Days to Remember (January 1, AD 1 to August 31, 2014)

The Philippines under Spain

1898 June 12. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaims Philippine independence

from Spain in Kawit, Cavite. August 13. The United States and Spain stage mock "Battle and Fall

of Manila." US flag raised for first time in the Philippines. August 14. Gen. Wesley Merritt becomes first US military governor-

general of the Philippines. September 15. The Malolos Congress convenes at the Barasoain

Church. December 10. The United States buys Philippines for $20 million from

Spain in the Treaty of Paris.1899

January 23. The First Philippine Republic is inaugurated in Malolos; Aguinaldo takes oath as President.

February 4. Filipino-American War breaks out. June 5. Gen. Antonio Luna is assassinated by Aguinaldo's bodyguards

in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. December 2. Gregorio del Pilar, the youngest Filipino General, is killed

by US troops in the Battle of Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur. Clarke's, first ice cream parlor in Philippines, opens in Plaza Moraga,

Sta. Cruz, Manila1901

March 23. Aguinaldo is captured by US troops in Palanan, Isabela. July 4. William H. Taft is appointed first US civil governor-general of

the Philippines. August 23. Six hundred Thomasites, first US teachers to Filipinos,

arrive in Manila. September 29. Balangiga Massacre carried out by US troops in Samar

in retaliation for attack by revolutionaries.  Cayetano Arellano becomes first Filipino chief justice; Manila-Dagupan

Railroad, country's first railway system, inaugurated; first automobile in the Philippines, a "Richard," brought in by La Estrella del Norte.

1902 February 2. Union Obrera Democratica, first labor union in the

Philippines, established in Manila by Isabelo de los Reyes.  July 1. US Congress passes Philippine Bill of 1902 providing, among

others, for the creation of an elective Philippine Assembly as the lower house of the legislature.

July 4. US President Theodore Roosevelt declares Philippine "insurrection" over and offers amnesty to those who surrender. Resistance continues in many areas.

October 17. Religious schism: Gregorio Aglipay establishes Philippine Independence Church with him as supreme bishop.

1903

March 2. First Philippine census under US regime conducted.

1905

Electric streetcars (tranvias) are set up in Manila; basketball is introduced by American PE teacher Elwood Brown at YMCA in Manila; US telephone system is installed in Manila.

1907

October 16. The first Philippine Assembly convenes at Grand Opera House on Plaza Cervantes in Manila. Sergio Osmeña is elected speaker; Manuel L. Quezon majority floor leader.

1908 June 18. University of the Philippines is established in Manila. Juan de la Cruz, cartoon symbol of Pinoy, is introduced in the weekly

Philippines Free Press. "Zarzuela" star Maria Carpena becomes the first Filipino recording

artist.1911

January 30. Taal Volcano erupts, killing 1,300. First electric frying pan brought in by Westinghouse.

1912

"La Vida de Rizal," first locally produced film, released. April 14–15 – Sinking of the RMS Titanic: RMS Titanic strikes an iceberg in the

northern Atlantic Ocean and sinks with the loss of 1,517 lives. The wreck will not be discovereduntil 1985. Her sinking two hours and forty minutes later at 02:20 (05:18 GMT) on Monday, 15 April resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, which made it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

1913

December 30. The Rizal Monument is unveiled at Luneta.

1914

July 27. Felix Manalo founds Iglesia ni Cristo.

1916

August 29. US Congress passes Jones Law of 1916, promising to grant the Philippines independence "as soon as stable government is established." The law establishes elective 24-man Senate as upper house; Philippine Assembly, renamed House of Representatives, becomes lower house.

October 16. Manuel L. Quezon is elected Senate president, Sergio Osmeña speaker of the House.

1919

“Dalagang Bukid,” first full-length Filipino film, is produced by Jose Nepomuceno.

1920

August 8. The Philippines Herald, first Filipino daily newspaper in English, founded in Manila. It becomes Quezon's mouthpiece.

1922

The first radio station in the Philippines is set up by Henry Hermann in Pasay.

1923

June 18. Pancho Villa becomes first Filipino and Asian world boxing champion.

1924

The Philippines joins the Olympics for the first time in Paris.

1925 Filipino diva Jovita Fuentes captivates Europe through "Madame

Butterfly" in Italy.  Severino Reyes introduces “Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang” in

Liwayway magazine.1928

Teofilo Yldefonso, the "Ilocano Shark," wins first RP Olympic medal (bronze) in swimming at Amsterdam Games. 

Constancio de Guzman composes “Bayan Ko,” with lyrics by Jose Corazon de Jesus.

1929

"Kenkoy," first Filipino comics’ character, is born in Liwayway magazine.

1934 March 24. The US Congress passes Tydings-McDuffie Law, providing

10-year transition period from a Commonwealth government to an independent one, prior to which the Filipinos must draft a constitution to be approved by the US president.

July 10. 202 delegates are elected to the Constitutional Convention.

1935

May 14. Despite Sakdalista uprising the Philippine Constitution is ratified by the Filipinos in a plebiscite. 

November 15. Quezon and Osmeña are sworn in as president and vice president of the Commonwealth government. 

November 25. PanAm China Clipper, first trans-Pacific plane, lands in Manila.

1936

RP basketball team places fifth in Berlin Olympics; the Philippines issues world's first basketball stamp.

1937

April 30. In a plebiscite, Filipino women win right to vote under the Commonwealth.

December 30. Quezon proclaims Tagalog as the basis of the national language.

