1986 in the Philippines

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See also:	List of years in the Philippines films

1986 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1986.

Incumbents

Fourth Republic (1984–86)

• President : Ferdinand Marcos (KBL) (deposed February 25, 1986)
• Vice President : Arturo Tolentino (KBL)
• Chief Justice : Ramon Aquino
• Philippine Congress : Regular Batasang Pambansa
• House Speaker : Nicanor Yñiguez (KBL)

Revolutionary Government (March 25 – June 2, 1986) and Fifth Republic (1986 – present)

President Corazon Aquino

• President : Corazon Aquino (UNIDO)
• Vice President : Salvador Laurel (UNIDO)
• Chief Justice : Claudio Teehankee (1986–88)

Events

February

Rally against the Marcos Dictatorship in January 1986

• February 7 – Presidential snap elections are held. Pres. Marcos leads the tally made by the Commission of Elections (Comelec), but his opponent, Corazon Cojuangco–Aquino, leads another tally by the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel). ^{[1] [2]}
• February 9 – Thirty Comelec computer technicians walk out of their tabulation center at the PICC to protest attempts to manipulate the election results. ^[1]
• February 11 – Opposition Antique former Gov. Evelio Javier is assassinated in front of the provincial capitol as the canvassing is being held there. ^[1]
• February 15 – Pres. Marcos (and Tolentino) are declared by the Batasang Pambansa as winners in the poll canvass. ^[1]
• February 16 – Cojuangco–Aquino leads Tagumpay ng Bayan (Victory of the People) rally in Luneta Grandstand with over 2 million attendees; proclaims victory in spite of the previous proclamation. ^[1]
• February 22 – People Power Revolution (Day 1): Deputy Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos and Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, backed by members of the armed forces loyal to the former, declares coup at a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo to call upon Pres. Marcos to resign and to announce their withdrawal of support; they seize key military camps; Cardinal Jaime Sin urges the public to support the troops. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
• February 23 – People Power Revolution (Day 2): Opposition supporters, gathered around camps Crame and Aguinaldo along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), form human barricades; targeting loyalist marine forces are stopped by them. ^[1]
• February 24 – People Power Revolution (Day 3): Reformist rebels storm government offices, radio and television stations, Camp Aguinaldo, Villamor Airbase, and Malacañang Palace; 15th Air Force Strike Wing, with Col. Antonio Sotelo, defects to the rebels; Col. Mariano Santiago leads the soldiers who take over government-owned Channel 4. ^[1]
• February 25 – People Power Revolution (Day 4):
  • Cojuangco–Aquino swears in as the 11th and first female President of the Philippines before Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee at the ceremonies in Club Filipino in San Juan. ^{[1] [2] [5]}
  • Marcos also swears in as President of the Philippines at Malacañang Palace; his own inauguration ceremonies are interrupted as other television stations are destroyed by rebels. ^{[1] [2]}
  • Ousted Marcos and his family are transported through airlift by four United States helicopters to Clark Air Base. ^{[1] [2] [5]}
• February 26 – From Clark Air Base, Marcoses flee to Guam and to Hawaii. ^{[1] [2]}
• February 28:
  • Presidential Commission on Good Government is formed by president Aquino.
  • Investigation on Marcos' wealth.

March

• March 3 – In the first major attack by the New People's Army (NPA) post-revolution, about 200 rebels ambush a police truck on a bridge in Guinobatan, Albay, killing up to 17 police officers ^[6] as well as four civilians aboard a minibus caught in a crossfire; 17 people are wounded. ^{[7] [8]}
• March 5 – President Aquino frees four suspected communist leaders, including Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison and alleged NPA founder Bernabe Buscayno, eventually releasing all political prisoners of the Marcos administration. ^{[2] [9]}
• March 15 – NPA guerillas ambush a government jeep on a mountain road in Amlan, Negros Oriental, killing twelve people, most of them employees of Philippine National Oil Company. ^[10]
• March 17:
  • The United States Court of International Trade in New York denies a petition by the lawyers of former president Marcos against the plan by the United States government to publicize documents on Marcos wealth and to turn them over to the Philippine government upon latter's request. The documents, which have been taken out by Marcos' entourage, is later seized by the Customs upon their arrival in Hawaii. ^[11]
  • Pilipino Star Ngayon is established as a first post-revolution tabloid newspaper.
• March 25 – Pres. Aquino abolishes the national assembly and the constitution; declares an interim constitution (Freedom Constitution, Proclamation No. 3) effective until a new one would be ratified in a national plebiscite. ^[2]

