1997 in the Philippines: Difference between revisions

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

Incumbents

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

Events

January

January 3 – The Bureau of Immigration adopts a policy against foreigners with unauthorized stay in the country, by virtue of the Alien Social Integration Act.^[1]
January 7 – A Presidential citation is given to Rhona Mahilum, who was noted for rescuing her siblings from their burning house in Negros Occidental.^[1]
January 15 – A memorandum of understanding is signed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Japanese non-governmental organization Asian Women's Fund, aiming to provide assistance to former comfort women.^[1]
January 17 – Zamboanga del Norte representative Romeo Jalosjos is arrested in Bagac, Bataan, barely a month after being charged of crimes against chastity.^[1]
January 27:
- A ceasefire agreement between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is signed, ending more than a week of fighting in Buldon, Maguindanao.^[2]
- A passenger bus, traversing the Pilar–Manila route, plunges into a ravine in Labo, Camarines Norte, killing nineteen people including the driver.^[3]
January 28–31 – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources exterminates 596 monkeys at a farm in Calamba, Laguna, through lethal injection, to prevent the possible outbreak of the Ebola Reston virus that had earlier killed seven.^[4]
January 29 – President Ramos signs the law strengthening the country's science and technology program (Republic Act No. 8248).^[1]
January 31 – First Lady Amelita Ramos leads the launching of the country's bulk carrier, Sea Amelita, in Tsuneishi shipyard in Balamban, Cebu.^[1]

February

February 3 – The Supreme Court votes, 11–4, to stop the sale of 51 percent of the Manila Hotel to Malaysian company Renong Berhad, and orders its owner, the Government Service Insurance System, to sell it instead to Manila Prince Hotel, citing the constitution's "Filipino first" provision and the hotel being part of the "national patrimony". The Committee on Privatization would later file a petition for rebidding.^[5]
February 4 – Three gunmen assassinate Bishop Benjamin de Jesus in front of Jolo Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, in what would be the country's first killing of a Catholic bishop.^[6]
February 6 – Entertainment magazine columnist Cristy Fermin is convicted by a judicial court of libel, filed in 1995 by actress Annabelle Rama, whom she accused of embezzlement, along with her husband Eddie Gutierrez, in the United States. She is given a maximum of 1½-year prison sentence.^[7]
February 8 – Republic Act No. 8180, the law deregulating the oil industry, takes effect, ending twenty years of government control of oil companies and removing subsidies. As early as February 5, several protest rallies, demanding the repeal of the said law, have been conducted.^[8]
February 13 – A Beechcraft Baron explodes and crashes off Naic and Cavite City in Cavite, while on its way to Manila from Mindoro. All six individuals are either confirmed or presumed dead.^[9]
February 14 – A Beechcraft RPC 1919 crashes while taking off at Patikul Airport in Jolo, Sulu, killing Cotabato City Bishop Antonino Nepomuceno and four other individuals. The plane crash is initially believed caused by either being shot or a pilot error.^[10]
February 19:
- The Court of Appeals dismisses a petition by a Rizal-based group against the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), citing lack of merit; upholding a Manila Regional Trial Court ruling. MWSS would be awarded to the winning bidders two days later.^[11]
- Sandiganbayan orders senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago suspended for 90 days in relation to graft charges filed in 1995 while she was the chief of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.^[12]
February 22 – Joel Arnan, leader of Kuratong Solido group, and two fellow inmates, escape from a municipal jail in San Pedro, Laguna, during a noise barrage and despite being guarded by the elite force from Western Police District Command.^[13]
February 23 – During a private meeting at the residence of Christopher Carrion in Ayala Alabang Village, in Muntinlupa, President Fidel Ramos informs the former President Corazon Aquino that he could not halt the campaign on Constitutional reform in the Philippines, citing it as a violation of freedom of expression. Ramos emphasized his commitment to uphold the Constitution and denied involvement in the initiative.^[14]

March

March 26 – Las Piñas becomes a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republ Act 8251 whichas approved on February 12th.

June

June 10 – The Supreme Court dismisses with finality the motion for reconsideration submitted by PIRMA proponents and government counsel for the constitutional reform.^[14]
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.^[14]
June 22 – President Fidel V. Ramos signs Proclamation No. 1030, that declaring the Philippine tarsier (Scientific name: Carlito syrichta) as a specially protected faunal species of the Philippines.

July

July 11 – The Philippines begin to experience the effect of the Asian financial crisis; the peso devalues by 11.5% with the peso-dollar rate recorded at ₱29.45. Further depreciation causes the Philippine Stock Exchange composite index to go down, and mainly affects the country's economic growth, with annual nominal GDP per capita drops by 12.5% from the previous year.^[15]^[16] The crisis affects numerous countries in East and Southeast Asia.
July 16 – Sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong were abducted and killed in Cebu City, the suspects were later sentenced to death, which in turn would lead to the abolition of death penalty in 2006.

