1997 in the Philippines

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Philippines 1997
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1997 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1997.

Incumbents

President Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel V.
Ramos
Vice-President Joseph Estrada
Joseph E.
Estrada
Senate President Ernesto M. Maceda Sr.
Ernesto M.
Maceda Sr.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
Jose C.
de Venecia Jr.
Chief Justice Andres Narvasa
Andres D.
Narvasa

Events

January

February

March

April

May

June

  • June 4:
  • June 5 – A state of calamity is declared in Cotabato City and the municipality of Pilar, Sorsogon, both affected by fires that separately occurred on April 26.[23]
  • June 10 – The Supreme Court dismisses with finality the motion for reconsideration submitted by PIRMA proponents and government counsel for the constitutional reform, upholding its earlier decision stopping such attempts.[1][19]
  • June 14 – FVR declares that he had authorized the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), to expedite a bill on people's initiative based on the reasons provided by the Supreme Court in rejecting the petition.[19]
  • June 16 – Forty-three surveyors from a state-run oil firm are captured by suspected MILF guerrillas in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, but are later freed.[24] This led to a massive army offensive against the MILF that would begin the following day, occurred in Pagalungan, also in Maguindanao, and in parts of Cotabato. As of June 28, clashes have killed 146 from the MILF and twelve troops.[25][26]
  • June 22 – President Ramos signs Proclamation No. 1030 declaring the Philippine tarsier a specially protected fauna.[1]
  • June 23 – The military fires warning shots at a Chinese fishing vessel, which anchored near a Filipino-held island in the Spratlys.[1]
  • June 26:
    • Some 110 active law enforcement personnel are placed by the Intelligence community on a wanted list for alleged role in kidnapping activities.[1]
    • Sixty passengers are seized by 150 MILF separatists from two buses at a road block in Maguindanao; 41 of them escapes. The rebels later flee to Kabacan, Cotabato, where a shootout occurs, leaving seven people dead.[24][27] Among the civilian hostages, two are killed, while ten are still being held as of the following day.[25]
    • Government troops capture Camp Rajamuda, a major MILF base, in Pikit, Cotabato.[24][25]
  • June 27:
    • An army detachment in Kabacan is attacked by 50 MILF fighters, 13 of whom will be killed in a gunbattle.[25]
    • A state of calamity (man-made) is declared in some municipalities in Cotabato (Carmen, Kabacan and Pikit) and Maguindanao (Datu Piang, Kabuntalan, Pagalungan, S.K. Pendatun and Sultan sa Barongis) due to the ongoing armed conflict between the AFP and the MILF.[28]

July

August

September

October

November

  • November 5 – The Supreme Court votes, 9–2, to declare as unconstitutional a law (RA No. 8180) that deregulated the oil industry, citing that it impedes free competition and the Congress should pass a new one conforming with the constitution.[62]
  • Mid-November:
    • Clashes between the MILF and guards of a coconut plantation in Maguindanao, reportedly owned by the Dimaporo family, during an attempt by the former to attack the area result in the deaths of eight rebels, including their leader, and two civilians.[63]
    • Ombudsman Aniano Desierto orders the dismissal of Moalboal, Cebu, mayor Alfredo Marcelo Abrenica for his involvement in the killing of a resort owner in 1996.[64]
  • November 14 – The national government and the MILF sign an agreement detailing the operational guidelines for the general ceasefire.[65]
  • Late November – President Ramos declares a state of calamity over Metro Manila and Bulacan due to water shortage caused by the El Niño; and approves the imposition of water rationing in these areas, along with Cavite and Rizal, effective December 1.[66]

December

Holidays

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987.[73] Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays" and those in italics are "nationwide special days".