April

• April 3 – More than 15,000 workers at the Subic Bay Naval Base return to work following a 12-day walkout. ^[2]
• April 18 – Twenty-one soldiers are killed by NPA insurgents in a land mine explosion and an ambush in Albay. ^[12]
• April 19 – A military convoy is attacked by NPA guerillas in Cagayan, killing 14 soldiers. ^[12]
• April 24:
  • A military convoy is ambushed by NPA members in Cagayan. A Reuters chief photographer and a Manila Bulletin reporter, who are among the ten killed as the gun battle ensues, are said to be the first journalists killed while covering the communist insurgency. ^[13]
  • Inter-island ship MV Doña Josefina sinks off the coast of Isabel, Leyte, with 34 passengers died and more than a hundred people reported missing. ^[14]

May

• May 23:
  • The Supreme Court declares legitimate the provisional Aquino government. ^[2]
  • A bus falls from a cliff in a village in Hamtic, Antique, killing 23 people and injuring 15 others. ^[15]

June

• June 2 – Freedom Constitution is ended to give way for the adoption of a new constitution.
• June 24 - De La Salle University joining the UAAP as its eighth member.

July

• July 4 – Street clashes in an anti-nuclear rally outside the US Embassy injure 14 policemen and six demonstrators. ^[2]
• July 6 – Former Vice Pres. Arturo Tolentino, with Marcos loyalists and more than 300 soldiers, takes over the Manila Hotel; proclaims himself as "acting president"; Tolentino leaves the hotel and begins surrender talks on the 7th; they are forced to surrender peacefully after the failure of the coup that lasted until the 8th. Col. Rolando Abadilla would be identified as the mastermind. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [16]}
• July 9 – Pres. Aquino prohibits rallies by Marcos supporters. ^[2]
• July 22 – DZMM and DWKO established as the first post-revolution radio stations.
• July 28 – The Philippine Star established as the first post-revolution newspaper. Its first issue is published. ^[5]

August

• August 21 – A radio journalist in Albay reports that a number of children has fallen ill after being provided UNICEF's vitamin A capsules through a provincewide research program by the Ministry of Health and two United States-based groups, which has begun on July 30 to address vitamin A deficiency in the Bicol Region. The subsequent widespread panic in the region leads to the project being indefinitely postponed since August 30. By mid-September, reportedly there are 85 alleged cases of side effects and two deaths from vitamin A. The ministry, following their investigation, would later deny the accusations and affirm the safety of the capsules. ^[17]

September

• September 1 – Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari returns from exile in Libya for negotiations aimed at ending Muslim conflicts. ^[2]
• September 2 – Typhoon Miding hits northern Luzon killing 36 people.
• September 5 – Pres. Aquino and Misuari, in Jolo, agree for negotiations aimed at ending a 14-year conflict. ^[2]
• September 7 – City 2 Television (formerly BBC 2) is dissolved by Aquino.
• September 12 – The Supreme Court orders a retrial for former military chief Gen. Fabian Ver, 24 other military men, and a civilian, all acquitted in 1985 regarding their involvement in the 1983 murder of Benigno Aquino Jr. and Rolando Galman, as recommended on July 31 by a commission appointed by the Supreme Court. ^[2]
• September 13 – The Mt. Data Peace Accord was signed between the Philippine Government and the separatist Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People's Liberation Army. ^[18]
• September 14 – ABS-CBN went back on the air once again as it began rebroadcast to viewers and for station ID, the network carries the first tagline Watch Us Do It Again! followed by the second tagline Sharing A New Life with You. It features the first channel 2 logo is a wing-shaped blue crest with a white curved at the top and a white line as a tail, the Broadway 2 logo was used until 1987.
• September 21 – Thanksgiving Day cease to be celebrated after the EDSA Revolution and the fall of Marcos dictatorship. The tradition is no longer being celebrated. ^[19]
• September 29 – NPA leader Rodolfo Salas is arrested in Manila. Rebellion charges are filed by the government against him and two others, Oct. 2. ^[2]

October

• October 15 – Signing of the new constitution by Cecilia Muñoz-Palma and other members of the commission. ^[20]
• October 20 – Milk Code of 1986 (Executive Order No. 51) is signed by Aquino in order to implement rules and regulations in the manufacture of infant formula products.

