del Sur[316]
 October 24
 Benito Vergara, national scientist (b. 1934)[317]
 Hasset Go, chef (b. 1986)[318]
 October 29 – Ernesto Herrera, former Senator and Trade Union leader (b. 1942)[319]
November

 November 2 – Nolyn Cabahug, classical singer (b. 1956)[320]

 November 7 – Quintin San Diego, lead convenor of Movement Against Dynasties (MAD) [321]
 November 8
 Willy Milan, film director (b. 1947)[322]
 Rey Mercaral, Net 25/Eagle News Service anchor (b. 1971)[323]
 November 9 – Jim Ayson, head of Smart Communications' Internet and Media Partnerships, tech
writer, founder of PhilMusic.com (b. 1963)[324]
 November 12 – Wilfredo Nieves, judge[325]
 November 24 – Niel Tupas, Sr., former Iloilo governor (b. 1932)[326][327]
 November 30 – Theresa Hernandez, politician and mother of Angelica Yap, known as Pastillas
Girl (b. 1972)[328]
December

 December 2 – Ignacio Santiago, Sr., former governor of Bulacan and Mayor

of Valenzuela (b. 1929)[329]
 December 7 – Elias Bulut, Sr., former governor of Apayao (b. 1939)[330]
 December 13 – Benedict Anderson, American academic, expert on Southeast Asia and author
of Imagined Communities (b. 1936)[331][332]
 December 15 – Florentino Feliciano, former Supreme court associate judge (b. 1928)[333]
 December 21 – Lim Eng Beng, PBA hall-of-fame player and former basketball player of De La Salle
Green Archers (b. 1951)[334]
 December 24
 Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, editor-in-chief of Philippine Daily Inquirer (1991–2015) (b. 1941)[335]
 Ron Jacobs, former Philippines men's national basketball team coach (b. 1942)[336]

2016 Events
January

 January 4 – The Sandiganbayan Special Second Division orders Alfonso Lim Sr., a crony of the late
president Ferdinand Marcos, to return to the government all properties he acquired. [1]
 January 7 – The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division denies the bail petition of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in
connection with his alleged involvement in the PDAF scam. [2]
A satellite captured image of the Kagitingan Reef, internationally known as Fiery Cross Reef.

 January 8 – The Department of Foreign Affairs files a diplomatic protest against China's test flights in
the Kagitingan Reef located across the disputed West Philippine Sea.[3]
 January 12 – The Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement between the Philippines and the United States signed in 2014. [4]
 January 13 – Zamboanga City declares a state of calamity due to the onslaught of El
Niño phenomenon and its negative effects to the farmlands.[5]
 January 14 – President Aquino vetoes House Bill No. 5842, which intends to increase the pension of
the members of Social Security System.[6]
 January 15 – Munap Saimaran, one of the bandits in the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings, is arrested
in Sulu.[7]
 January 19
 President Aquino approves Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reforms Act of 2016 that will
enable reforms in strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) political system.[8]
 North Cotabato declares a state of calamity after damages due to the 2016 El Niño reached over
₱200 million, including damage due to drought and rats. [9]
 January 20
 Former Iglesia ni Cristo evangelical worker Lowell Menorca II is arrested by Manila Police
District policemen in civil clothes without any warrant of arrest showed due to libel charges filed
by SCAN International Lanao del Norte chapter while he trying to attend a hearing in Court of
Appeals.[10] The INC categorily denied the involvement in commotion between the policemen
and Menorca.[11](see 2015 Iglesia ni Cristo leadership controversy)
 The Office of the Ombudsman orders effectively the dismissal in service of Quezon City District 2
Councilor Roderick Paulate and District 1 Councilor Francisco Calalay and two city liaison officials
on the hiring of "ghost employees" in 2010.[12]
 January 21 – Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, a former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency's Special Enforcement Service, is arrested in a buy-bust operation at a shabu laboratory
in Santa Cruz, Manila.[13]
 January 24–31 – The 51st International Eucharistic Congress is held in Cebu.[14]
 January 26 – The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee concludes its hearings on the corruption
allegations against Vice President and UNA presidential candidate Jejomar Binay. [15]
 January 27 – The Bangsamoro Basic Law fails to pass on its final reading in the House of
Representatives before January.[16] But due to no proper quorum in the Congress, the bill had no
chances to pass in the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress. [17] Aside from the BBL, Aquino
administration's priority bills, the Anti-Dynasty, Anti-Discrimination and the Freedom of Information
bills, "killed" in the 16th congress as the Session will temporarily adjourned in preparation for the
2016 elections.[18]
 January 31 – In the latest report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Philippines
places second in the list of most dangerous places for journalists. [19]
February.

 February 1 – The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 142 issues a warrant of arrest against Senator
and Vice Presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes IV over the libel case filed by disqualified Makati
Mayor Jejomar Binay, Jr..[20] On February 9, Trillanes posted bail. [21]
 February 3 – The COMELEC 1st Division denied all the disqualification cases against PDP–Laban
presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.[22]
 February 5
 The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) files the usurpation case against former
PNP Chief Alan Purisima due to usurping his role in his involvement in the Mamasapano clash.[23]
 Maguindanao suffers from the effects of the 2014-2016 El Niño, destroying rice and corn crops
on the drought caused, and the provincial government declares a state of calamity in response to
residents experiencing food shortage.[24]
 February 9 – The AFP and PNP operatives arrest Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) top
leader Hassan Indal a.k.a. Abu Hazam in a joint operation in Cotabato City.[25]
 February 10 – The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority announces that it has
documented more than 400 additional islands, mostly in the Mindanao group, using the
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. The islands were previously thought to be part of a bigger
island.[26] The previous official count was 7,107 by the Gazetteer of the Philippine Islands in 1945. [27]
 February 16 – Six policemen killed and eight wounded in a clash with New People's Army members in
Barangay Sta. Margarita, Baggao, Cagayan.[28]
 February 18 – The Department of Transportation and Communications and the Land Transportation
Franchising and Regulatory Board launches the P2P or Point to Point Premium Bus, the
first bus service in the country accessible for the Persons with Disabilities sector.[29][30]
 February 19
 President Aquino signs Executive Order 201 (under the proposed Salary Standardization Law of
2015) that increases the salaries of government agency workers and adding additional benefits
to civilian and military uniformed personnel.[31]
 The Office of the Ombudsman files graft and documents falsification charges before the
Sandiganbayan against former Makati City mayor Junjun Binay and 22 others over the alleged
overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Parking Building II.[32]
 February 26 – At least 60 are killed in an encounter in Butig, Lanao del Sur. Among them were
suspected members of Maute Terrorist Group and three soldiers. [33]

 February 29
 The Philippines and Japan signs an agreement on the transfer of the Japanese defense and
surveillance equipment to the country's military.[34]
 The remains of the late President Elpidio Quirino, the sixth president of the Philippines, are
transferred from the Manila South Cemetery in Makati to the Heroes' Cemetery in Taguig to
mark his 60th death anniversary.[35]
March

 March 1 – Aid al-Qarni, a Islam preacher, and a diplomat from Saudi Arabian embassy was shot by a
gunman after a lecture in the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City.[36]
 March 3 – The Office of the Ombudsman files charges against five former Representatives including
former Muntinlupa congressman Ruffy Biazon, in connection with the PDAF scam.[37]
 March 5
 The Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian and 6 others
over the deadly blaze that hit footwear factory Kentex Manufacturing Corporation, killing at least
72 people in May last year.[38] On March 15, The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of graft
charges against Gatchalian and seven other individuals in connection with this case. [39]
  The Philippine government orders to impound a cargo ship from North Korea in the Subic port, in
response to tighter sanctions by United Nations against North Korea due to its nuclear and
ballistic missile tests.[40] On March 24, the North Korean freighter M/V Jin Teng has left the
country, after no contraband was found onboard and the ship was cleared by the United
Nations.[41]

 March 8 – Voted 9-6, the Supreme Court has affirms Grace Poe's natural-born status and declares
she is qualified to run based on her 10-year residency.[42]
 March 15
 The Supreme Court dismisses several petitions by several party-list groups to issue a TRO to stop
the implementation of the K+12 education program of the Department of Education.[43]
 The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has begun its inquiry into the alleged money laundering of
$100 million that has dragged into this one of the country's leading financial institutions. [44]
 March 16
 BIR employee Rhodora Alvarez, who blew the whistle on the alleged anomalous deal, filed a
plunder complaint against Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazminover a P1.2 billion helicopter deal in
2013.[45]
 Disqualified Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito and eight other individuals were
charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged anomalous insurance deal entered
in 2008.[46]
 March 18 – Former Camarines Norte Governor Roy Padilla Jr., is arrested over his failure to return a
firearm issued to him in 1992.[47]
 March 21 – The UNESCO has added Albay in the Philippines as one of the 20 additions to its network
of protected biosphere nature reserves.[48]
 March 22
 The Sandiganbayan Second Division has dismissed the graft case against Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) former president and general manager Winston Garcia on the alleged
anomalous awarding of a multimillion-peso electronic membership card (e-Card) project in
2004.[49]
 The Court of Appeals (CA) has junked dismissed Makati mayor Junjun Binay's contempt charges
against former interior secretary Mar Roxas, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, former
justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and 5 others.[50]