1939

May 5. National Assembly decides to transfer main UP campus from Manila to Diliman in what would eventually be Quezon City.

July 15. KZRH-AM, the commercial radio station owned by H. E. Heacock Company, a department store company based in Escolta, Binondo, Manila. DZRH, which was then broadcasting on the frequency of 650 kilocycles, became the fourth commercial radio station in the Philippines.

The Philippines under Second World War (1941-1945)

1941

December 8. Japanese planes attack Manila, Baguio, Davao and Clark Field in Pampanga following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

December 22. Main Japanese imperial force lands in Lingayen Gulf, Pangasinan.

December 24. Quezon, Osmeña and Gen. Douglas MacArthur abandon Manila and leave for Corregidor.

December 26. MacArthur declares Manila open city to Japanese troops.

1942

March 17. MacArthur makes "I shall return" promise as he escapes to Australia.

March 29. Hukbalahap movement established by Luis Taruc in Central Luzon. 

April 9. Following fall of Bataan, Filipino-American prisoners begin Death March to San Fernando, Pampanga; Sgt. Jose Calugas becomes 1st Filipino to win US Congressional Medal of Honor.

May 6. Fall of Corregidor.  Jose Garcia Villa's "Have Come Am Here" poem collection published in

United States. Carlos P. Romulo wins Pulitzer Prize for reporting on events in Asia

leading to World War II.

1943

October 14. Jose P. Laurel becomes president of Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic.

November 15. While in exile in the United States, Quezon takes oath for extended term as Commonwealth president.

1944

August 1. Quezon dies in New York, of tuberculosis. Osmeña assumes presidency of Commonwealth government-in-exile.

October 20. MacArthur redeems promise to return after victorious Battle of Leyte Gulf, considered the greatest naval battle in world history.

The Philippines under Third Republic (1945-1972)1945

February 3. MacArthur forces enter Manila and battle Japanese forces in street fighting that rages for three weeks.

June 26. The Philippines becomes founding member of the United Nations. August 15. Japan surrenders to the United States, ending war in Pacific. September 3. General Tomoyuki Yamashita comes down from his mountain in

the Cordilleras and signs document of surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines.

1946February 26. Yamashita is hanged in Los Baños, Laguna, for war crimes.May 28. Manuel A. Roxas becomes first president of 3rd Philippine Republic.June 1. The Elizalde family established the new network as “Manila Broadcasting Company”.June 13: American soldier James Lindenberg, pioneer of Philippine TV, establishes the Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC), naming after the town of Bolinao in the northern Philippine province of Pangasinan--the hometown of Lindenberg's wife. Establishing itself as a radio manufacturing company, BEC involves in selling radio sets and local assembly of radio transmission equipment and manufacture of RCA equipment (transmitters, radio spare parts) for export abroad.July 4. Philippine independence from United States is proclaimed.1947March 14. RP-US Military Bases Agreement signed granting the United States right to retain military facilities for 99 years.1948April 15: Roxas dies of heart attack; Vice President Elpidio Quirino succeeds him.1st Quarter: Government policies on import controls of foreign radio equipment cause BEC to divert its resources into radio broadcasting.  December: With the transmission of 1 million hertz, BEC-DZBC airs variety entertainment shows. BEC-DZBC becomes the first station to broadcast radio dramas of the Procter and Gamble Company as it introduces its first drama production of Procter and Gamble as the first commercial serialized radio soap opera then, and becomes the closest competitor to MBC-DZRH. Lindenberg checks out the houses with radios blaring the BEC-DZBC broadcasts to determine the size of the station's audiences for advertisers' purposes--the crude measurement serving as precursor to the ratings. March 1: BEC sets up the Bolinao Broadcasting System (BBS) in San Juan in Rizal (now in Metro Manila). November 23: BEC opens its first radio station DZBC, with a wire tied to two mango trees atop a hill in San Juan as its first antenna. 

1949November 8. Elpidio Quirino re-elected president.1950

June 14: The Philippine Congress gives Lindenberg the franchise for what will be BEC/ABS-CBN Manila, the first TV station in the Philippines.

September 1. Quirino appoints Congressman Ramon Magsaysay secretary of national defense to stop Huk rebellion.

1953

Eugenio Lopez Sr, owner of newspaper Manila Chronicle, gets a TV franchise from Congress.

February 1: The first TV station in Asia begins in Japan, with the first TV broadcast of the NHK.

May: Quirino sends Jose "Joe" Navarro, Arcadio "Cady" Carandang, Henry "Slim" Chaney and Romualdo "Romy" Carballo to RCA in New York to study TV technology. ABS, via Quirino, begins importing 300 TV sets with the help of the Binondo hardware store Joe's Electronics and sets up the TV sets in restaurants, hospitals, church plazas, advertising agencies, hotels, other public places and homes of prominent people. Lindenberg and Chaney bring TV technology in the Philippines afterward and training of ABS employees in TV technology starts.

July: The ABS TV tower is set up in San Juan.

September: ABS launches DZBC as DZAQ (AQ for Quirino's initials) as the Philippines' most powerful commercial radio station with the ABS tower--then a 50kW transmitter and begins test TV broadcasts. ABS general manager Tony Chavez flew to Tokyo in Japan to meet with executives of the Matsushita Electric Company and buy from them the antennas to distribute for the TV sets.

October 7: Quirino and Lindenberg open ABS's DZAQ Channel 3, the first commercial TV station in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. 