November

• November 11 and 22 – A coup plot by ex-government officials loyal to former Pres. Marcos and by a military faction loyal to Defense Minister Enrile, codenamed "God Save the Queen", is foiled by the government. After a failed coup attempt, Enrile is among the cabinet officials replaced by Pres. Aquino, Nov. 23. ^{[2] [3] [16] [21]}
• November 12–13 – Kilusang Mayo Uno leader Rolando Olalia and his driver, Leonor Alay-ay, are abducted by armed men in Pasig City, Nov. 12; are found dead in Antipolo, Rizal the following day. In connection with the murder, two soldiers are placed by the police under arrest as suspects, Dec. 1; a former AFP sergeant is arrested, Dec. 18. ^[2] Of the 13 Reform the Armed Forces Movement members charged with the murders, Eduardo Kapunan, Jr. would be acquitted in 2016; three of them would be convicted in 2021. ^[22]
• November 27 – Negotiators of the national government and communist rebels, in their first public appearance together, sign a ceasefire agreement, which becomes effective on December 10. ^[23] It would take 60 days, ending on February 8, 1987, ^[2] six days later than scheduled. ^[23]

December

• December 30 – AFP orders to arrest armed guerrillas entering populous areas. ^[2]

Undated

• Philippines Development Assistance Program is founded. ^[24]

Holidays

Main article: Public holidays in the Philippines

As per Act No. 2711 section 29, ^[25] issued on March 10, 1917, any legal holiday of fixed date falls on Sunday, the next succeeding day shall be observed as legal holiday. Sundays are also considered legal religious holidays. Bonifacio Day was added through Philippine Legislature Act No. 2946. It was signed by then-Governor General Francis Burton Harrison in 1921. ^[26] On October 28, 1931, the Act No. 3827 was approved declaring the last Sunday of August as National Heroes Day. ^[27] As per Republic Act No. 3022, ^[28] April 9 was proclaimed as Bataan Day. Independence Day was changed from July 4 (Philippine Republic Day) to June 12 (Philippine Independence Day) on August 4, 1964. ^[29]

• January 1 – New Year's Day
• February 22 – Legal Holiday
• March 27 – Maundy Thursday
• March 28 – Good Friday
• April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
• May 1 – Labor Day
• June 12 – Independence Day
• August 13 – Legal Holiday
• August 31 – National Heroes Day
• November 30 – Bonifacio Day
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 30 – Rizal Day

Entertainment and culture

For the events related to Philippine television in 1986, see 1986 in Philippine television.

• December 27 – Corazon Aquino is named as Time magazine's woman of the year. ^[2]

Births

January

• January 4 – Katrina Halili, model and actress
• January 13 – Jan Manual, comedian
• January 25 – Luane Dy, Filipino showbiz television personality, host and actress
• January 26:
  • Sean Anthony, basketball player
  • Kian Kazemi, actor and part-time model
  • Ervic Vijandre, actor

February

• February 12 – Georgina Wilson, model, actress, and host
• February 14 – Roxanne Guinoo, actress
• February 18 – Brenan Espartinez, singer

March

• March 10:
  • Aaron Atayde, radio DJ, TV host and sports anchor
  • J.C. de Vera, actor, host, and endorser
• March 20 – Jam Sebastian, YouTube content creator (d. 2015)
• March 28 – Dion Ignacio, actor

April

• April 11 – RJ Jazul, Basketball player

May

• May 16 – Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-up
• May 17 – Ruben Doctora, football player
• May 20 - Ron Henley (rapper), rapper, singer and songwriter
• May 23 – Karla Henry, Miss Earth 2008
• May 25 – Marcy Arellano, basketball player
• May 26 – Alex Vincent Medina, actor

June

• June 8 – Japoy Lizardo, actor, taekwondo practitioner, and endorser
• June 12 – Carla Abellana, actress and host
• June 15 – Mark Canlas, basketball player
• June 29 – Iya Villania, actress and host
• June 30 – Jayson Castro, basketball player