 March 23
 Diwata-1 was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Cygnus spacecraft on
a supply mission. Cygnus itself will be launched using the Atlas V rocket. The satellite was
deployed into orbit from the ISS on April 27. Diwata-1 is the country's first micro-satellite and the
first satellite to be built and designed by Filipinos. [51]
 The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (under the Memorandum Circular 94) that
aimed at "achieving unified action" as part of efforts to find a resolution to the country's
territorial dispute with China on the West Philippine Sea is created.[52]
 March 25 – Customs at the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen destroyed 34.78 tons of "substandard
bananas" imported from the Philippines due to excessive pesticide use. [53]
 March 26 – A raging fire on the Philippines highest mountain, Mt. Apo, forced hundreds of people to
flee from the peak by foot.[54]
 March 27 – Anonymous Philippines has hacked the website of Commission on Elections to force
them to place security features on Vote Counting Machine (VCM). [55] Soon, the LulzSec
Pilipinas leaked sensitive information of voters all over the Philippines from the COMELEC website,
and the incident has been called the "biggest government data breach in history". [56] On April 21, one
of the hackers involved in the recent defacement and supposed leak of data from the Commission on
Elections' official website has been arrested in Sampaloc, Manila. [57] On April 29, another hacker
allegedly responsible for leaking the information of voters from the Comelec website was arrested by
the National Bureau of Investigation.[58]
 March 28
 Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Neric Acosta has been sentenced
to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment after being found guilty of one count of graft by the
Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in connection with the misuse of his pork barrel funds as district
representative of Bukidnon.[59]
 None of the three pre-qualified bidders have submitted offers for the largest Private-Public
Partnership (PPP) project to date, the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway estimated to cost around
P123 billion.[60]
 Several piles of license plate sheets were stolen from the Quezon City central office of the Land
Transportation Office during the Holy Week break.[61]
 March 29
 Ten Indonesian crew members on board a tugboat were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in
the Philippines.[62] On May 1, ten Indonesian sailors who had been held hostage by Islamist
militant group were released in Jolo.[63]
 President Aquino has signed Republic Act No. 10754 into law a bill authored by Leyte Rep. Martin
Romualdez granting persons with disabilities (PWDs) exemption from the 12-percent value-
added tax (VAT) on certain goods and services.[64]
 The Commission on Elections has decided not to stop the broadcast of senatorial candidate
Manny Pacquiao's boxing match on April 9.[65]
 March 30 – The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and technical malversation cases against Sen. JV
Ejercito, before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged anomalous purchase of high-powered firearms
worth P2.1 million during his term as mayor of San Juan City. [66]

 March 31
 The camp of businessman Kim Wong handed over to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the $4.6
million he volunteered to return to the Bangladesh government, supposedly after learning that
the money was part of the $81-million money laundering scheme.[67] On April 4, Wong turned
over an additional P38.28 million to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)
office.[68] On April 19, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd., has turned over P200 million to the
AMLC.[69]
 Addong Salahuddin, suspect in the bombing incident at the Zamboanga City Airport on August 5,
2010, where two people were killed and 28 others injured, including former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur
Tan has surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation. [70]
April

 April 1
  At least 3 are killed and several others were wounded when police dispersed a farmers' protest
action in Kidapawan demanding relief from the provincial government due to a drought caused
by El Niño affecting the province since November 2015.[71]
 The Department of Education in partnership with Stairway Foundation launches CyberSafe
Project Manuals, which contain individual lesson plans targeting Grades 5 to 6 and junior high
students to prevent internet-related child abuse.[72]
 April 2 – A power outage hits the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City
causing a disruption in the processing of passengers.[73]
 April 4 – The Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 74 denies the petition of US Marine Joseph Scott
Pemberton to reverse his conviction for his homicide case of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude.[74]

 April 5
 The Office of the Ombudsman finds probable cause to file charges against former PNP chief Alan
Purisima and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas for the Mamasapano operation that saw 44
SAF troopers killed, the biggest loss of the police in recent history. [75]
 The Ombudsman orders the filing of graft charges against re-electionist Cebu 3rd District
Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia and 11 other former officials over the alleged anomalous construction of
the P833-million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in 2006.[76]
 April 6 – A group calling itself iBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan (iBBM) filed a complaint for plunder
against Senator Bongbong Marcos for his alleged involvement in the PDAF scam.[77]
 April 8
 Italian national Rolando Del Torchio is released after being kidnapped at his pizza parlor
in Dipolog on October 7, 2015.[78]
 Memorandum Order No. 90 was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. directs the
abolition of the 42-year-old Armed Forces of the Philippines–Retirement and Separation Benefits
System (AFP–RSBS).[79]
 Bohol declares state of calamity due to the 2016 El Niño.[80]
 April 9
 The Supreme Court declares that their vote on Grace Poe's natural-born status and 10-year
residency is final and executory and she is eligible to become president.[81]
 18 soldiers and 5 Abu Sayyaf bandits including a suspected foreign terrorist, Moroccan national
Mohammad Khattab, and Ubaida Hapilon, the son of senior leader Isnilon Hapilon are killed
during a clash in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.[82]

 April 11
 The groundbreaking rites for the Clark Green City, a sustainable city located in the Clark Freeport
Zone in Angeles, Pampanga, is conducted and led by President Aquino.[83]
 Cebu province is placed under state of calamity due to the 2016 El Niño.[84]
 April 13 – The Sandidganbayan Fifth Division grants the petitions for bail of former APEC party-list
Representative Edgar Valdez, former Masbate Representative Rizalina Lanete and Janet Lim Napoles
who were facing plunder charges in connection with the PDAF scam. [85]
 April 17 – Presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte causes controversy when a video of him making a
joke about the rape of a murdered Australian missionary goes viral.[86]
 April 20
 The Sandiganbayan Special Fourth Division acquits former Presidential Commission on Good
Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio from graft and malversation of public funds cases,
 which stemmed from his alleged misuse of almost P12 million worth of recovered ill-gotten
wealth of the Marcoses.[87]
 The groundbreaking rites for the ₱69.3-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) project, marking
the start of the construction of the 23-kilo-meter elevated railway from North Avenue, Quezon
City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, is conducted and led by President Aquino. [88]

 April 25 – John Ridsdel, a Canadian taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Samal Island, is beheaded
on Jolo, Sulu.[89]
 April 27 – Voted 4-3, the COMELEC en banc has officially cancelled the voting on the selected malls
scheduled on May 9.[90]
May

 May 2 – Vice presidential candidate and senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Atty. Sal Panelo, lawyer of
presidential frontrunner and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, visits the Bank of the Philippine
Islands branch along Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig, in a bid to settle the lawmaker's allegations of
hidden wealth against the mayor. [91]
 May 5 – Both negative advertisements — paid by Antonio Trillanes IV, targets presidential candidate
Rodrigo Duterte using unidentified children and another one is about Duterte's alleged hidden
wealth were aired on TV and radio stations, causing dismay among netizens. [92] A 72-hour TRO was
issued by Regional Trial Court in Taguig to stop any TV stations from airing the negative
advertisement.[93]
 May 6 – Mario Reyes, former mayor of Coron, Palawan and one of two brothers accused of
masterminding the 2011 murder of journalist and good governance advocate Gerry Ortega is granted
bail by the court trying the case.[94]

 May 9 – The 2016 National and Local elections are held.[95]

 May 11 – The Sandiganbayan absolves former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos'
graft charges over the botched $329-million ZTE-National Broadband Network (NBN) deal in 2007. [96]
 May 14 – Special elections are held in select villages in Visayas and Mindanao, where the Commission
on Elections declared failure of elections.[97]
 May 18 – President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10821 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and
Protection Act which seeks to provide children with comprehensive relief and protection in the
aftermath of disasters.[98]
 May 23
 The historic San Pedro bell is finally returned and displayed at the Bauang Church in La Union,
more than a hundred years after it was taken by American soldiers as a war booty during
the Philippine-American War.[99]
 President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10844 into law, which creates the Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT).[100][101]
 May 30 – The Congress proclaims Rodrigo Duterte and Leni Robredo as President-elect and Vice
President-elect of the Philippines, respectively, based on the canvassing of votes by the National
Board of Canvassers for President and Vice President from May 25 to 27.[102]
 May 31
 The Supreme Court dismisses the appeal of former MMDA Chairman and senatorial
candidate Francis Tolentino to stop the proclamation of Win Gatchalian, Ralph Recto and Leila de
Lima, the top 10, 11 and 12 senators in the Philippine Senate election, 2016 respectively.[103]
  President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
(CMTA) which amends some previsions of the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 and to
modernize the operations of the Bureau of Customs.[104]
June

