1996 in the Philippines

← 1995 1994 1993 1996 in the Philippines → 1997 1998 1999
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

Fidel V.
Ramos

Joseph E.
Estrada

Ernesto M.
Maceda Sr.

Jose C.
de Venecia Jr.

Andres D.
Narvasa

• 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

• Production of oil at West Linapacan, then the country's largest oilfield, stops due to increasing water in its wells.
• 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.

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.

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.
• 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.

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.

July

• The Supreme Court upholds the death sentence for Leo Echegaray, who was convicted of rape in 1994 by a lower court. Echegaray is initially scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Muntinlupa in July 1997.
• 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.

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.
• 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.

October

• October 3 – A judicial court acquits San Ildefonso, Bulacan, mayor Honorato Galvez in relation to the murder of Alvin Vinculado and injuring of his brother.

November

• The national government bans José Ramos-Horta of Indonesia, a Timorese independence leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, from entering the country. It is the second time he has been banned since 1994.
• November 24–25 – 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit is held in Subic, Zambales; the first time the country hosted the event.

December

• December 3 – A fire, considered the largest in Lipa, Batangas, hits an entire purok, caused by an explosion in a public market and resulting to massive damages.
• December 4 – The National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Security Group raid the national headquarters of COBSAF (Cool But Sure And Firm Foundation) in Intramuros, Manila, and arrest a couple and a pastor. COBSAF, initially a non-government organization, is later alleged illegally using the presidential seal and President Ramos in its operations.
• December 7 – Marikina becomes a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republic Act 8223 which was approved on November 6.
• December 10 – The Supreme Court rejects a petition from the Presidential Commission on Good Government to keep five individuals appointed to the 15-member board of directors of the San Miguel Corporation, allowing former Marcos crony Danding Cojuangco to regain his shares, including the company, which were sequestered by the government after the 1986 ouster of president Ferdinand Marcos.
• December 13 – The police arrests Arnold Salazar, alleged leader of the Alex Boncayao Brigade, in a drug bust in Cubao, Quezon City. Salazar has been suspected of killing Rey dela Cruz, barangay captain of Quiapo, Manila, and former police colonel Reynaldo Dino in 1990.
• December 20:
  • The Supreme Court, acting on a petition filed by senator Miriam Santiago, issues a temporary restraining order to PIRMA, suspending the signature campaign for constitutional amendment and lifting of term limits on elected officials, and barring the Commission on Elections from hearing the group's petition.
  • About 300 employees from German company Telefunken Microelectronics, led by leftist labor leader Filemon Lagman, barge into the premises of the Labor Department and take over the office of the secretary to demand their reinstatement at work amid a year-long dispute with their employer. The occupation lasts until December 31 when they are arrested and briefly detained by the police.
• December 30 – President Ramos signs four bills into law, including the final phase of the Salary Standardization Law, the increasing of the internal revenue allotments for local government units, the expansion of the Court of Appeals, and the extension of the Alien Social Integration Act for a year.

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. 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
• July 4 – 50th Anniversary of the Philippine-American Friendship Day (Through Proclamation No. 811, s. 1996)
• 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.
• September 10 – The Alaska Milkmen wins against the Formula Shell Zoom Masters, grabbing their second championship for the season.
• December – Golfers Tony Lascuna, Rey Pagunsan, and Richard Sinfuego defend the country's title in the Putra Cup, winning over Indonesia, with Lascuna winning the individual title.
• December 17 – The Alaska Milkmen wins the coveted grandslam, winning the series over Ginebra San Miguel, 4-1.

Entertainment and culture

• December 8–10 – Michael Jackson's concert is held in Asiaworld in Parañaque. Jackson stays in the country on December 5–11.
• December 16 – Talent manager Lolit Solis is sentenced by a judicial court to two-year imprisonment after pleading guilty to estafa in relation to the 1994 Manila Film Festival scandal.

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
• February 18 – Elle Villanueva, actress and model
• March 16 – Kaila Estrada, actress and model
• 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
  • Eli San Fernando, labor leader and politician
• August 15:
  • Analyn Barro, actress
  • Flow G, rapper
• August 17 – Ella Cruz, actress
• August 24 – Faye Lorenzo, actress and model
• 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:
  • Nikki De Guzman, journalist
  • Karen Reyes, actress
• October 26 – Ronnie Alonte, actor and singer
• November 4 – Michael Christian Martinez, figure skater
• November 7:
  • Luke Gebbie, swimmer
  • Luigi Villafuerte, politician
• November 11 – Mimiyuuuh, vlogger
• November 14 – Rabiya Mateo, actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder
• December 5 – Sara Castañeda, footballer
• 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)