1996 in the Philippines

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Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	List of years in the Philippines films

1996 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1996.

Incumbents

President Fidel Ramos

• President : Fidel Ramos (Lakas)
• Vice President : Joseph Estrada (NPC)
• Senate President
  • Neptali Gonzales (until October 10)
  • Ernesto Maceda (starting October 10)
• House Speaker : Jose de Venecia, Jr.
• Chief Justice : Andres Narvasa
• Philippine Congress : 10th Congress of the Philippines

Events

January

• January 22 – A Philippine Navy gunboat engages in a battle with three Chinese naval vessels near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, marking the first violent military confrontation involving the two countries and further triggering an ongoing diplomatic crisis. ^[1]

February

• February 14 – Violent clashes erupt between Filipino soldiers and Vietnamese boat people, as the Philippines government attempts to forcibly repatriate hundreds of Vietnamese asylum seekers.
• February 18 – Overcrowded ferry ML Gretchen I, traveling from Cebu, overturns and sinks at the entrance to the port of Cadiz, Negros Occidental; by the end of the month, fifty-one people are reported killed. It happens when passengers shifted to one side to avoid high waves. ^{[2] [3]}

March

• March 18 – Fire razes Ozone Disco in Quezon City, killing 162 guests including college graduating students and 95 more injured. The incident was officially acknowledged as the worst fire in Philippine history, and among the 10 worst nightclub fires in the world. ^{[4] [5] [6] [ verification needed ]}
• March 24 – A mining disaster occurs on the island province of Marinduque when the leftover mine tailings from the drainage of the Marcopper Mining Corporation are leaked into the river and spilled into the sea. ^{[4] [ verification needed ]}

June

• June 13 – Retired P/Col. Rolando Abadilla, intelligence officer during the Marcos administration, is assassinated in Quezon City. Communist Alex Boncayao Brigade claims responsibility. Five of the seven accused would be convicted in 1999. ^{[7] [8]}

July

• July 24–25 – Typhoon Gloria looses rains and flooding that killed nearly 60 people on Luzon and Mindoro Islands. ^[2]
• July 31 – Sarah Balabagan, a migrant worker sentenced and imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for almost two years for killing her employer in self-defense, is freed; She returns to the country the next day. ^{[4] [9]}

August

• August 1 – Mabuhay, moves to its new orbital slot. Mabuhay satellite, previously named Palapa B-2P, was acquired by Mabuhay Philippines Satellite Corporation on an earlier date this year. Mabuhay became one to be owned by a Filipino entity. ^{[10] [11] [12]}
• August 10 – Sagay becomes a component city in the province of Negros Occidental through ratification of Republic Act 8192.

September

• September 2 – A permanent peace agreement is signed at Malacañang Palace between the government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front. ^{[4] [13]}

November

• November 24–25 – 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit is held in Subic, Zambales; the first time the country hosted the event. ^{[4] [ verification needed ]}

December

• December 7 – Marikina becomes a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republic Act 8223 which was approved on November 6. ^[14]

Holidays

Main article: Public holidays in the Philippines

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987. ^[15] Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays" and those in italics are "nationwide special days".

• January 1 – New Year's Day
• April 4 – Maundy Thursday
• April 5 – Good Friday
• April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
• May 1 – Labor Day
• June 12 – Independence Day
• August 25 – National Heroes Day
• November 1 – All Saints Day
• November 30 – Bonifacio Day
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 30 – Rizal Day
• December 31 – Last Day of the Year

In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are also "special days."

Television

Main article: 1996 in Philippine television

Sports

• May 26 – The Alaska Milkmen defeats the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, 93-92 in overtime to win the 1996 PBA All-Filipino Cup finals.
• July 19–August 4 – The Philippines participate in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States and rank 61st. Athlete Mansueto Velasco receives his silver medal and placed second in boxing. ^{[4] [ verification needed ]}
• September 10 – The Alaska Milkmen wins against the Formula Shell Zoom Masters, grabbing their second championship for the season. ^[16]
• December 17 – The Alaska Milkmen wins the coveted grandslam, ^[4] winning the series over Ginebra San Miguel, 4-1.^{[ verification needed ]}

Concerts

• December 8–10 – Michael Jackson HIStory World Tour: Asiaworld City, is held in Parañaque ^[17]