 June 1
 The Office of the Ombudsman orders the filing of criminal charges against former Valenzuela
representative and senator-elect Sherwin Gatchalian, former Local Water Utilities Administration
(LWUA) chairman of the board Prospero Pichay Jr. and 24 other former government officials and
private individuals for alleged anomalous acquisition of a thrift bank by in 2009. [105]
 The Philippine Navy commissions its brand new and largest ship, the BRP Tarlac together with
three newly acquired landing craft heavy vessels, BRP Waray, BRP Iwak, and BRP Agta. [106]
 The Sandiganbayan Third Division dismisses the perjury and violation of the code of conduct
cases against the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.[107]
 The Antipolo Regional Trial Court dismisses the double-murder case against ex-Colonel Red
Kapunan, in connection with the deaths of former Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) leader, Rolando
Olalia and his driver, Leonor Alay-ay on November 13, 1986.[108][109]
 The Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog overrules Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and rejects his
2012 decree declaring that the alleged Marian apparitions in Batangas in 1948 were
authentic.[110]
 June 2 – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) officially starts phasing
out school service vehicles 15 years old and up. [111]
 June 7 – The Supreme Court dismisses the petition filed by Atty. Elly Pamatong, a presidential
candidate classified as nuisance that seeks to null and void the votes of President-elect Rodrigo
Duterteand to stop his proclamation by the National Board of Canvassers. [112]
 June 8 – The Office of the Ombudsman upholds the decision of the Manila Prosecutor’s Office
dismissing treason and inciting to sedition complaint filed last year against outgoing Presidential
Peace Adviser Teresita Deles, peace negotiators Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Mohagher Iqbal and
members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).[113]
 June 12 – Chinese Coast Guard bars Kalayaan Atin Ito Movement, a Filipino youth group, from sailing
to the disputed Panatag Shoal to plant a Philippine flag there to celebrate the country's
Independence Day.[114]

 June 14
 Robert Hall, the second Canadian taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Samal Island, is beheaded
on Jolo, Sulu.[115]
 The Supreme Court dismisses a petition that sought to stop the lease of 70,977 optical mark
reader (OMR) machines for P6.286 billion that were used in the May 2016 elections. [116]
 The two Cessna aircraft sequestered from the late Alfonso Lim, an alleged crony of the Marcos
family, is sold by the Sandiganbayan at a measly amount of P140,000.[117]
 The Supreme Court temporarily stops the Land Transportation Office (LTO) from issuing 700,000
license plates to motorists and from accepting more license plates from the Bureau of
Customs.[118]
 Eight Philippine universities led by the University of the Philippines (UP) are included in the
latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings on the top 350 universities in Asia.[119]
 June 15 – Informal talks between the incoming Duterte administration and representatives of
the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) commence in Oslo,
Norway.[120]
 June 16
 President Aquino vetoes House Bill No. 6411 and Senate Bill No. 2720 that seeks to improve the
nursing profession, including raising the minimum monthly salary of nurses to almost
P25,000.[121]
 The Sandiganbayan First Division acquits former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman
William Ramirez of graft in connection with the alleged anomalous procurement of cycling
equipment in 2007.[122]
 The COMELEC en banc grants the Liberal Party's request and several similar petitions that they
be allowed to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenses (SOCE) beyond the June
8 deadline long before the May 9 elections.[123]
 Malacañang temporarily stops the Department of Justice (DOJ) from filing criminal charges
against newly elected 1-Pacman party-list Representative Mikee Romero, who was alleged to
have committed qualified theft against Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI). [124]
 June 17 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 12, orders the two siblings of Iglesia ni
Cristo executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo, expelled members Angel and Lottie, to vacant from a
property of the religious sect in No. 36 Tandang Sora Street, Quezon City. [125]
 June 21 – The Commission on Elections en banc accepts the resignation of senior Commissioner
Christian Robert Lim as head of the Campaign Finance Office (CFO), following the extension of the
filing of their statements of contributions and expenditures.[126]
 June 23 – The Department of Justice dismisses criminal complaints filed by American missionary Lane
Michael White, against airport employees, including four aviation police officers, in connection with
the alleged bullet planting scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[127]
 June 24 – Marites Flor, a Filipina taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Samal Island, is released
in Jolo, Sulu.[128]
 June 25 – The Department of Science and Technology launches the very first Filipino-made hybrid
electric train.[129]
 June 27
 President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10868 into law a measure that will grant a P100,000
cash incentive and additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians. [130]
 Merilyn and Stharra, the wife and daughter of retired PNP Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan,
are killed from a fire that struck their home in Quezon City.[131]
 June 28
 President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10867 into law, that mandating the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI)’s reorganization and modernization, 69 years after the creation of its first
charter.[132]
 The Supreme Court dismisses a petition filed by retired Army Col. Justino Padiernos and Atty.
Manuelito Luna, questioning the Commission on Elections' decision to extend the filing of the
statements of contributions and expenditures of candidates and political parties in the 2016
election.[133]
 The Supreme Court dismisses a petition filed by Greco Belgica and former Tarlac Governor
Tingting Cojuangco that seeking the prosecution of all the authors, proponents and
implementors of both the pork barrel system and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
  June 30 – Rodrigo Duterte is inaugurated as the 16th President of the Philippines with Leni
Robredo being inaugurated as the 14th Vice President of the Philippines, marking the beginning
of the Rodrigo Duterte administration.[135][136][137]
July

 July 2 – Grade 6 student Nasif Cali from Denaig Elementary School in Poona Piagapo, Lanao del
Norte wins the World Food Programme's (WFP) Children's Design Competition 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Cali's design was chosen from 70 submissions and as a result of his victory, the WFP awarded him
with $100 and his school, Denaig Elementary School, will receive $2,000 for school supplies. [138]
 July 4
 President Rodrigo Duterte signs his first executive order, entitled Reengineering the Office of the
President Towards Greater Responsiveness to the Attainment of Development Goals, allowing
his Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. to oversee 12 national government agencies in coming
up with a set of programs to reduce both the incidence and magnitude of poverty. [139]
 After almost two decades of having its gates shut in the past 18 years, the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) office along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City, opens its doors to
farmers and protesters alike.[140]
 July 5 – President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air
Force names five top police generals who were allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.[141]
 July 6 – The PAGASA announces the end of the El Niño phenomenon.[142]
 July 10 – Three Philippine islands, Palawan, Boracay and Cebu, are featured on the "World’s Best
Islands" list for 2016 of the New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure.[143]
 July 11 – The Office of the Ombudsman finds a probable cause to file graft charges against former
Health Secretary Enrique Ona and two other officials of the Department of Health (DOH) for an
alleged anomalous ₱392.2-million hospital modernization project in 2012. [144]

 July 12
 The Philippines wins the arbitration case they filed at the Permanent Court of
Arbitration regarding the legality of China's nine-dotted line claim over the South China
Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.[145][146]
 Philippine delegates Debby Sy, Hannah Joy Alcomendas and Camille Joy Buron are recognized for
their contributions to the four-day Asia Pacific Youth Parliament for Water (APYPW) event by the
Korea Water Forum at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in Daegu,
South Korea.[147]
 The provincial government of Basilan declares a state of emergency in the municipalities of Tipo-
Tipo, Ungkaya Pukan and Al-Barka as the military continued its intensified offensive against the
Abu Sayyaf Group.[148]
 July 13 – A 12-year-old girl is killed while two soldiers were wounded in a firefight between
government troops and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.[149]
 July 14 – The Office of the Ombudsman files graft, falsification and violation of the government
procurement law charges against former Vice President Jejomar Binay in connection with the
overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II project. [150]
 July 15 – President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Cebuano-Chinese businessman Peter Lim, one of the
three alleged leaders of illegal drug trade in the Philippines.[151]
 July 18 – The main runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport closed due to emergency
pavement repairs that forced 10 international and domestic flights to be diverted to the Clark
International Airport in Pampanga, resulting in delayed and cancelled flights all over the country. [152]
 July 19 – The Supreme Court acquits former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of her plunder case
regarding the alleged misuse of funds for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO) in an 11–4
ruling.[153][154]
 July 20 – Around 320 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force's (PNP-SAF) elite personnel
troopers were deployed to replace jail guards of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), where irregularities like
gun running and the illegal drug trade allegedly remain rampant. [155][156]
 July 23 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs an executive order for the implementation of the Freedom
of Information (FOI).[157][158][159][160][161]