October 23: DZAQ Channel 3 begins telecast to TV audience of mostly rich people. [A TV set then costs P1, 200--10 times the monthly salary then. 1 out of 2,000 Pinoys own a TV set.] Quirino's birthday party at his residence in San Juan with President Quirino as special guest--the first TV coverage of a special event--airs on ABS then. ABS telecasts 50 miles from San Juan at 6:00-10:00pm starting then.

4th Quarter: The open spaces above the Republic Supermarket at Florentino Torres Street in Manila is ABS's new studio complete with a transmitter from RCA. Quirino uses ABS as an information medium for the reelection bid of the sickly President Quirino.  ABS reports the re-election campaigns of President Quirino, the Philippine national elections and the eventual win of Ramon Magsaysay as president.  ABS broadcasts old American movies, films from foreign embassies and special events.

November 23: ABS then airs Edmond Rostand's romantic drama Cyrano de Bergarac, the 3-hour full-length play, the first play on TV and the first big dramatic production on TV with Jesuit priest and media pioneer Father James Reuter as director.

December 30: Magsaysay becomes seventh Philippine president.1953-1960

ABS airs

the comedies Candid Camera, Life with Father, Eddy Cantor Comedy Theater and I Love Lucy, which re-airs in the 1990’s on IBC the drama Highway Patrol, Gene Autry, I Led Three Lives and Mister District Attorney the variety shows Pista ng Caltex, Unahan sa Kampana (Rush to the Bell), Kualta Na (Money Now), Vi-Milk Party, Children on Parade, Your Show of Shows and Tawag ng Tanghalan (Call of the Stage) for which the first TV advertising contract is signed, being handled by J. Walter Thompson Philippines for Proctor and Gamble (PMC)the newscast Tomorrow's News Aired Tonight 1954September 8. Southeast Asia Treaty Organization born in Manila.December 15. Laurel-Langley Agreement signed.Philippines wins third place in World Basketball Championship in Brazil.Joseph Estrada makes film debut in "Kandilang Bakal."1955

ABS gets a TV companion: the Clark Armed Forces Television Station Channel 8. [Ownership of a TV set becomes a status symbol as 6,000 TV sets are found in the Philippines then.]

September: ABS covers The Taal Volcano Eruption and introduces TV as public service.

1956

September 24: ABS gets a new companion--Lopez brothers Eugenio Sr. and Fernando, owners of newspaper Manila Chronicle; inaugurate the Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) with its radio station DZXL, the country's first FM station.

4th Quarter: CBN's DZXL wins over ABS's DZAQ in audiences. CBN launches another FM station DZYL.

1957CBN airs the variety show Student Canteen, the Philippines' first and top noontime variety show.January-February: Eugenio Lopez Sr negotiates the selling of ABS with Quirino.March 17: Magsaysay dies in Cebu plane crash; Vice President Carlos Garcia succeeds him.1958

January: CBN buys ABS from Quirino with the memorandum of agreement signed on a breakfast table napkin.  The Lopezes then incorporate ABS and CBN under the name Bolinao Electronics Corporation (BEC--the original name of ABS), making BEC the 1st Philippine radio-TV network.

April 19: BEC opens its second TV station Channel 9, with Eugenio Sr.’s eldest son Eugenio Jr. as manager and Jaime Navarro as production manager. Channel 9's working transmitter consists of bamboo strips and rags.  

Post April: Eugenio Lopez Sr.’s son Eugenio Jr. gets TV traning from Lindenberg and Chaney.  Romy Caraballo and Cady Carandang, co-trainees of Chaney, start building the BEC TV station and studio at Aduana in Intramuros in Manila.

1959

BEC opens 2 more radio stations in Metro Manila: DZMM and DZRD.

BEC airs

the variety show The Perry Como Show and the NCAA Basketball Games the dramas Tombstone Territory, Annie Oakley and Dragnet other shows like Chelsea Dancetime, Pacosta Hit Parade, Darigold Jamboree, Tia

Dely/Aunt Dely, United American Tiki-Tiki and Operatang Sampay Bakod/Operation Clothesline

1960

BEC begins to air shows from its American partner, the United States' NBC (National Broadcasting Company).  It also begins to air the variety shows cooking with Nora Daza, Del Marquez Variety Musical and Belman Baby Powder Parade--the shows sponsored by the ad organization Advertising and Marketing Associates with Antonio de Joya as manager then

Events take a turn on BEC this year.

March 16. Gabriel "Flash" Elorde becomes world boxing champion at inauguration of Araneta Coliseum.

June: BEC opens another radio station DZRC.

September 25: BEC airs the first televised Mass at 9:00am at the Manila Cathedral on Channel 3 with the then Archbishop of Manila Rufino Cardinal Santos as main celebrant and Fr. James Reuter as the Mass narrator.

1960-1970

BEC launches

the comedies The Gloria and Luis Show with Gloria Romero and Luis Gonzales, Buhay Artista/An Artist's Life with Dolphy and Panchito, Super Laff In, Tang Tarang-Tang and Kami Naman! (Our Chance)

the variety shows Lucky Strike Show, Tony Santos Presents, Stop Look and Listen (the Philippines' first daily noontime variety TV show), Oras ng Ligaya/Hour of Joy, The Gloria-Eddie Show, Star Caravan, D' Sensations, Noontime Matinee and Ariel Con Tina (Ariel and Tina)

the talk show Two for the Road the dramas Santa Zita and Mary Rose, Teenagers, Mga Aninong

Gumagalaw/The Moving Shadows, The Twilight Zone (from the United States) and Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Doray (The Magical World of Doray)

the coverage of the MICAA basketball games

Events take a turn at BEC this decade.