Births

• January 3 – Calvin Oftana, basketball player
• January 4 – Joshua Colet, actor and model
• January 6 – Elisse Joson, actress and model
• January 10 – Joshua Pacio, mixed martial artist and current MMA World Champion
• January 15 – Julian Estrada, actor
• January 21 – Hannah Arnold, beauty queen
• January 22 – Khalil Ramos, actor and singer
• February 15 – Skusta Clee, rapper, member of Ex Battalion
• March 16 - Kaila Estrada, actress
• March 26 – Kathryn Bernardo, actress
• April 2 – Kib Montalbo, basketball player
• April 12 – Charlie Dizon, actress
• April 20 – Miggy Tolentino, actor and That's My Bae contestant
• May 10 – Anjo Damiles, actor
• May 14 – Jessica Villarubin
• May 21 – Jay Arcilla, actor
• June 1 – Dawn Macandili, volleyball player
• June 2 – Morissette, singer, songwriter, and actress
• June 9 – Marvelous Alejo, actress and singer
• June 30 – Sarina Bolden, footballer
• July 20 – Sue Ramirez, actress
• July 22 – Jane Oineza, actress
• July 23 – Viy Cortez, vlogger
• July 28 – Yasser Marta, actor
• August 9 – Sanya Lopez, actress
• August 13 – Thea Tolentino, actress
• August 15:
  • Analyn Barro, actress
  • Flow G, rapper
• August 17 – Ella Cruz, actress
• September 4 – Sisi Rondina, volleyball player
• September 8 – Krystal Reyes, actress and vlogger
• September 13 – CJ Navato, actor
• September 27 - Remedy Rule, swimmer
• October 17 – Karen Reyes, actress
• October 26 – Ronnie Alonte, actor and singer
• November 4 – Michael Christian Martinez, figure skater
• November 7 – Luke Gebbie, swimmer
• November 11 – Mimiyuuuh, vlogger
• November 14 – Rabiya Mateo, actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder
• December 17 – Thirdy Ravena, basketball player
• December 22:
  • Makisig Morales, actor and singer
  • Joao Constancia, actor and member of BoybandPH
• December 25 – Ivana Alawi, actress and vlogger

Deaths

• January 7 – Bienvenido Santos, Filipino-American fiction, poetry and nonfiction writer. (b. 1911)
• March 17 – Rey Cuenco, basketball player (b. 1960)
• June 2 – Ishmael Bernal, Filipino film, stage and television director, actor and screenwriter (b. 1938)
• August 11 – Ambrosio Padilla, basketball player and senator (b. 1910)
• September 18 – Tomás Cloma, lawyer and businessman (b. 1904)
• October 28 – Irene R. Cortes, Filipino judge (b. 1921)
• November 2 – Arnie Tuadles, basketball player (b. 1956)
• November 27 – Balot, comedian, film, television and stage actor (b. 1926)

References

1. — "Manila Treads on Eggshells With China Over Ship Run-In" Archived February 2, 2023, at the Wayback Machine The Christian Science Monitor. 02-02-1996.
   — "Timeline: China's Maritime Disputes (1895–2020)" Archived July 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Council on Foreign Relations.
   All were retrieved 01-31-2022.
2. 1997 INTERNATIONAL YEAR BOOK (Covering the Year 1996). New York, NY: COLLIER NEWFIELD, INC. 1997.
3. Citations:
   • "Ferry of Disgrace". Asiaweek . March 1, 1996. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
   • "World News Briefs: Nearly 50 Believed Dead As Philippine Ferry Sinks". Reuters. February 19, 1996. Retrieved July 13, 2024– via The New York Times.
4. Punzalan, Ronnie (November 12, 2015). "Looking back: Biggest 1996 news events when PH first hosted APEC". Rappler . Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
5. Mayuga, Jonathan (March 21, 2018). "Tragedy of fires: Death and destruction in the Philippines". BusinessMirror . Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
6. "At least 150 are killed in disco fire in Manila" Archived October 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine The New York Times. March 19, 1996. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
7. — "TIMELINE: Abadilla 5" Archived April 4, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Inquirer.net. 09-07-2016.
   — "Philippines: Lenido Lumanog's lasting legal legacy" Archived March 7, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Asian Human Rights Commission. 10-09-2016.
   All were retrieved 04-04-2022.
8. "Appendix: Case analysis: Supreme Court's rulings on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory" Archived April 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine Asian Human Rights Commission. Dec. 21, 2010. Retrieved Oct. 8, 2021.
9. Release from prison and return of S. Balabagan to the Philippines:
   — "Philippines: Filipino maid returns home after release from UAE jail" Archived August 3, 2022, at the Wayback Machine AP Archive. Aug. 1, 1996.
   — "Maid Returns, Spared From Death Sentence 17-Year-Old Killed Her Arab Employer During Attempted Rape" Archived August 3, 2022, at the Wayback Machine AP News via The Spokesman-Review. Aug. 2, 1996.
   — "Philippines Maid Returns Home" Archived August 3, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Migration News (Vol. 3, No. 9), University of California, Davis. Sept. 1996.
   
   About S. Balabagan:
   — (Opinion) "The story of Sarah Balabagan" Archived January 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Inquirer.net. Sept. 11, 2020.
   
   All were retrieved July 2, 2022.
10. "Mabuhay acquires Indon satellite;sets new orbit". Manila Standard. July 25, 1996. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
11. "Mabuhay Acquires Pasifik Satellite". Telecompaper. August 6, 1996. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
12. "Palapa B-2P". Weebau Space Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
13. "Mindanao Final Agreement" Archived October 10, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Peace Accords Matrix, University of Notre Dame. 2015. Retrieved Oct. 4, 2021.
14. "The Shoe Capital of the Philippines". Marikina City - Shoe Capital of the Philippines. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
15. "Executive Order No. 292 [BOOK I/Chapter 7-Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days]". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 25, 1987. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
16. Alaska wins PBA crown Archived April 5, 2023, at the Wayback Machine , Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, September 11, 1996
17. "Michael Jackson was in Manila in '96". ABS-CBN News. June 26, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.