 July 25 – President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).[162][163]
 July 26 – The Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order that halts the implementation of
the curfew ordinances for minors in the cities of Manila, Quezon City and Navotas.[164]
 July 30
 The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) places the Luzon power grid under a red
alert status due to low level operating reserves, as seven power plants are encountering
problems.[165]
 President Rodrigo Duterte lifts the unilateral ceasefire and placed troops on high alert after the
Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) failed his deadline to make
their own declaration.[166]
August

 August 1 – The Duterte administration launches a 24-hour complaint office accessible to the public
through a nationwide hotline, 8888, and changed the nationwide emergency telephone number from
117 to 911.[167][168]
 August 2 – Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, who is being linked to drug trafficking,
surrenders to Philippine National Police chief director General Ronald dela Rosa. Espinosa and his son
Kerwin were asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to voluntarily surrender within 24 hours or face
a shoot-on-sight order by police.[169]
 August 3 – Six aides of Mayor Rolando Espinosa and his son Kerwin are killed in a shootout with the
police in Albuera, Leyte.[170]
 August 4 – The Sandiganbayan grants the motion of the Office of the Ombudsman to amend the
plunder case against former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante in connection with the ₱723-
million fertilizer fund scam.[171]
 August 5 – The Supreme Court grants the provisional liberty to Satur Ocampo and two others who
were allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines to allow them to attend the peace talks with
the government in Oslo, Norway.[172]
 August 7 – President Duterte publicly named more than 150 government officials including mayors,
judges, polices and lawmakers who are allegedly involved in an illegal drug trade. [173][174][175]
 August 8 – 14 dead, 8 injured and 262,271 families were affected after heavy rains and floods due
to southwest monsoon shuts down Metro Manila and nearby provinces.[176]
 August 11 – Ten high-profile inmates are killed in the explosion incident inside the Parañaque City
Jail.[177]
 August 12 – The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 grants the bail petition to communist leaders
Benito and Wilma Tiamzon ahead of the scheduled peace talks with the Communist Party of the
Philippines in Oslo.[178]
 August 13 – The peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front reopens
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[179]
 August 14
 About thousands of people gather at Rizal Park protesting the burial of the late former
President Ferdinand Marcos scheduled for September 18.[180][181]
 A rare tornado hits Manila and nearby areas at around 4:30 pm PHT, which, according to a report
by the PAGASA, originated from land.[182][183][184]
 August 15 – The Department of Justice orders the filing of direct assault with murder charges in court
against 88 people over the Mamasapano clash in 2015 that left 44 SAF commandos dead.[185]
 August 16 – The Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, dismisses the electoral
protest filed by 2010 vice presidential candidate Mar Roxas against former Vice President Jejomar
Binay in the May 10, 2010 elections.[186][187]
 August 17
 Mohammad Safyan, an Indonesian crew member of the tugboat Charles, who were abducted off
the high seas near the Philippine border last June 23, along with six other crew members,
escapes from his Abu Sayyaf captors in Luuk, Sulu.[188]
 Maia Deguito, the former branch manager of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation tagged
in the $81-million money laundering scandal, is arrested at a supermarket
in Makati for perjury.[189]
 August 20–27 – The peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the
Philippines, New People’s Army, National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) took place in Oslo. [190]
 August 22 – The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights begins its hearing on the spate of
summary executions in the Philippines.[191]
 August 23
 The Sandiganbayan founds NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jun Lozada, guilty of graft for granting
separate leasehold rights over public lands to his brother and to a private company with ties to
him under the Lupang Hinirang program of the Philippine Forest Corporation. [192]
 Rogelio Bato Jr., the lawyer of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, and his 15-year-old
companion, Angelica Bonita are killed in a shooting incident in Tacloban City.[193]
 The Supreme Court issues a 20-day status quo ante order on the issue of the planned interment
of the remains of the late president Ferdinand Marcos at Heroes Cemetery. [194]
 August 25 – President Rodrigo Duterte releases the matrix showing the supposed links of Sen. Leila
de Lima and other former and current government officials to the alleged illegal drug operations
inside the New Bilibid Prison.[195]
 August 26 – The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front signs an
indefinite ceasefire agreement as part of efforts to end a conflict that has lasted almost five decades
and killed at least 40,000 people.[196]
 August 27 – 20 inmates were escaped after the Maute terrorist group armed with assault rifles and
rocket propelled grenades, attack the Lanao del Sur provincial jail. [197]
 August 29 – 15 soldiers and 30 Abu Sayyaf bandits are killed during a clash in Patikul, Sulu.[198]
 August 31 – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is among this year's recipients of the Ramon
Magsaysay Awards.[199][200]
September

 September 2 – An explosion rocks a night market in Davao City, where at least 15 people were killed
and 70 were reported to have been injured.[201] The Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for the
attack.[202]
 September 4 – President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 55 declaring a state of
emergency in the Philippines on account of lawless violence following the Davao City bombing. [203]
 September 5 – The Philippine National Police launches the Text Bato hotline 2286 and Itaga Mo sa
Bato mobile app as the newest tools in its campaign against narcotics. [204][205]
 September 8 – Joel Reyes, former governor of Palawan and one of two brothers accused of
masterminding the 2011 murder of journalist and good governance advocate Gerry Ortega is denied
bail by the court trying the case.[206]
 September 9 – The fact-finding team of the Commission on Elections clears Smartmatic of liability in
the controversial alteration of the script of the transparency server used for the quick counts in the
May 9 polls.[207]
 September 11 – The Official Gazette of the Philippines received criticism after posting a graphic
commemorating the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' 99th birth anniversary, with some social media
users accusing the government outfit of historical revisionism. [208]
 September 13 – The Supreme Court dismisses the bid of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)
seeking to lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued in June 2015 enjoining the procurement,
selling, distributing, dispensing and administering and promoting contraceptive implants.[209]
 September 14 – The Sandiganbayan dismisses the graft case against former National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) chief Romulo Neri over the alleged overpriced national broadband
network project with China’s ZTE Corp. in 2007.[210]
 September 15 – Edgar Matobato, a former member of the Davao Death Squad, surfaces the Senate
hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings during the current administration. [211]
 September 16 – The Sandiganbayan dismisses the graft cases against Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo over the allegedly anomalous NBN-ZTE deal. [212]
 September 17
 Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Samal Island, is released
in Jolo, Sulu.[213]
 The Provincial Government of Batanes declares a state of calamity due to the damage wrought
by Typhoon Ferdie.[214]
 September 19 – Voted 16–4–2, the Senate ousts Senator Leila de Lima as chairperson of the
Committee on Justice and Human Rights after granting Senator Manny Pacquiao's motion to declare
the chairmanship and membership of the committee vacant. [215]
 September 20
 The House Committee on Justice begins its hearing on the proliferation of drugs and narcotics
syndicates in the New Bilibid Prison.[216]
 The Supreme Court upholds the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal on Senator Grace Poe's
eligibility to run in the 2013 election and ruled that she is qualified to sit as a senator of the
republic.[217]
 September 28 — A riot occurred in New Bilibid Prison that killed one high-profile inmate, Tony Co,
and three others wounded including convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian.[218]
October

 October 13 – President Duterte signs Administrative Order #1 which forms the Presidential Task
Force against violence and killing of journalists. [219]
 October 19
 Typhoon Haima (Lawin) hits northern Luzon, killing at least 4 people. [220] Typhoon signal number
5 is raised for the first time before and after its landfall.[221]
 A violent protest rally occurs at Roxas Boulevard, in the front of the United States embassy in
Manila. Three protesters are injured after being rammed by a police van during the
dispersal.[222][223]The Philippine National Police and Congress called an investigation to the violent
police action that injured several protesters.[224][225]
November

 November 8 – The Supreme Court votes 9–5–1 in favor of former President Ferdinand Marcos'
remains to be transferred from the Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center in Batac, Ilocos Norte to
the Heroes' Cemetery in Taguig.[226]
 November 18 – Ferdinand Marcos is buried at the Heroes' Cemetery with rites closed to the general
public.
 November 26–November 30 – the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Maute Group clashes after
the latter seized the town of Butig, Lanao del Sur.
December

 December 7 – President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 10 creating a consultative committee to
review the 1987 Philippine Constitution.[227]
 December 25 – Typhoon Nina (Nock-ten) makes landfall in Catanduanes.
 December 28 – 27 were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) explodes during a boxing
fight in a festival in Hilongos, Leyte.[228]

Holidays
On August 26, 2015, the government announced at least 19 Philippine holidays for 2016 as declared by
virtue of Proclamation No. 1105, series of 2015.[229] Note that in the list, holidays in italics are "special
non-working holidays," those in bold are "regular holidays," and those in non-italics and non-bold are
"special holidays for schools."
In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are
also "special days."