TV becomes available to the middle class and the poor people. [40 out of 1,000 Pinoys then own a TV set.]

BEC has new studios in Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) in Manila.

BEC begins airing the weekly Sunday Masses from the ABS studios in Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) in Manila.

BEC covers the Jabidah Massacre and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

BEC relaunches radio stations DZAQ as Radio Patrol, DZXL as drama station and DZYL as sports station.  BEC has the Spanish station DZME (which closes down later), variety music station DZYL, pop music station DZQL and Filipino pop culture station DWOW.

1961

BEC begins airing the first educational show on Philippine TV--Education on TV--with Jesuit priest and history teacher Father Horacio de la Costa and art teacher Fernando Zobel, produced by Father James Reuter on Channel 9.

Events take a turn at BEC this year.

BEC gets new TV companions: Associated Broadcasting Corporation (ABC-DZTM, Channel 5), Republic Broadcasting System, Inc. (RBS, later Global Media Arts (GMA) Network, Inc. or GMA, Channel 7), Manila Broadcasting Company Television (MBC TV-DZRH Channel 11) and Inter-Island Broadcasting Corporation (IBC Channel 13).

BEC and other TV channels cover the Philippine national elections that see Diosdado Macapagal as president and Senator Emmanuel Pelaez as vice president.

June 14: BEC opens the Philippines' first regional radio-TV station of a TV network, first TV station outside Manila, and the first radio-TV station in Southern Philippines: BEC Cebu (now ABS-CBN Cebu). 

Post-June: BEC opens the first TV-radio broadcasting station in Ilocandia--BEC Dagupan (now ABS-CBN Dagupan).

December 30: Diosdado Macapagal becomes ninth Philippine president.

1962 May 12: Macapagal changes Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. December: BEC Channel 2's audience share declines, as RBS becomes the

number 1 TV station in terms of Manila ratings then. January: BEC gets a new companion: Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS

Channel 10). Joseph Estrada becomes box-office action star in "Asiong Salonga." Mona Sulaiman becomes Asia's fastest woman at Jakarta Asian Games.

1964 August 14. Gemma Cruz wins Miss International title in Long Beach,

California.  October 23. Anthony Villanueva wins boxing silver medal at 1964

Tokyo Olympics.

Under Marcos Presidency, second dictatorship and Fourth Republic (1965-1986)1965

September 28. Taal Volcano erupts, kills 2,000. December 30. Ferdinand Marcos becomes 10th Philippine president.

1966

Color TV tubes make their way in the Philippines.

BEC airs the comedy Pancho Loves Tita.

BEC and other media channels cover President Marcos' state visit to the United States.

BEC covers the ASIAN Games in Bangkok in Thailand for the second time.

July 4: Beatles perform in Manila. November 17: BEC begins telecasting shows in color on Channel 2 and

adopts the Sarimanok logo, as BEC is the first Philippine media network to introduce color TV in the Philippines.

1967

Events take a turn on BEC (later name: ABS-CBN) this year.

BEC is the first Philippine media network to open a relay station in Baguio City.

February 1: BEC changes corporate name to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation adopts the tagline “The Philippines’ Largest Network” and moves to a new site in Quezon City's Bohol Avenue.  ABS-CBN has 2 TV stations and 7 radio stations in Manila, 3 TV stations and 14 radio stations in the regions and 3 affiliate radio stations, being true to its tagline “The Philippines' Largest Network”.

August 8: The Philippines becomes one of the founding members of ASEAN. November: ABS-CBN holds the 50-hour back-to-back marathon coverage of

the Philippine national elections. June: ABS-CBN and other media channels cover the Independence Day

festivities at Luneta in Manila. Post February: ABS-CBN’s Channel 9 launches more foreign shows like The

Flying Nun.1968

TV is the medium earning the highest advertising revenue, overtaking radio.

Events take a turn at ABS-CBN this year.

ABS-CBN shows Buhay Artista, Wild, Wild West, and the Nida-Nestor Show, Tawag ng Tanghalan, Cine Pilipino/Filipino Cinema and Your Evening with Pilita get top spots on the ratings charts for 1967. This is the first time the ratings charts appear, resulting from the competition between network-produced shows and advertiser-produced shows.

ABS-CBN airs the first daily drama series termed as a "soap opera". ABS-CBN introduces the "breaking news" concept on Philippine TV as it airs

the 1st marathon coverage of the Ruby Towers Collapse in Metro Manila via microwave transmission from an Outside Broadcast (OB) van with 3 black-and-white cameras.

ABS-CBN covers the Olympic Games in Mexico City--the first Philippine media network to have a live via satellite coverage of an international event.

ABS-CBN starts covering live the events of the United States Presidential Elections.

ABS-CBN is the first TV network to take full control of producing TV shows and to relieve advertising agencies of producing regular TV programs.