August

• August 8 – Hezy Val B. Acuña II, basketball player
• August 10 – Mercedes Cabral, actress
• August 16 – Reil Cervantes, basketball player
• August 21 – Stephan Schröck, football player
• August 25 – Gilbert Bulawan, basketball player (d. 2016)
• August 29 – Joem Bascon, actor
• August 31 – Rachelle Ann Go, singer

September

• September 1 – JVee Casio, basketball player
• September 4 – James Younghusband, football player
• September 9 – Jervy Cruz, basketball player
• September 13 – Sugar Mercado, dancer and actress
• September 27 – Chai Fonacier, actress and singer

October

• October 2 – Pancho Magno, actor
• October 5 – Shiima Xion, wrestler
• October 22 – Matt Evans, actor

November

• November 3 – Jasmine Trias, singer, songwriter
• November 4 – Angelica Panganiban, actress
• November 7 – Boobay comedian and TV host
• November 22 – Erika Padilla, actress, model, and courtside reporter
• November 23 – Maxene Magalona, actress
• November 27 – Steven Silva, actor and footballer
• November 30 – Beau Belga, basketball player
• November 5 – Dianne Medina, actress, model, dancer, television host, news anchor
• November 24 – Val Acuña, basketball player

December

• December 14 – Mark Herras, actor
• December 21 – Karel Marquez, actress, singer, and TV host
• December 22 – Arianne Caoili, chess player (d. 2020)
• December 23 – James Walsh, swimmer
• December 31 – Mike Tan, actor

Deaths

• February 11 – Evelio Javier, politician and Governor of Antique ^[1] (b. 1942)
• February 25 – Nemesio Yabut, politician and Mayor of Makati (b. 1925)
• April 17 – Emma Henry, first female national police commander ^[30]
• April 24 – Pete Mabasa, Manila Bulletin correspondent ^[31]
• April 25 – Willie Vicoy, Reuters photographer (aged 45) ^[31]
• May 7 – Juan Nakpil, Architect (b. 1899)
• July 21 – José Avelino, Senate President of the Philippines (b. 1890)
• August 23 – Eduardo Quisumbing, National Scientist and Plant botanist (b. 1895)
• November 8 – Eddie del Mar, actor (b. 1919)
• November 10 – Rogelio de la Rosa, actor and Senator (b. 1914)
• November 13 – Rolando Olalia, labor leader; chair of Kilusang Mayo Uno ^{[2] [22] [32]}
• November 19 – David Puzon, district representative (until 1972) and assemblyman (1984–1986) from Cagayan (aged 65) ^[33]
• November 22 – Ulbert Ulama Tugung, known Muslim leader and former parliamentarian. ^{[2] [34]}

See also

• 1986-1987 Philippine coup attempts
• Philippines

References

1. Kasaysayan, Volume 10 :A Timeline of Philippine History (Part of the book at this link.)
2. Revolutionary Struggle in the Philippines (Part of the book at this link.) Retrieved 04-19-2021.
3. "The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission:" "IV: Military Intervention in the Philippines: 1986 – 1987" Official Gazette of the Philippines. October 3, 1990. Retrieved 04-25-2021.
4. "Timeline: Recent coups and attempted coups in the Philippines" Reuters. Nov. 29, 2007. Retrieved 05-01-2021.
5. "#Journeyto30" by Epi Fabonan III, Philstar.com : (1986) "The first headline" July 24, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
6. Fineman, Mark (March 6, 1986). "Aquino Frees 2 Top Communists: Rebel Ambush Sends Message: Fight Goes On" . The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 10, 2024.
7. "Filipino policemen attacked". Observer–Reporter . Washington, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. March 4, 1986. pp. A-1, A-2. Retrieved November 11, 2024– via Google Books.
8. "16 killed in ambush in Philippines". United Press International . March 3, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
   