 January 1 – New Year's Day

 January 2 – Special non-working holiday
 February 8 – Chinese New Year
 February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution[230]
 March 24 – Maundy Thursday
 March 25 – Good Friday
 March 26 – Black Saturday
 April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
 May 1 – Labor Day
 May 9 – Election Day[231]
 June 12 – Independence Day
 July 6 – Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan)[232]
 August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
 August 29 – National Heroes Day
 September 12 – Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)[233]
 November 1 – All Saints Day
 November 30 – Bonifacio Day
 December 24 – Special non-working holiday (in observance of the Christmas season)
 December 25 – Christmas Day
 December 26 – Special non-working holiday (in observance of the Christmas season)
 December 30 – Rizal Day
 December 31 – Last day of the year (in observance of New Year's celebrations)

Business and economy

 January 4 – The Philippine Stock Exchange is named the Best Stock Exchange in Southeast Asia by the
Marquee Awards of the Alpha Southeast Asia magazine.[234]
 February 1 – Following complaints that the ₱100 and ₱1,000 bills seem to look alike, the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has released new 100-peso bank notes with a stronger mauve or violet
color.[235]
 February 4
 President Aquino III signs Executive Order 198 on the merger between two government-owned
banks, The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and The Land Bank of the
Philippines(LBP).[236]
 Hackers transferred funds from the Bangladesh Bank's account with the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation which was later transferred to Philippine-
based casinos. The money laundering case may potentially be the biggest documented case of
money laundering the country if proven.[237]
 February 18 – Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. inaugurates its manufacturing plant for its snacks
line including Cheetos, located in Cabuyao, Laguna.[238]
 May 25 – President Aquino III signed Republic Act No. 10846 amending the charter of the Philippine
Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) or the deposit insurance law. [239]
 May 30 – PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom announces the acquisition of telecommunications business
and assets of San Miguel Corporation, following the SMC's failed partnership attempt with Australia-
based telecom company Telstra.[240]
 June 16 – President Aquino vetoes House Bill 3675 and Senate Bill 2518 that seeks removing
conditions for the condonation of all unpaid income taxes of local water districts (LWDs). [241]
 July 7 – Geronimo De Los Reyes Jr., the chairman emeritus of Gateway Property Holdings, and
acclaimed veterinarian Anton Mari Lim were among on the list of Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes
Asia.[242]
 July 19 – The Court of Appeals voided an order issued by the National Telecommunications
Commission (NTC) in November 2012, requiring telecommunications companies to cut their Short
Message Service (SMS) rates and return the excess amount paid by subscribers. [243]
 July 22
  The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disqualifies businessman Roberto Ongpin from
serving as an officer or board member in any public company or publicly listed company after he
allegedly engaged in insider trading in the sale of Philex mining shares in 2009. [244]
 The DOTr and LTFRB stops accepting applications for new ride-sharing vehicles of e-
hailing companies Uber and Grab due to a backlog as the government reviews its policies on fare
spikes.[245]
 July 23 – The Court of Appeals denies Globe Telecom's petition to prevent the Philippine Competition
Commission (PCC) from reviewing its joint ₱69.1-billion acquisition with PLDT of San Miguel Corp’s
telecom business.[246]
 August 8 – The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation files a criminal complaint for syndicated
fraud against the former directors, officers, employees and consultants of the closed Banco Filipino
Savings and Mortgage Bank, estimating losses to the bank at P669.6 million.[247]
 August 29 – Three Philippine-listed companies, Jollibee Foods Corp., Puregold Price Club and
Robinsons Retail Holdings were made to list of this year’s Forbes Asia Fabulous 50 List. [248]

Health

 March 3 – President Aquino signs the Rare Disease Act, that aims for the persons who have rare
diseases to have access to better and comprehensive healthcare. [249]
 March 6 – The Department of Health confirms that an American tourist was tested positive with Zika
virus after staying for four weeks in the Philippines. A widespread Zika virus outbreak in
the Americaswas ongoing at the time.[250]
 April 4 – The Department of Health has launched its school-based dengue immunization
program.[251] On April 25, over 200,000 students have been already received by the DOH, the first
ever vaccine against dengue since the vaccination program started on April 4. [252]
 April 21 – A norovirus outbreak strikes Zamboanga City killing 4 people and 700 others, including
children, were hospitalized.[253]

 May 21 – Five concertgoers are found dead on the Close-Up Forever Summer concert at the SM Mall
of Asia in Pasay.[254] Authorities suspect that the deaths are due to use of ecstasy.[255] Then
Presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte blamed the concert deaths on lack of security to
prevent illegal drugs from entering the concert. [256]
 May 25 – Arianwen Rollan's research on Malunggay seed extract that may help hamper the growth of
tumors, bagged the Qatar Foundation's First Award for Research and Development in Medical
Science at year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. [257]
 June 2 – A diarrhea outbreak strikes Eastern Visayas, killing 13 people and hospitalizing 1,370 others
on Samar and Leyte, as of June 3, 2016. The Department of Health (DOH) stated that lack of potable
water in the region resulted to the outbreak.[258]
 July 21 – A state of calamity has been declared in the municipality of Tupi in South Cotabato due to a
sudden increase in dengue cases.[259]
 October 1 – An outbreak of Chikungunya disease has been declared in Indang, Cavite.[260]

Sports
For the full list of events related to Philippine sports in 2016, see 2016 in Philippine sports.
February 3, Basketball – The San Miguel Beermen claim the 2015–16 PBA Philippine Cup title after
beating the Alaska Aces in the finals. The Beermen is the first PBA team to come back from a 0–3
deficit.[261]

 February 13 – Filipino boxing champions Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes and golfer Miguel
Tabuena receive the Athlete of the Year award in the 2015 PSA Annual Awards held in One
Espanade, Pasay.[262]
 March 7–11, Multisport – The Philippine National Games are held in Pangasinan.[263]
 March 17–20, Cycling – Tagaytay hosts the World University Cycling Championship.[264]
 April 9–16, Multisport – The Albay province hosts the 2016 Palarong Pambansa.[265]

 April 10, Boxing – Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao defeats Timothy Bradley for the third
time.[266][267][268]
 April 16–17, Taekwondo – The Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament is hosted
by Manila.[269]
 April 23, Boxing – Nonito Donaire defeats Zsolt Bedak via a technical knockout in Cebu City.[270]
 April 30, Volleyball – The DLSU Lady Spikers claim their ninth championship trophy after winning
the UAAP Season 78 women's volleyball tournaments against the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 19-25, 25-21,
25-16, 25-16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.[271]
 May 25, Boxing – Johnriel Casimero defeats Thai boxer Amnat Ruenroeng to claim the International
Boxing Federation's flyweight title in Beijing, China.[272]
 May 28
 Boxing – Donnie Nietes retains his light flyweight title from the World Boxing Organization, after
defeating Mexican boxer Raúl García into submission after five rounds at the La Salle
Coliseum in Bacolod.[273]
 Basketball – Philippines men's national basketball team won their second tournament title by
defeating the host country Thailand in the championship match of 2016 SEABA Cup.[274]
 July 5–10, Basketball – The Philippines co-hosts the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
for Men at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.[275]
 July 7, Basketball – The Philippines men's national basketball team end their bid to qualify for
the 2016 Summer Olympics after losing 80–89 to the New Zealand men's national basketball team in
Group B of the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. [276]
 July 10, Boxing – Jason Pagara defeats Mexican boxer Abraham Alvarez, via knockout in the third
round of their welterweight showdown in the co-main event of Pinoy Pride 37: Fists of the Future in
San Mateo Events Center in San Mateo, California, but his younger brother Albert Pagara suffered
the first defeat of his career after he was knocked out by Cesar Juarez at round 8. [277][278][279]
 July 15, Basketball – Janine Nicandro, a PBA Developmental League former referee, is appointed as
the first female referee of the PBA.[280]
 July 17, Taekwondo – The Philippine taekwondo team bags five gold medals and five silver medals at
the World Taekwondo Culture Exposition in Muju, South Korea.[281]
 July 27, Boxing – Marlon Tapales of Lala, Lanao del Norte defeats Thai boxer Pungluang Sor Singyu via
knockout in Thailand to claim the World Boxing Organization's bantamweight title.[282]
 July 31, Basketball – The Philippines' Mighty Sports defeat Chinese Taipei B, 104–80, to win the 2016
William Jones Cup.[283]
 August 6–22 – The Philippine delegation, consisting of 13 athletes in eight different sports,
participates at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[284]
 August 7, Weightlifting – At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Hidilyn Diaz wins a
silver medal at the women's 53 kg event for weightlifting. It is the Philippines' tenth Olympic medal
overall and the country's first since the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 20 years prior.[285]
 September 3–11, Volleyball – The Philippines hosts the AVC Club Volleyball Championship.[286]
 September 9, Wrestling – The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) returned to the Philippines for
a one-night only event at the Mall of Asia Arena. [287]
 September 10, Chess – Janelle Mae Frayna, a 20-year-old chess player from Legazpi City, becomes
eligible to become a woman grandmaster after a good performance at the 42nd World Chess
Olympiad at Baku, Azerbaijan. If confirmed by FIDE, she will become the first woman grandmaster of
the Philippines.[288]
 September 12, Table tennis – At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Josephine Medina
wins a bronze medal at the women's individual – Class 8 tournament for table tennis. It is the
Philippines' second Paralympic medal overall after Adeline Dumapong won a bronze
for powerlifting at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, 16 years prior.[289]
 September 15, Wrestling – Filipino-American wrestler TJ Perkins was crowned as the winner of
the WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament. Perkins was also crowned as the inaugural WWE
Cruiserweight Champion.[290]
 October 18–23, Volleyball – The Philippines hosts the 10th FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World
Championship at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.[291]
 November 6, Boxing – Manny Pacquiao defeats American boxer Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas to claim
the World Boxing Organization's welterweight title.[292]
 November 19–26, Football – The Philippines hosts the group stage of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup along
with Myanmar.[293]
 November 25 – Philippine Olympic Committee elections.[294] Peping Cojuangco was releelected as the
committee's president after running unopposed.