ABS-CBN begins implementing the 60-second rule for TV commercials. ABS-CBN is the first Philippine media network to establish the country's 1st

cable company with its launch of Nuvue Cablevision. ABS-CBN acquires and incorporates SCAN, the film production company

specializing in film and TV commercials. March 18. Nur Misuari establishes Moro National Liberation Front following

Jabidah Massacre. December 18: ABS-CBN is the first Philippine media network to have a

broadcast centre complex in the country as inaugurates its Bohol Avenue Broadcast Center Complex--the first, biggest and best-equipped broadcasting complex in East Asia then (composed of 6 studios, a soundtrack recording hall, lighting effects, 16 TV cameras and made-for-TV movie facilities), rivaling Japan's NHK and making it the training ground for TV people from Japan, Thailand and Australia.

December 26. Jose Ma. Sison establishes Communist Party of Philippines.1969

ABS-CBN airs

Man on The Moon, covering Apollo 11's historic landing on the moon--the first telecast of an international and inter-planetary event via satellite in full color.

Bandwagon ‘69, the special election eve variety extravaganza sponsored by the members of the Nacionalista Party--among them President Marcos and Vice President Lopez broadcasting 3 hours earlier than other networks

Halalan '69, the first marathon TV coverage of the Philippine national elections that sees the reelection of President Marcos and Vice President Lopez.

the Miss Universe Pageant in the United States crowning Filipina candidate Gloria Diaz as the winner.

Events take a turn on ABS-CBN this year.

ABS-CBN is the first Philippine media network to hold marathon public service coverage via microwave.ABS-CBN is the first Philippine media network to have an all-news and commentary radio via Radio Patrol.ABS-CBN sells CBN's Channel 9 and the former ABS building to Marcos crony/ambassador/sugar businessman Roberto Benedicto, who uses the channel and the building with the stations of Radio Philippines Network (RPN)--to build Kanlaon Broadcasting Systems (KBS)--marking his entry to media.Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) and the groups of consumers request ABS-CBN and other TV stations to minimize TV ads to less than 15% of the telecasts.March: ABS-CBN airs the first real nationwide news simulcast, when the network’s five TV stations, 21 radio stations and three affiliate radio stations all throughout the country connect via relay sites to the main newscast in the Quezon City studios.July 20: Gloria Diaz becomes first Filipina to win Miss Universe pageant.

June: ABS-CBN announces its new channel assignment from Channels 3 and 9 to Channels 2 (now DWWX-TV) and 4 (now DWGT-TV).March 29. Sison and Bernabe Buscayno organize New People's Army.November 11. Marcos wins reelection.1970

January 30. First Quarter Storm: 4 students killed in clash with Marcos troops at Malacañang. 

November 26. Pope Paul VI visits Manila, survives slay try by Bolivian painter Benjamin Mendoza.

1971

August 21. Plaza Miranda bombing at Liberal Party rally; Marcos suspends writ of habeas corpus.

1972 Post September: President Marcos orders the take-over of all media

companies to prevent communist propaganda. Press Secretary Francisco Tatad and Gregorio Cendana (of National Media Production Center) take over ABS-CBN's Channel 4-Manila and rename it as Government Television (GTV Channel 4). ABS-CBN stars and employees gather at the Now Restaurant outside the ABS-CBN studios daily with hopes of reopening.

Post November: ABS-CBN general manager Jake Almeda Lopez begins negotiations on selling ABS-CBN to Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez (brother of President Marcos' wife Imelda) and Roberto Benedicto.

September 1972 (until February 1986): ABS-CBN salesman Freddie Garcia leads the network's employees and stars moving to Channel 7. Other ABS-CBN shows, stars and employees start moving to Channels 9 and 13.

August 5: ABS-CBN airs Damayan/Helping Hand, the first full scale telethon (telephone marathon) aiming to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Isang with ABS-CBN talents (Dolphy, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Tina Revilla, Tony Santos Sr.) donating P12,000--a big contribution to the overall fund count of P33,800 plus thousands of food and clothing donations from advertisers.

September 20: Military troops take over ABS-CBN's studios to the surprise of the employees and the stars, who find out the declaration of martial law after.

September 21: Marcos signs Proclamation 1081 placing entire country under martial law; thousands arrested including opposition leader Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

November 27: ABS-CBN president Eugenio Lopez Jr. gets arrested lands in Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila.

1973

January 17. Marcos announces ratification of 1972 Constitution. July 22. Margarita Moran becomes second Filipina to win Miss Universe

pageant. October 29. Cecilia Munoz-Palma becomes first female Supreme

Court justice. November 12. National gasoline rationing starts due to Mideast crisis.

1974

January 25. Msgr. Jaime Sin becomes Manila archbishop. June 27. Eugene Torre becomes Asia's first grandmaster at Chess

Olympiad in Nice, France.

1975

October 1. Muhammad Ali beats Joe Frazier in "Thrilla in Manila" heavyweight fight at Araneta Coliseum.

December 1. Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko premieres on the air

1976

August 17. Earthquake, tidal wave kills 8,000 in Mindanao. August 26. NPA chief Bernabe Buscayno, alias Kumander Dante,

captured. Paeng Nepomuceno wins his first Bowling World Cup in Teheran, Iran.

1977

November 10. CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison captured in Pangasinan.

1978

April 8. Elections held for Interim Batasang Pambansa; noise barrage held on the eve in support of opposition.

1979

July 23. “Eat Bulaga!” premieres on RPN Channel 9.

1980

May 8. Aquino is freed from jail for heart surgery in the United States.

