1983 in the Philippines

1983 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in that year.

Incumbents

 * President: Ferdinand Marcos (KBL)
 * Prime Minister: Cesar Virata (KBL)
 * House Speaker: Nicanor Yñiguez
 * Chief Justice:
 * Querube C. Makalintal (until June 30)
 * Enrique Fernando (starting June 30)

February

 * February 6 – Fifteen workers die in a mine explosion in Danao, Cebu caused by a cigarette.

July

 * July 12–15 – Typhoon Bebeng, The monsoon spawns a tropical depression on July 12, east of the Philippines. It heads westward, strengthening to a tropical storm that night and a typhoon on the 13th. Vera makes landfall on the 14th as an 85 mph (137 km/h) typhoon in the Philippines, weakens over the islands, especially Luzon, and strengthens over the South China Sea to a 100 mph (160 km/h) typhoon. Damages amounting to a total of US$9 million in the Philippines. The typhoon leaves 45 people dead.

August

 * August 17 – An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale strikes Luzon, the Philippines' largest island, leaving at least 21 people dead.
 * August 21 – Former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and Ronaldo Galman are shot dead at Manila International Airport tarmac after his arrival. The event is cited to be a catalyst to the People Power Revolution.

September

 * September 29 – Thirty-nine soldiers and 7 civilians are killed when an army patrol unit is ambushed by leftist guerrillas in Godod, Zamboanga del Norte; the death toll is the highest suffered by Government forces in a single attack.

November

 * November 21 – The inter-island ferry MV Cassandra sinks during a storm off Cebu, killing at least 167 people.

Holidays
As per Act No. 2711 section 29, 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. On October 28, 1931, the Act No. 3827 was approved declaring the last Sunday of August as National Heroes Day. As per Republic Act No. 3022, April 9th 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.


 * January 1 – New Year's Day
 * February 22 – Legal Holiday
 * March 31 – Maundy Thursday
 * April 1 – Good Friday
 * April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
 * May 1 – Labor Day
 * June 12 – Independence Day
 * July 4 – Philippine Republic Day
 * August 13 – Legal Holiday
 * August 28 – National Heroes Day
 * September 21 – Thanksgiving Day
 * November 30 – Bonifacio Day
 * December 25 – Christmas Day
 * December 30 – Rizal Day

Entertainment and culture

 * February 13 - The launching of Ang Iglesia ni Cristo the first religious program on MBS Channel 4 (now PTV-4).

Date unknown

 * The religious program Ang Dating Daan starts its television broadcast on IBC 13.

Births

 * January 3:
 * Precious Lara Quigaman, actress, Miss International 2005 winner
 * Jopay Paguia, dancer and actress
 * January 13 – Jojo Duncil, basketball player
 * January 20 – Angelica Jones, actress, singer, and politician
 * February 11 – Jeff Chan, basketball player
 * March 2 – Jerald Napoles, actor and comedian
 * March 11 – Bianca Gonzalez, host
 * April 22 – Boyet Bautista, basketball player
 * May 27 – Ronjay Buenafe, basketball player
 * June 14 – Yousif Aljamal, basketball player
 * June 24 – John Lloyd Cruz, actor
 * June 28 – Maui Taylor, actress, model, singer
 * July 10 – Doug Kramer, basketball player
 * July 12 – Marco Alcaraz, actor, commercial model, and basketball player
 * July 23 – Ping Medina, actor
 * July 27 – AJ Dee, Filipino actor
 * July 29 – Chad Alonzo, basketball player
 * August 6 – Say Alonzo, actress, model, host
 * August 10 – Mark Bautista, actor and singer
 * September 6 – Aira Bermudez, dancer and actress
 * September 9 – Kristine Hermosa, actress
 * September 17 – Ice Seguerra, singer
 * November 18 – JC Intal, basketball player
 * November 22 – Eduard Folayang, mixed martial artist and former MMA World Champion

Deaths

 * June 2 – Julio Rosales, Cardinal
 * August 21 – Benigno Aquino Jr., politician and senator
 * November 30 – Juan Liwag, lawyer and politician
 * December 5 – Felixberto Olalia, labor leader; founding chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (b. 1903)