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

Business and economy

Entertainment and culture

Sports

Births

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Deaths

Television

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Historical Calendar (1970–2000). Manila: National Historical Institute. 2006. ISBN 971-538-180-4.
  2. ↑ "Transcript — Nobel Laureate Ramos-Horta Bannes From Entering RP". The World Tonight; ABS-CBN News. January 8, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  3. ↑ Citations:
  4. ↑ "Transcript — MILF violates ceasefire agreement?". The World Tonight; ABS-CBN News. January 28, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  5. ↑ Citations:
  6. ↑ Citations:
  7. ↑ Citations:
  8. ↑ Citations:
  9. ↑ Citations:
  10. ↑ "Proclamation No. 951". The Lawphil Project. January 31, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ Citations:
  12. 1 2 "Transcript — Bishop De Jesus ng Jolo pinaslang". TV Patrol; ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). February 4, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  13. ↑ Citations:
  14. ↑ Citations:
  15. ↑ Citations:
  16. ↑ Citations:
  17. ↑ Citations:
  18. ↑ Citations:
  19. 1 2 3 4 Samonte, Severino (December 29, 2023). "How the first Charter Change proposal started in 1997?". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1010". The Lawphil Project. May 26, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1018". The Lawphil Project. June 4, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1017". The Lawphil Project. June 4, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1019". The Lawphil Project. June 5, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 Panesa, Jaime (June 28, 1997). "Muslim rebs seize 60 bus passengers". Manila Standard. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved June 13, 2025 – via Google Books.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Death toll in clashes rises to 158 in the Philippines". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur. Agence France-Presse. June 28, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved June 12, 2025 – via Google Books.
  26. ↑ "Offensive to go on despite threat". New Sunday Times (New Straits Times). Kuala Lumpur. Agence France-Presse. June 29, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved June 12, 2025 – via Google Books.
  27. ↑ "Rebels take hostage". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California. Associated Press. June 27, 1997. p. 12. Retrieved June 12, 2025 – via Google Books.
  28. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1036". The Lawphil Project. June 27, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  29. ↑ —"The 1997-98 Asian financial crisis" Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy. February 6, 1998.
    —"Timeline of the crash" PBS. June 1999.
    —"Asian financial crisis of 1997" International Banker. September 29, 2021.
    —"Asian Financial Crisis" Corporate Finance Institute. 2015.
    —"The Asian financial crisis (Part 2: The Philippine response)" BusinessMirror. July 4, 2017.
    All aforementioned were retrieved 02-19-2022.
  30. ↑ "#Journeyto30" by Epi Fabonan III, Philstar.com: (1997) "A pole vault into crisis" January 2, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  31. 1 2 Maritime accidents:
  32. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (September 4, 1997). "Bombs kill 6 in Manila, Bulacan". Philippine Headline News Online (PHNO). Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  33. ↑ Citations:
  34. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (September 4, 1997). "Deferred, shelved, frozen, suspended, stopped". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1082". The Lawphil Project. September 15, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 Nationwide anti-Cha-Cha rallies:
  37. 1 2 3 "500,000 Rally in Capital Against 2nd Term for Philippine President". Los Angeles Times. El Segundo, California. Reuters. September 22, 1997. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  38. ↑ Mydans, Seth (September 22, 1997). "Manila Rally Opposes Moves By Ramos to Seek a New Term". The New York Times. New York City. p. A5. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  39. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (September 23, 1997). "9 dead in Metro train collision". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  40. ↑ —"Philippines: 6 reported dead after 2 commuter trains crash" AP Archive. 09-22-1997. Retrieved 02-18-2022. —"Seven killed, 220 injured in Philippine train collision" AP. 09-23-1997. Retrieved 02-18-2022.
    —"At least 7 die in Philippine train crash" AP (via Deseret News). 09-22-1997. Retrieved 02-18-2022.
  41. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (September 24, 1997). "Supreme Court kills PIRMA". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  42. ↑ "What Went Before: Past Charter-change attempts". May 21, 2013. pp. INQUIRER.NET. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  43. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (September 29, 1997). "17 die in tribal war over lost cow". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 4, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1101". The Lawphil Project. September 29, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  45. 1 2 3 "Social Reform Agenda Yearend Report" (12-31-1997) Manila Standard, pp. 7–10. (Link) Retrieved 02-18-2022.
  46. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 5, 1997). "Zamboanga bus-truck accident kills 25". Philippine Headline News Online (PHNO). Archived from the original on November 10, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  47. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 8, 1997). "Supreme Court freezes oil prices". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 11, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  48. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 8, 1997). "Ramos swims, declares Boracay safe". PHNO. Archived from the original on January 22, 2000. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  49. 1 2 3 Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 29, 1997). "Murder cases against MILF executioners". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 11, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  50. 1 2 Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 9, 1997). "MILF cites Koran to justify public executions". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  51. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 15, 1997). "5 killed in foreign terrorists' raid". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 4, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  52. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 15, 1997). "Govt-MILF ceasefire pact signed". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 4, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  53. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 20, 1997). "21 criminals bolt Metro Manila jail". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 9, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  54. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 20, 1997). "Warden ordered locked up for jailbreak". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 9, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  55. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 14, 1997). "No more MILF executions -- de Venecia". PHNO. Archived from the original on October 7, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  56. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 23, 1997). "Public executions allowed by agreement -- MNLF". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 9, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  57. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 21, 1997). "MILF agrees to stop executions". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 9, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  58. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 28, 1997). "Squatting decriminalized, Ramos signs law". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 11, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  59. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 29, 1997). "Ramos signs Family Courts Law". PHNO. Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  60. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 30, 1997). "Law on indigenous people signed". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  61. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 30, 1997). "Supreme Court stops Puerto Azul listing". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 11, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  62. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 6, 1997). "Oil deregulation law declared unconstitutional". Philippine Headline News Online (PHNO). Archived from the original on October 23, 2003. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  63. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 12, 1997). "MILF leader, 9 others killed in Maguindanao clash". PHNO. Archived from the original on May 24, 2002. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  64. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 19, 1997). "Moalboal mayor dismissed". PHNO. Archived from the original on March 23, 2004. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  65. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 15, 1997). "MILF-Govt ceasefire guidelines signed". PHNO. Archived from the original on June 26, 2002. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  66. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 27, 1997). "Manila, Bulacan declared water calamity areas". PHNO. Archived from the original on June 26, 2002. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  67. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 6, 1997). "FM victims' suit dismissed". Philippine Headline News Online (PHNO). Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  68. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 12, 1997). "Jalosjos guilty, gets life sentence". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 8, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  69. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 19, 1997). "Binan mayor gets life for rape". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 9, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  70. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 24, 1997). "FVR signs 7 social reform laws". PHNO. Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  71. ↑ Maragay, Fel V. (12-23-1997). "'Xmas basket' of laws, including poll computerization, signed" Manila Standard, pp. 1, 4. (Link) Retrieved 02-18-2022.
  72. ↑ —"Miners buried in Davao gold mountain" PHNO. 12-31-1997. Retrieved 02-17-2022. —"Survivors found in Davao mine collapse" PHNO. 01-01-1998. Retrieved 02-17-2022.
    —"80 confirmed dead in Davao mines" PHNO. 01-12-1998. Retrieved 02-17-2022.
  73. ↑ "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.
  74. ↑ "Proclamation No. 983". The Lawphil Project. March 25, 1997. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  75. ↑ "Proclamation No. 996". The Lawphil Project. April 25, 1997. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  76. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1142". The Lawphil Project. December 18, 1997. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  77. ↑ Citations:
  78. ↑ "Hundreds rally in Quezon City to support Cardinal Sin". Union of Catholic Asian News. May 12, 1997. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  79. ↑ "Transcript — Gossip queen convicted sa salang libelo". TV Patrol; ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). February 6, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  80. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 5, 1997). "Batibot gets UNICEF award". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  81. ↑ "Transcript — RP Team Wins Archery Championships". The World Tonight; ABS-CBN News. January 13, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  82. ↑ "Transcript — Windsurfing". The World Tonight; ABS-CBN News. January 27, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  83. ↑ "Transcript — Filipino skaters win / PBA update". The World Tonight; ABS-CBN News. January 29, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  84. ↑ Citations:
  85. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 20, 1997). "Jakarta - 43 golds keep RP in 4th place". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  86. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 11, 1997). "Disease outbreak cancels Manila horse races". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  87. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 22, 1997). "Plague kills 18 race horses, Polo Club affected". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 4, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  88. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (November 27, 1997). "Horse races suspended indefinitely". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  89. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 12, 1997). "Horse racing resumes at Sta. Ana". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 10, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  90. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 3, 1997). "Marikina to host Pacific Motocross". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 9, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  91. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (December 21, 1997). "Pinoy biker breaks Asian record". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 11, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  92. ↑ "Transcript — Miguel di totoong nagpakamatay –Rodriguez Family". TV Patrol; ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). February 17, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
  93. ↑ Jose Vanzi, Sol (October 11, 1997). "Comedian Dencio Padilla dead". PHNO. Archived from the original on November 10, 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2026.