1981

January 17. Marcos lifts martial law; repression continues. February 17. Pope John Paul II visits the Philippines to beatify Lorenzo

Ruiz. June 16. Marcos wins another six-year term in mock elections against

Alejo Santos and Bartolome Cabangbang. July 17. Hyatt Regency hotel walkway collapse in Kansas City,

Missouri, U.S.A, killing 118 people and injuring 216. July 29. A worldwide television audience of over 700 million people

watched the Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

1982

November 11. Lydia de Vega is crowned Asia's fastest woman at New Delhi Asian Games.

1983

August 21. Aquino is assassinated at Manila International Airport, sparking massive protests against Marcos dictatorship.

1984

May 14. Elections for Batasang Pambansa; opposition wins 53 of 183 seats.

August 20. Brother Mike Velarde establishes El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation.

December 1. LRT begins run from Baclaran to Manila City Hall. October 24. Kolkata Metro opens.

1985

November 3. Marcos announces snap presidential election. December 3. Corazon Aquino declares candidacy for president. December 9. Philippine Daily Inquirer is born.

1986

February 7: Snap presidential election: Comelec says Marcos ahead; Namfrel says Aquino leading.

February 22: Edsa Revolution begins. February 25: Cory Aquino takes oath of office as 11th Philippine president;

Marcos and family flee to Hawaii. March-September: The government supervises the stations of Broadcast

City site. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) orders the release of Banahaw's Channel 2 frequencies to the Lopezes and sequesters Channels 2, 9 (with Radio Philippines Network (RPN) as a new name) and 13.

June: The government grants permits to the Lopezes to operate ABS-CBN's Channel 2 and two radio stations-one of them DZMM.

July 28. The Philippine Star is born. September 14. ABS-CBN Channel 2 returns on the air after 14 years. The

Comeback--ABS-CBN resumes Manila operations on Channel 2 (DWWX-TV) with only bank loans, a franchise, haphazard assembly of old, dilapidated and borrowed equipment, temporary offices at the Manila Chronicle office in Pasig, and an initial staff of 200 people.

October: President Aquino presides over ABS-CBN's formal resumption of commercial operations.

December 31: ABS-CBN becomes the lowest-rating TV network among all the 5 Philippine television networks, suffering heavy losses.

Fifth Republic (1987 – present)

1987

Former ABS-CBN stars, personalities and employees, including Freddie Garcia, start to return to ABS-CBN.

The Lopezes counter accusations of Banahaw's charges of the Lopezes owing them for the supposed lease of ABS-CBN's equipment, telling that media operator Benedicto owes them back rentals for ABS-CBN's equipment taken without compensation in 1972.

ABS-CBN gets back its facilities from MBS (with the new name PTV: People's Television) and absorbs MBS's 600 employees into the ABS-CBN workforce.

ABS-CBN is the first Philippine media network to use the Betacam tape, a technological advancement then.

January 22. 11 protesters killed in Mendiola Massacre. February 2. New Philippine Constitution ratified.  February 11. Manila Standard is born. March 1: ABS-CBN is relaunched as The Star Network via the live

special variety show Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin (The Star's Return), as it calls back all its former stars and personalities working in other various media networks to return to ABS-CBN.  Present in the live show are Maricel Soriano, Alma Moreno, Richard Gomez, Joey Marquez, Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera. It launches the newscast TV Patrol, becoming the number 1 newscast on Philippine TV for the next 20 years and having anchors Robert Arevalo, Mel Tiangco, Noli de Castro, Frank Evangelista, Angelique Lazo, Kata Inocencio, Korina Sanchez, Julius Babao, Tintin Bersola, Henry Omaga Diaz, Ces Drilon, Aljo Bendijo, Ted Failon and Karen Davila, the comedies Palibhasa Lalake (Because of Males), Chika Chika Chicks, In The Money, Mga Kuwento ni Lola (Grandma's Stories) and Goin' Bananas, the variety shows Loveli-Ness with Alma Moreno and Twogether: Martin and Pops with Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, the talk shows Star Cafe and Dina, the weekly Regal Films movie special Regal Presents, the current affairs show Probe with Cheche Lazaro, which moved to GMA after less than a year (in 1988) and coming back to ABS-CBN after 18 years (in 2005) and the drama Maricel Drama Specials, which runs for the next 10 years, which is now as the Asia’s longest-running Filipino-language news program, next after “Xinwen Lianbo” (news in Standard Mandarin) of CCTV-1 in China and “NBC Nightly News” of NBC Network in the United States.

July 27. BusinessWorld is born. August 28. Col. Gregorio Honasan leads RAM coup attempt. October 8. Lorenzo Ruiz becomes first Filipino saint. November 7. The first section of the Singapore’s North-South MRT

Line started operations, consisting of five stations over six kilometers. December 10. Honasan captured in Valle Verde, Pasig. December 12. The second phase of the Singapore’s North-South MRT

Line started operations from Toa Payoh to Raffles Palace. December 20. MV Doña Paz collides with MT Vector, killing more than

1,000 in world's worst peacetime maritime disaster.1988–1990

ABS-CBN launches the talk show Teysi ng Tahanan (Teysi of the Home) with Tessie Tomas

1988

ABS-CBN airs

the variety show Tonight with Dick and Carmi

the current affairs show Magandang Gabi Bayan (Good Evening to Our Dear Nation), with host Noli de Castro and running for more than 17 years [with replacements Henry Omaga Diaz, Gus Abelgas, Erwin Tulfo, Julius Babao, Korina Sanchez, and Katherine de Castro]

Events take a turn on ABS-CBN this year.

ABS-CBN relaunches ABS-CBN Cebu and starts the resumption of operations in ABS-CBN's regional stations.