Entertainment and culture

For the events related to Philippine television in 2016, see 2016 in Philippine television; for films, see List of
Philippine films of 2016; and for music, see 2016 in Philippine music.

 January 1 – The Iglesia ni Cristo claims three new Guinness world records namely for the Largest
Fireworks Display, Longest Line of Sparklers Lit in A Relay, and the Most Sparklers Lit Simultaneously
during the "Countdown to 2016" grand New Year event at the Ciudad de Victoria in Bocaue,
Bulacan.[295]
 January 11, 13 – The House Committee on Metro Manila Development conducts an investigation
over the disqualification of the film Honor Thy Father in the Best Picture category of the 2015 Metro
Manila Film Festival and other irregularities.[296][297]
 January 25 – President Aquino approves the privatization plans of the government-sequestered
television network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation(IBC-13) thru public bidding.[298][299]
 February 21 – Lav Diaz, director of the 8-hour length full feature film Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis, wins
the Silver Bear: Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film in the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.[300]
 February 26 – Ten Filipinos, including singer Charice Pempengco and photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani,
are part of the inaugural "30 Under 30 Asia" list released by Forbes Magazine.[301]

 February 29 – Nora Aunor is recognized as one of the 6 Ani ng Dangal awardees by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts.[302]
 March 6 – Felix Manalo, a bio-pic film of the life of the Iglesia ni Cristo's first executive minister Felix
Manalo bags the Movie of the Year award of the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies.[303]
 April 17
 Maxine Medina, a graduate of the Philippine School of Interior Design with experience in
designing residential condominiums and a model, is crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2016
during the coronation night of the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum in Quezon City.[304]
 May 22
 Jaclyn Jose wins the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress at the 2016 Cannes Film
Festival for her role in the film Ma' Rosa, becoming the first Filipina to win the award.[305]
 June 11 – Imelda Schweighart of Puerto Princesa is crowned as Miss Philippines Earth 2016 during
the coronation night held at the University of the Philippines Diliman Theater in Quezon City.[306]
 June 12 – Filipino costume designer Clint Ramos wins the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a
Play at the 70th Tony Awards in New York City for his work on the Broadway play Eclipsed.[307][308]
 June 22 – John Lloyd Cruz and LJ Reyes win the Best Actor and Actress awards, respectively, at the
39th Gawad Urian.[309]
 July 2 – Young actress Teri Malvar earned more international recognition for her performance in the
crime-drama Hamog (Haze), this time in the Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF). [310]
 July 4 – John Lloyd Cruz has been recognized as one of 3 honorees of the Star Asia award at the 15th
New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) for his film Honor Thy Father, becoming the first Filipino and
Southeast Asian actor to receive the honor in the other hand actress Teri Malvar receives a Screen
International Rising Star Asia award after she appears in Ralston Jover's Hamog.[311]
 July 15 – President Rodrigo Duterte approves the proposal of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo,
to host the forthcoming Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines.[312]
 July 17
 Filipino teen dance troupe Junior New System wins major awards at this year’s World
Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA).[313]
 The all-male group Tres Kantos, consisting of Bugoy Drilon, Jovit Baldivino, and former Tawag ng
Tanghalan contestant Dominador Aviola, also known as Daddy D, mentored by Erik Santos, are
named the first winner of the celebrity competition We Love OPM during the show's live finale at
Resorts World Manila.[314]
 July 20 – Gabby Cabalic wins the Best Actor award at the 1st ToFarm Film Festival, held at the Makati
Shangri-La, Manila.[315]
 July 23 – Di Na Muli, interpreted by Itchyworms, wins this year’s Philippine Popular Music Festival
(PhilPop) held at the KIA Theater.[316]
 July 30 – Ganiel Akrisha Krishnan, a sportscaster for ABS-CBN Sports & Action is crowned as Mutya ng
Pilipinas-Asia Pacific during the coronation night held at the Resorts World Manila’s Newport
Performing Arts Theater.[317]
 August 21 – Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, collectively known as "AlDub", and Kathryn
Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, collectively known as "KathNiel", and other Kapamilya and Kapuso
personalities and programs are among the winners at the 2016 PEP List Awards night held at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel.[318][319]
 September 10 – Ang Babaeng Humayo, a revenge tale shot in black and white by director Lav Diaz,
wins the top Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival. [320]
Deaths
January

 January 2 – Virginia Torres, former LTO chief (b. 1953)[321]

 January 4 – Stephen W. Bosworth, United States Ambassador to the Philippines during the People
Power Revolution (b. 1939)[322][323]
 January 6 – Marnill "Kigoy" Abarico, reality show contestant (Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited)
(b. 1979)[324]
 January 8 – German Moreno, TV host, actor, talent manager (b. 1933)[325]
 January 9 – Cielito del Mundo, original host of Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko and Mahal, actress (b. 1935)[326]
 January 11 – Napoleon Rama, former Manila Bulletin publisher (b. 1923)[327]
 January 12 – Democrito Mendoza, co-founder of Trade Union Congress of the
Philippines (b. 1943)[328]
 January 23 – Tiger Mañalac, incumbent councilor of Malabon (b. 1970)[329]
 January 27 – Carlos Loyzaga, former basketball player and coach (b. 1930)[330]
 January 29
 Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., former NEDA director-general (b. 1948)[331]
 Feliciano Salonga, former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and father of Lea
Salonga and Gerard Salonga (b. 1929)[332]
February

 February 4 – Uro dela Cruz, television director (Bubble Gang) (b. 1952)[333]
 February 5 – Ciriaco Cañete, martial artist (Doce Pares Eskrima Club) (b. 1919)[334]
 February 8 – Roy Señeres, OFW Family Club party-list representative (b. 1947)[335]
 February 13 – Lauro Vizconde, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding president and
board of director, IBC-13 (b. 1938)[336]
 February 16 – Vincent Navarro, artist (b. 1992)[337]
 February 20 – Noel Perfecto, PTV-4 senior correspondent (b. 1947)[338]
 February 26 – Thadeo Ouano, former Mayor of Mandaue (1998–2007) (b. 1944)[339]
 February 29 – Wenn Deramas, film and television director (b. 1966)[340]
March

 March 4 – Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad, former Mayor of Pasay (2001–06; 2007–10) (b. 1934)[341]
 March 5 – Nestor Mantaring, former NBI director (b. 1948)[342]
 March 6 – Francis Xavier Pasion, film and television director (b. 1978)[343]
 March 10
 Jovito Salonga, former Senate of the Philippines president (b. 1920)[344]
 Andrew Gotianun, Filinvest Development Corporation chairman (b. 1927)[345]
 March 11 – Antonio Cabangon Chua, former Philippine ambassador to Laos (b. 1934)[346]
 March 16 – Ben Aniceto, former Vice President and General Manager, ABS-CBN (1986–87)
(b. 1933)[347]
 March 22 – Cecilio Hechanova, founding chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) (1990–
92) (b. 1932)[348]
 March 29 – Gabriel C. Singson, former Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (b. 1929)[349]
 March 31 – Leonardo Mayaen, Governor of Mountain Province (b. 1953)[350]
April