August

August 2 – Kabankalan becomes a city in the province of Negros Occidental through ratification of Republic Act 8297 which was approved in June 6.
August 19 – Agila-2 communications satellite was launched from China and began commercial service. It is the first satellite of the country not acquired while in orbit.

September

September 4 – Simultaneous bomb explosions in Manila and Bulacan kill six and injure 105, mostly commuters.^[17]^{[clarification needed]}
September 21 – The new presidential pronouncement is released which prompts anti-charter change groups led by the Catholic Church and former President Cory Aquino's allies to step up their campaign, culminating in an indignation rally at Rizal Park in Manila, during 25th anniversary of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. declaring martial law in the country.^[14]
September 22 – Two overloaded PNR trains collide in Muntinlupa City, killing nine and injuring around 200; one of the country's worst train accidents.^[18]^[19]
September 23 – The Supreme Court en banc unanimously rejects PIRMA's effort, with eight justices claiming there was no enabling law and six others saying the group's petition was faulty.^[20]
September 25 – A clash between the armed men of Gov. Abdusakur Tan and Jolo Mayor Sout Tan occurs at Maimbung and Indanan towns in Sulu, killing 17 supporters from both rivals.^[21]
September 30 – Anti-Rape Law (Republic Act 8353) is passed.^[22]

October

October 5 – A cargo truck collides into a mini-bus in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte with 25 people reportedly killed in what police considered as the worst road accident in the Zamboanga Peninsula area.^[23]^{[clarification needed]}
October 6 – MILF conducts an execution of two individuals, who had been "sentenced to death" for multiple criminal charges, in Masiu, Lanao del Sur, said to be done by the virtue of the Islamic laws, causing public criticisms.^[24]
October 27 – Pres. Ramos signs a law (RA 8368), repealing the Anti-Squatting Law (Presidential Decree 772); decriminalizing squatting but maintaining sanctions against professional squatters and squatting syndicates.^[22]^[25]
October 28 – Pres. Ramos signs a law (RA 8369) creating special courts for the cases involving children and family relations.^[26]
October 29 – Pres. Ramos signs Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (RA 8371), a law protecting the rights of the indigenous sector to their ancestral domains, and creating the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.^[22]^[27]

November

November 5 – The Supreme Court votes, 9–2, to declare a law (RA 8180) ending government regulatory control of the oil industry as unconstitutional.^[28]
November 12 – A clash between MILF rebels and armed guards of a coconut plantation in Maguindanao ends with the deaths of Amin Cusain, an MILF leader, seven rebels and two civilians.^[29]^{[clarification needed]}

December

December 22 – Pres. Ramos signed seven social reform bills into law, including computerization of the electoral process in the next year and subsequent general elections (RA 8436) and autonomy for the Cordilleras.^[30]^[31]
December 26 – Heavy rains cause the collapse of the gold mine tunnels in Mount Diwata, Monkayo, then part of Davao del Norte; five are rescued; later reports confirm that 80 miners are killed.^[32]

Holidays

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987.^[33] 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
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 31 – 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."

Sports

February 20 – Gerry Peñalosa defeats Hiroshi Kawashima of Japan through a unanimous decision, in their boxing match in Tokyo, winning the WBC super-flyweight title.^[34]
October 11–19 – The Philippines participated at the 1997 Southeast Asian Games.
November 22–23 – The Philippines as hosting the 1997 Asian Judo Championships held in Manila.
December 14 – The Alaska Milkmen won against Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, 4 games to 1, to retain the 1997 PBA Governors Cup title.

Births

January

January 4 - Anjo Pertierra, actor, volleyball player, model and reporter
January 12 - Felip, singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, producer and members of SB19
January 20 – Kim Last, actor and That's My Bae contestant
- Vien Iligan-Velasquez, vlogger
January 23 - Joshua de Leon, model and basketball player
January 28 - Arthur Nery, singer and songwriter

February

February 3 – Rhap Salazar, singer, songwriter and actor
February 15 – Kit Thompson, actor
February 19 – Justine Baltazar, basketball player

March

March 3 – Brent Valdez, actor
March 10;
- Julia Barretto, actress
- Migs Villasis, actor and model
March 13 – Lou Yanong, actress and model
March 16 - Roxie Smith, actress, model, endorser, event and television presenter, and beauty pageant titleholder
March 23 – Rob Gomez, actor

April

April 3 – RK Ilagan, basketball player
April 5 - Allora Alcantara, actress and YouTuber
April 11 – Ara Davao, actress

May

May 1 – Miles Ocampo, actress
May 6:
- Maymay Entrata, model, singer, composer, dancer and actress
- Ranz Kyle, YouTube personality and dancer