ABS-CBN revives the Bridges on the Air-Link to the Future with a new domestic satellite system, making it the first Philippine media network on full nationwide satellite broadcast.

March: More artists like Sharon Cuneta and President Aquino's actress-of-a-daughter Kris join ABS-CBN. Sharon has her first show--The Sharon Cuneta Show.

December: ABS-CBN starts satellite broadcast of its prime time shows. November: ABS-CBN introduces the new slogan “In the Service of the

Filipino”. August 8 (The Historic Date: 8-8-88): Number 1 Since Then--ABS-CBN

becomes number 1 among the 7 Filipino TV channels in Manila in the audience share and ratings, with all the Top 10 shows belonging to the network, and the first in the Philippines to be number 1 after its relaunch. ABS-CBN's TV companions, notably People's Television (PTV Channel 4, later National Broadcasting Network: NBN Channel 4), Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC Channel 5) and Greater Manila Area (GMA Channel 7) start attempts to bring in more viewers after ABS-CBN becomes the number 1 Philippine TV network.

March 12. opening of six more stations from Tiong Bahru to Clementi on the East West Line, City Hall and Raffles Place become interchange stations between the two lines. On the same day, the system was officially launched by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister of Singapore.

October 31. Imelda Marcos arraigned in New York on racketeering charges. November 5. Three stations on East West Line from Jurong

East to Lakeside were opened. December 11: ABS-CBN airs marathon of 6 hours for the phenomenally top-

rating EDSA Revolution-themed international drama series A Dangerous Life. A Dangerous Life is the first successful 6-hour marathon broadcast and the most highly-rated show in Philippine TV then.

December 20. Two stations on North South Line from Khatib to Yishun were opened, completing the Northern section of the line.

1989 September 28. Marcos dies in Hawaii. December 1. Bloody coup attempt launched against President Aquino. December 16. Three stations on East West Line from Simei to Pasir

Ris were opened, completing the Eastern section of the line. Lea Salonga stars in "Miss Saigon" musical.

1990 March 10. Three stations on a Branch Line starting from Jurong

East to Choa Chu Kang were opened. July 6. The last station on the East West Line, Boon Lay, was opened,

which marked the completion of the system two years ahead of schedule.

July 16. Big earthquake rocks 23 provinces; more than 1,200 dead. November. Typhoon Ruping ravages Mindanao and Visayas.

1991 June 9. Mt. Pinatubo, dormant for 450 years, begins erupting.

September 16. Senate rejects new bases agreement with United States.

November 8. Typhoon Uring ravages Ormoc; 5,000 dead.1992

January 15. Pag-asa, first Philippine eagle hatched in captivity, is born at the eagle center in Malagos, Davao.

February 21. ABC-5 returns on the airwaves after 20 years. June 30. Fidel V. Ramos becomes 12th Philippine president. September 18. Zamboanga City stripped of World Little League

baseball title.1993

ABS-CBN features special plugs and programs as it celebrates 40 years as a TV company and the 40th anniversary of Philippine TV.

ABS-CBN launches 

the worldwide Filipino media network The Filipino Channel (TFC).  The first launch is in various Filipino communities in the United States' West Coast. With 8 hours of Filipino programming carried by Western Cable Systems and TCI Cablevision, and in various TV stations in United States, Asia-Pacific and Europe, this is the network coming into being-the first time a Filipino network attempts successfully to go global.

ABS-CBN Televideo, penetrating the video rental market in the United States

the movie outfit Star Cinema, with its first movie Adan Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite, Laking Tondo (Adan Ronquillo: Born in Cavite, Raised in Tondo) as a box-office hit and making ABS-CBN the first Philippine media network to venture into movie production and distribution

Events take a turn on ABS-CBN this year.

January 1: In celebrating the New Year 1993 and in celebrating 40 years of Philippine TV, ABS-CBN resurrects the Sarimanok logo.

ABS-CBN launches The Grand ABS-CBN Sarimanok Milyung-Milyong Pasasalamat Raffle Papremyo (The Grand ABS-CBN Sarimanok Millions of Thanksgiving Raffle Prize Contest)-the first, biggest, longest and most dynamic nationwide promo contest by a media network, which was repeated 2 times in the decade.

ABS-CBN realizes the dream of Bridges on the Air with the launch of its satellite news gathering system for its News and Current Affairs Organization--the 1st in the Philippines--making possible the live nationwide simultaneous broadcast (simulcast) of shows and live reports from any remote point of the country.

ABS-CBN is the first Filipino media network to join in Asia's 200 Leading Companies in the 1993 issue of the Far East Economic Review magazine.

ABS-CBN reports TV Patrol ranking number 1 in its timeslot for Filipino televiewers in the western states of the United States, according to the Gallup Poll and launches the newscast in the states of California and Hawaii in the US.

ABS-CBN signs a 15-year contract with Western Cable System and TCI Cablevision, the United States' largest cable operator that year.

Star Cinema releases another box-office May Minamahal (Someone to Love)

ABS-CBN's Star Cinema begins producing movie versions of popular ABS-CBN shows.  Its initial movie adaptation of Home along Da Riles becomes a box-office hit. 

September 10. Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez charged with rape-slay of Aileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez; later sentenced to two life terms.

1994 June 28. Frank Sinatra starts four-day concert in Manila. April: ABS-CBN's satellite service links up with PANAMSAT's PAS-2--the

world's first global satellite system reaching to over 66% of the world's viewing population. TFC's worldwide launch begins in Burlingame in US, coming as the first premium Filipino cable TV channel in the US, with 1,500 subscribers in three months of launching.