 April 8 – Jun Lingcoran, Radyo Patrol #24 and former Chief of Reporters, DZMM (b. 1970)[351]
 April 13 – Ronnie Lucas, Vice Mayor of Jones, Isabela (b. 1975)[352]
 April 14 – Rod Reyes, former Vice President and General Manager, GMA Radio Television
Arts(b. 1935)[353]
 April 19
 Luis Katigbak, writer (b. 1974)[354][355]
 Leovic Dioneda, former Mayor of Sorsogon City (b. 1954)[356]
 Roberto Rivera, former Vice Mayor of Pandi, Bulacan (b. 1955)[357]
 April 27 – Julio Labayen, Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of
Infanta (b. 1926)[358]
 April 29 – Renato Corona, 23rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (2010–12) (b. 1948)[359]
May

 May 3 – Domingo Siazon, Jr., 18th Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1995–2001) and Philippine
ambassador to Japan (2001–05) (b. 1939)[360]
 May 18 – Eduardo Castrillo, sculptor (b. 1942)[361]
June

 June 11 – Max Laurel, character actor (Zuma) (b. 1945)[362]

 June 13 – Tet Garcia, elected Vice Governor of Bataan (b. 1940)[363]
 June 16 – Magdalena Leones, former US Army Force Special Agent during World War II (b. 1921)[364]
 June 20 – Ernesto Maceda, 18th President of the Senate (1996–98) and former Philippine
ambassador to the United States (b. 1935)[365]
 June 30 – Tupay Loong, Sulu first district representative (b. 1947)[366]
July

 July 2 – Isaac Tolentino, former Mayor of Tagaytay (1954–80) and father of Francis
Tolentino (b. 1923)[367]
 July 3 – Gilbert Bulawan, PBA basketball player (Blackwater Elite) (b. 1986)[368]
 July 7 – Erwin Dolera, one of the so-called Bangkang Papel boys during the administration of Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo (b. 1992)[369]
 July 14
 Helena Benitez, former Senator and administrator of the Philippine Women's
University (b. 1914)[370]
 Bong Daza, former Makati councillor, estranged husband of Gloria Diaz and father of Isabelle
Daza (b. 1951)[371]
 July 24 – Emmanuel Dipotado, Mayor of Sibulan, Negros Oriental (b. 1968)[372]
August

 August 4 – Snaffu Rigor, veteran composer (b. 1947)[373]

 August 5 – Aaron Sampaga, Vice Mayor of Pamplona, Cagayan (b. 1977)[374]
 August 17 – Baby Dalupan, former PBA coach and player (b. 1923)[375]
 August 20 – Lilia Cuntapay, actress (b. 1935)[376]
September

 September 10 – Joy Viado, comedian (b. 1959)[377]

 September 29 – Miriam Defensor Santiago, politician (b. 1945)[378]
October

 October 11 – Dick Israel, actor (b. 1947)[379]

November

 November 5 – Rolando Espinosa, Mayor of Albuera, Leyte[380]

 November 11
 Jum Jainudin Akbar, Basilan lone district representative[381]
 Ronnie Nathanielsz, sports analyst and sportswriter (b. 1934 or 1935)[382]
 November 21 – Blakdyak, singer, actor, comedian (b. 1969)[383]
December

 December 18 – Bobby Guanzon, Filipino journalist and politician, cardiac arrest (b. 1948)

2017 Events
January

 January 1 – Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed and four others
were wounded in a clash with government soldiers that lasted 10 hours in Datu Salibo,
Maguindanao.[2]
 January 4 – About a hundred armed men, whose affiliation is undetermined, launched an attack on a
prison in Kidapawan which had freed at least 158 inmates. The jailbreak resulting from the attack was
reportedly the biggest in the history of North Cotabato.[3]
 January 5 – Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, the leader of the Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines who is
allegedly affiliated with the Islamic State, was killed by government security forces in Sarangani.[4]
 January 11
 President Duterte signed an executive order mandating universal access to modern family
planning tools.[5]
 President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the unwarranted arrest and deportation of Indian nationals,
especially Punjabis, involved in the 5-6 money lending scheme.[6]
 January 16–20 – The 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy commenced with a Mass at the Manila
Cathedral. Other events were held in Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, and Bataan. [7][8]
 January 17
 The city government of Cagayan de Oro declared a state of calamity in response to flooding
caused by heavy rainfall brought by a low pressure area in the vicinity of Kabasalan, Zamboanga
Sibugay and the tail-end of a cold front.[9]
 The National Bureau of Investigation confirmed the death of Jee Ick Joo, a South Korean
businessman who was abducted in Angeles on October 18, 2016.[10]
 January 30 – Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cleansing of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after
corruption was discovered at the wake of the kidnapping of the South Korean, Jee Ick-Joo. [11]
February

 February 1
 a fire hit the House Technology Industries, Ltd. factory inside the Cavite Export Processing
Zone in General Trias, Cavite.[12]
 The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's Army (NPA), and National
Democratic Front (NDF) ended their unilateral ceasefire with the Philippine government. [13]
 February 10 – A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Surigao del Norte, killing at least 4 people.[14]
 February 14
 The Philippine National Police declared a "war on illegal gambling", following the withdrawal of
the police on the War on Drugs.[15]
 Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary Gina Lopez ordered the closure of
75 mines for violations of environmental laws. [16]
 February 21 – A tour bus carrying college students bound for a camping site in Tanay, Rizal, lost
brakes and crashed into a roadside electricity pole, killing 15 and injuring 40 on board.[17] The
accident uncovered lax regulations on safety of students on educational trips in the Philippines and
prompted the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd) to
issue moratoriums on field trips for the 2016–17 school year.[18]
 February 24 – Senator Leila de Lima was arrested for violations of Republic Act 9165, or
the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, related to her alleged involvement in the New
Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal.[19][20]
 February 27 – Jeepney drivers, mostly belonging to the transport groups, PISTON and Stop and Go
Coalition, led a nationwide strike against the planned modernization of jeepneys, that caused
suspension of classes and stranding passengers at major metropolitan areas nationwide. [21]
 February 28 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.[22][23]
March

 March 1 - After a temporary suspension due to the kidnapping and killing of a South Korean national,
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte orders the Philippine National Police to resume his controversial
campaign.[24]
 March 2 – Angel Manalo, brother of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, and 31
others were arrested for illegal possession of firearms for the alleged shooting incident at Manalo's
compound in Quezon City.[25]
 March 9 – Members of Kadamay (Kalipunan ng Damayan Mahihirap) occupied 4,000 houses inside
government housing projects in Pandi and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.[26]
 March 15 – Magdalo representative Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against
Rodrigo Duterte resulting from extrajudicial killings in the Philippine war on drugs.[27]
April

 April 4
 Rodrigo Duterte ordered the resignation of Department of Interior and Local
Government secretary Ismael Sueño amidst corruption allegations.[28]
 A magnitude 5.5 earthquake, that occurred northwest of Tingloy, hit Batangas, causing damage
to buildings.[29] The province soon declared a state of calamity after the quake. [30]
 April 11 – A clash between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police Special
Action Force and Abu Sayyaf in Inabanga, Bohol kills 6, including the notorious Muammar Askali, also
known as "Abu Rami".[31]
 April 17 – A bus traveling from Isabela into Ilocos region fell off a ravine in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija,
killing 31 on board. The accident, resulting from poor vehicle maintenance, is one of the most
deadliest road accidents in the Philippines. [32]
 April 26–29 – The 30th ASEAN Summit was held at the Philippine International Convention
Center in Pasay.[33]
 April 27 – The Philippine National Police discovered a secret jail cell inside a Manila Police
District precinct, that raised possibilities of police abuses in Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal
drugs.[34]
 April 28 — The bombings were a series of blasts which took place in the Manila district of Quiapo in
the Philippines.[35]
May

 May 5 – United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard made a controversial visit on a drug
policy forum in the University of the Philippines. The Philippine government complained about her
unannounced visit, that shown lack of understanding on the human rights situation in Rodrigo
Duterte's ongoing war on drugs.[36]
 May 6 - just one week since the first blast, twin bombings took place about two and a half hours
apart in the same district in Quiapo, Manila.[37]
 May 15 – The majority of the House of Representatives justice committee rejected
the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo representative Gary Alejano against Rodrigo Duterte
for lack of substance.[38]
 May 16
 President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 25, that renamed Benham Rise to
Philippine Rise.[39]
 President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 26, that ordered a nationwide smoking
ban.[40]
 May 18
 Implementation of Republic Act No. 10913, or the "Anti-Distracted Driving Act", started.[41]
 Ferdinand Marcelino, along with his Chinese asset, Yan Yi Shou, were released after their drug-
related case was dropped.[42]
 May 19 – Implementation of Republic Act No. 10666, or the "Children on Motorcycle Safety Act of
2015", started.[43]
 May 23 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 216 declaring a 60-day martial law in
Mindanao following clashes between government forces and the Maute group in Marawi.[44]
June