   NOTE: This report initially mentioned Polangui, but other sources later mentioned Guinobatan.
9. Tifft, Susan (March 17, 1986). "The Philippines Digging for Treasure". Time . Retrieved November 11, 2024.
10. "20 Killed in 2 Attacks by Philippine Guerrillas" . The Los Angeles Times . March 18, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
11. Citations:
    • Barr, Robert (March 17, 1986). "After Camelot, A Quest For Millions". Times-Union. Warsaw, Indiana. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved December 9, 2024– via Google Books.
    • "Judge ready to rule on Philippine documents". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. Associated Press. March 17, 1986. p. A5. Retrieved December 9, 2024– via Google Books.
    • "Marcos documents can be released". Record-Journal . Meriden, Connecticut. United Press International. March 18, 1986. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved December 9, 2024– via Google News Archive.
12. Burgess, John (April 20, 1986). "Aquino Stresses Bid for Talks With Communists" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 11, 2024.
13. Fineman, Mark (April 26, 1986). "Philippine rebels kill 10 in ambush; major counteroffensive readied" . The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California . Retrieved April 29, 2021.
14. — "24 die, 130 missing as inter-island ship sinks in Philippines" . Associated Press. April 25, 1986. Retrieved February 15, 2022– via The Los Angeles Times.
    — "How safe is sea travel? Issues, concerns, and best practice" (Part 1 of 3) The Freeman (via PressReader). September 17, 2013. Retrieved 02-15-2022.
15. "Philippine Bus Crash Kills 23" Associated Press (via The New York Times). Retrieved 04-19-2021.
16. – "Coup attempts against Aquino" The Washington Post. Dec. 2, 1989.
    – "Philippine coup attempts" The New York Times. Dec. 1, 1989.
    Retrieved 05-01-2021.
17. Semba, Richard (2012). The Vitamin A Story: Lifting the Shadow of Death. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG. pp. 168–178. ISBN   978-3-318-02189-9 . Retrieved December 8, 2024– via Internet Archive.
18. "Mt. Data peace accord marks 25th year". Opapp.gov.ph. September 13, 2011. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
19. "Thanksgiving in the Philippines". Presidential Museum and Library. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
20. La Viña, Antonio G. M.; Aceron, Joy G. (November 9, 2017). The 1987 Constitution. Anvil Publishing, Inc. ISBN   978-971-27-2908-9 . Retrieved April 20, 2021.
21. "Aquino instructs military to block any coup attempt" The New York Times. November 10, 1986. Retrieved 04-25-2021.
22. For this incident and subsequent events:
    — "What Went Before: The 26-year-old Olalia-Alay-ay double murder case" Inquirer.net. Oct. 11, 2012.
    — "Backstory: The 35-year-old Olalia-Alay-ay murder case" Bulatlat. Oct. 12, 2021.
    — "How the accused masterminds of the Olalia-Alay-ay slay relished impunity" Bulatlat. Oct. 17, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
    
    For the details of the case:
    — "G.R. Nos. 148213-17" The Lawphil Project. Mar. 13, 2009. (Covering only the Nov. 1986 incident and subsequent events.)
    
    Unless otherwise stated, all were retrieved July 5, 2022.
23. Richburg, Keith (November 27, 1986). "Philippine Government, Rebels Sign Cease-Fire" . The Washington Post . Retrieved March 14, 2025.
24. Philippines-Canada Cooperation Office, "Background of PDAP," Annex to the TOR - VCA on Financial Management.
25. "AN ACT AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
26. "Bonifacio Day in Philippines in 2022". Official Holidays. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
27. "Act No. 3827". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
28. "AN ACT PROCLAIMING THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL AS BATAAN DAY AND DECLARING IT AS A LEGAL HOLIDAY". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. April 6, 1961. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
29. "AN ACT CHANGING THE DATE OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM JULY FOUR TO JUNE TWELVE, AND DECLARING JULY FOUR AS PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC DAY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION TWENTY-NINE OF THE REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. August 4, 1964. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
30. Citations on E. Henry:
    • "Philippines' super police chief killed". The Sydney Morning Herald . Reuters. April 18, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved July 2, 2023– via Google Books.
    • "Woman police boss killed". Evening Times . April 17, 1986. p. 17. Retrieved July 2, 2023– via Google Books.
    • Tempo, April 17, 1986.
31. Reed, Jack (April 25, 1986). "Aquino admits 'dimmed' prospects for rebel peace". United Press International . Retrieved November 11, 2024.
32. Tempo, November 15, 1986, p.1.
33. Mydans, Seth (November 19, 1986). "Politician slain outside Manila". The New York Times . Retrieved November 11, 2024.
34. "Communists claim murder of Philippine rightist" AP News. November 23, 1986. Retrieved 04-25-2021.