 June 1 - Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announces the deaths of ten soldiers
in Marawi as a result of a "friendly fire" airstrike.[45]
 June 2 – A gunman attacked Resorts World Manila in Pasay around midnight, caused a major panic
within the complex. Around 38 people were dead, due to smoke inhalation from the fire while
injuring 70 people.[46]
 June 4
  In Marawi, Philippines, a ceasefire organised by Moro separatists is broken, leaving locals hungry
for nearly two weeks.[47]
 Philippine police identified the attacker at Resorts World Manila as Jessie Javier Carlos, an ex-
employee of the Department of Finance who was deeply in debt. [48][49]

 June 12 — the Philippines' Independence day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines hoped that as of
this day, Marawi siege will be over. The Philippine Government raised the symbolic Philippine Flag in
several places in Marawi like the Marawi City Hall, Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol, Camp
Ranao, Mindanao State University, Amai Pakpak Hospital and several roads in the city. Philippine
troops, Tanks, Rescue Van and trucks, Police cars, Patrol Cars, Army Service units and Heavy Tanks
also carried a Philippine Flag which symbolizes that the roads they are roaming around are part of
Philippine Territory to fight back to the Maute's black flag. However, the battle still continues.[citation
needed]

 June 19 - Ronald dela Rosa was the guest of honor and speaker at the celebration of José Rizal’s
156th birth anniversary. He claimed that he was related to the national hero through a common
ancestor named Ines dela Rosa.[50]
 June 27 — more than two men killed 5 members of a family inside their home in San Jose del
Monte, Bulacan, Philippines. The authorities listed five persons of interest involved in the massacre.
Within two weeks after the incident, three of the five persons of interests have been killed by
unknown assailants within different areas in Bulacan. [51]
July

 July 6
 a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Leyte, causing at least 4 deaths and 100 injuries. The quake also
caused power interruptions in the whole of Eastern Visayas and nearby Bohol.[52]
 The Supreme Court says President Rodrigo Duterte can declare martial law in the
whole Philippines. Two days prior, the Supreme Court had ruled in favor of the constitutionality
of Proclamation No. 216 which declared Martial Law and suspended the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao, in response to the Marawi crisis.[53]

 July 22 - In a special joint session requested by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Congress of the
Philippines voted 261-18 to extend the martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017.[54][55][56]

 July 23 - The nationwide ban on public smoking is implemented.[57][58]

 July 24 – President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).[59]

 July 30 - Sixteen people, including Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and his wife, are killed in a police
drug raid in Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental. The Parojinog family had been previously identified with
theirties to the illegal drug trade, as well as the organized crime group Kuratong Baleleng.[60][61]
August

 August 7 - Two more Filipino journalists are murdered in a span of two days adding to toll of more
than a hundred journalists killed since 2000.[62][63]
 August 8
 The Pentagon is considering conducting airstrikes in Marawi, which if approved would later put
U.S. troops on the ground to battle the ISIS-affiliated Maute group as well as related Islamist
terror groups. A spokesperson later denied the claims as well as clarified that the Philippines has
yet to make a request.[64]
 The Supreme Court of the Philippines has junked all petitions against the burial of
former President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, re-affirming
its earlier ruling on 8 November 2016.[65]
 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Celebrates 50th Golden Anniversary
Celebration at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila and at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.

 August 9 – President Rodrigo Duterte abolishes the Negros Island Region (first created in 2015 by his
predecessor) through Executive Order no. 38, citing lack of funds to fully establish the region. Negros
Occidental reverts back to the Western Visayas region, Negros Oriental back to the Central
Visayas region.[66]

 August 11 - The Department of Agriculture confirms an avian influenza outbreak in the province
of Pampanga.[67][68]

 August 16
 At least 32 people are killed in a series of police raids near Manila, Philippines, allegedly due to
the ongoing drug war.[69]
 A 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos was fatally shot by police officers conducting an anti-drug
operation in Caloocan, Metro Manila. The case became controversial when the official police
reports differed from witness accounts and CCTV footage. [70][71][72]

 August 17 - Over 25 persons are killed and 48 are arrested by the Philippine National Police Manila
Police District on consecutive anti-drug operations in Manila within 24 hours.[73]

 August 20
 The Philippine Catholic Church condemns the killings in the Philippines after anger erupts due to
the death of 17-year old Kian Loyd delos Santos.[74][75]
 The Court of Appeals of the Philippines has junked U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton's motion
for reconsideration, re-affirming its decision last April upholding the 2015 homicide ruling of the
Olongapo City Regional Trial Court; citing the defendant's arguments as mere "rehash of issues".
The Court of Appeals also upheld the payment of ₱ 4.32 million to Jennifer Laude's family for
"loss of earning capacity". Pemberton faces 10 years in prison.[76]

 August 21 — After the murder of Kian Loyd delos Santos, a 17-year old student, in the campaign
against drugs in the Philippines, thousands of marchers protest in EDSA heeding calls from
the Philippine Catholic Church to criticize the drug war.[77]

 August 23 — Two people die in an earthquake in Leyte, Philippines.[78]

 August 24 - The senate investigates the alleged shooting of a 17-year old male student seemingly
connected to the ongoing drug war.[79]
 August 26 — Hundreds of sympathizers attend the funeral procession of a teenager killed allegedly
due to the ongoing drug purge in the Philippines.[80]
September

 September 7 - The Senate investigates Paolo Duterte, the son of current Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte, in an alleged methamphetamine smuggling scandal.[81].
 September 11 - The Department of Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II is caught allegedly conspiring
a lawsuit against opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros.[82]

 September 12
 In an unconfirmed video, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant instructs its followers to go and
fight in the Philippines instead of the Middle East.[83]
 The Philippine senators call for Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to resign.[84]
 The House of Representatives of the Philippines approves a bill that limits the budget of
the Commission on Human Rights to only ₱1,000 (US$20).[85][86]

 September 14 — The Communist-aligned Makabayan bloc leaves the majority of the Philippine lower
House over disagreements due to the ongoing drug crackdown.[87]

 September 15 - Around 1,200 members of the Philippine National Police in the suburb
of Caloocan are fired over allegations of crimes attributed to the police. [88]

 September 20 - Speaking to government workers at the presidential palace in Manila, President

Rodrigo Duterte orders police to kill his eldest son, Paulo Duterte, if drug trafficking allegations
against him are proven true, and adds that those who carried out the execution would be protected
from prosecution.[89]

 September 21 - At The "National Day of Protest", coinciding the 45th anniversary of declaration
of Martial Law by late president and dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, a massive protest, led by the
group called "Movement Against Tyranny" — led by Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares,
will be held at Luneta.[90][91] Not only about the killings, but also calling out about Duterte attacks
towards the institution such as the Ombudsman, and his intolerance from the
critics/dissenters.[91] Malacañang Palace released Duterte’s Proclamation No. 319 and Memorandum
Circular no. 26 on this day.[92] A Memorandum Circular no. 26 states that government offices and
public schools at all levels are suspended.[92] Duterte said that he will not condone any means of
violence committed by protesters.[93]
October

 October 13 - A group of civil society organizations, "among them groups working on human rights,
youth and drug policy reform," have demanded that Apple Inc. remove from its App Store games it
said violated the tech firm's guidelines and promoted violence and killings commonplace in
the Philippine Drug War.[94]
 October 16 - Armed group leaders, Isnilon Hapilon of Abu Sayyaf and Omar Maute of Maute Group,
were reportedly killed during the operation of rescuing the hostages, according to the statement
released by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.[95][96][97] Omar Maute and the leader of Abu Sayyaf
 Isnilon Hapilon, (KIA) Killed in Action, The Philippine Army's SOCOM (Special operations command)
executed both while conducting a hostage rescue operation.
 October 17 — Following the deaths of Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, President Rodrigo
Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi. At around 2PM, the President addressed a crowd, saying:
"I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence that marks the beginning of
rehabilitation of Marawi."[98][99][100] AFP Chief Gen. Eduardo Año said that the announcement meant
that the conflict is substantially over now that the militants' leaders were killed. However he
maintained that there are still skirmishes and 20-30 militants with 20 hostages remain confined in a 2
hectares (4.9 acres) area in the city.[101]

 October 23 — the AFP cleared the final ISIL-held building in Marawi, fully recapturing the city.
General Eduardo Año stated bodies of 42 dead militants were found in two buildings and a mosque in
the battle zone, it was possible some of the militants were hiding. The bodies also included two wives
of Maute gunmen. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana meanwhile announced the end of the battle
and the end of combat operations in the area. [102][103][104] He added that Bacu was believed to among
those 42 dead militants.[105]

Scheduled events

 November 10–12 – The Philippines will host the 31st ASEAN Summit Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles,
Pampanga.[33]
 November 13–14 – The Philippines as host the Twelfth East Asia Summit at the Clark Freeport
Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.[106]