June: ABS-CBN begins airing Sineskwela (School on Film), the first televised educational program aired in Philippine public schools focusing on elementary science lessons. It starts producing shows like Hiraya Manawari (Legends) and Bayani (Heroes).

May: ABS-CBN airs the worldwide broadcast of the Miss Universe Contest in Manila, the city's 2nd time to hold the contest. 

September:  TFC begins running 24 hours of all-Filipino programs, among them the international edition of TV Patrol. More launches of TFC in various parts of the world take place in the next 10 years. 

1995 January 12 to 16. Pope John Paul II visits Manila again. April 4. Moro rebels sack Ipil, Zamboanga Del Sur; at least 55 killed. March 8. First lotto draw held with P3 million jackpots.  March 17. Flor Contemplacion hanged in Singapore, straining

Philippine-Singapore relation.  December. Efren "Bata" Reyes named world's No. 1 billiards player.

1996

ABS-CBN launches

the variety show Alas Singko Y Medya (5:30) the first ever morning newscast/variety show running for the next decade and Star Music Video, featuring the music videos of the ABS-CBN stars.

its first telenovella or Latin American drama Maria Mercedes from Mexico's Televisa, starring popular Mexican TV actress Thalia, who gets the Best Actress Award in a Mexican TV awards festival for her portrayal in the drama series

more Latin American dramas like Lazos de Amor (Ribbons of Love) and Illusiones (Illusions)

the current affairs show Balitang K

cartoons such as Double Dragon, Cro, Blazing Dragons, Hyperman, Ang Mahiwagang Kuwintas, Littlest Pet Shop, Magic Knight Rayearth, Conan & the

Young Warriors, the Little Women series, The Slayers, What A Mess, Zenki, Mga Munting Pangarap ni Romeo, Zorro, Hiawatha, Wind in the Willows, Adventures of T-Rex, Conan-The Adventurer and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table 

ABS-CBN hosts the media special The 50th Anniversary Handog Pasasalamat, celebrating ABS-CBN's 50th anniversary as a media-communications corporation.

Events took a turn on ABS-CBN this year.

ABS-CBN Regional Network Stations begin broadcasting at 25KW and airs 2 shows on nationwide broadcast making them available to the nationwide audiences except Manila audiences.

ABS-CBN Star Cinema presents Madrasta/Stepmom, Magic Temple, Ama-Ina-Anak/Father-Mother-Child, Hangga't May Hininga/To The Last Breath, May Nagmamahal Sa Iyo/Someone Loves You, Isa...Dalawa...Takbo/One...Two...Run, Kung Kaya Mo...Kaya Ko Rin/If You Can Do It So Can I, Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon/Then and Now, Sa Aking Mga Kamay/In My Hands, Utol/Brother, and movie adaptations of ABS-CBN Manila shows Mara Clara, Ang TV, Oki Doki Dok and Cedie Ang Munting Prinsipe, the ABS-CBN Cebu show Milyonaryong Mini and ABS-CBN's radio station DWRR-Radio Romance. 

ABS-CBN launches the nationwide FM radio network Star Radio, which later became My Only Radio For Life (MOR For Life)

ABS-CBN captures a huge 49.4% of the total advertising industry. ABS-CBN launches its merchandising arm Star Magic Incorporated, thru

its signature store Studio One. ABS-CBN, via the ABS-CBN Foundation, and other Philippine TV stations

join the Southeast Asian Foundation for Children's Television, aiming to uplift standards of children's shows in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

ABS-CBN becomes the 1st Philippine media network to be honored with a commemorative stamp by the Philippine government, in celebration of its 50 years of existence.

1st quarter: ABS-CBN's primetime shows suffer from poor Metro Manila ratings due to high Metro Manila ratings and eventual popularity of Marimar, the first Pilipino-dubbed Latin American drama from Mexico's Televisa starring Mexican TV actress Thalia, showing on RPN. 

2nd quarter: ABS-CBN cuts the 1-hour TV Patrol to 30 minutes on July 1, moves its daytime drama series Mara Clara to primetime slot occupying its RPN counterpart Marimar, and premieres Maria Mercedes. In time for its 50th anniversary as a media-communications corporation, it succeeds repelling the Marimar craze as it makes Mara Clara the number 1 primetime show toppling Marimar from the top slot after 2 months and regains its primetime shows' high Metro Manila ratings and high Metro Manila audience shares.

January 25. Emilio Advincula returns P2 million in cash and valuables left in his cab by woman "balikbayan."

February 10. The 16 km, 6 station elevated line was opened on 10 February 1996 at a total cost of S$ 1.2 billion. With this extension,

the North South Line included the three stations on the former Choa Chu Kang Branch Line (Jurong East, Bukit Batok, Bukit Gombak and Choa Chu Kang), forming a continuous line from Jurong East to Marina Bay.

August 3. Onyok Velasco wins boxing silver at Atlanta Olympics. October 12. ABS-CBN launches the UHF Channel Studio 23, making it

the new home of ABS-CBN Manila's English-language shows (and later its Filipino-dubbed cartoons). Studio 23 becomes the number 1 Philippine UHF channel in Mega Manila in 6 months and slowly being the overall number 3 channel in Mega Manila. 

November. The Philippines hosts APEC meeting at Subic.1997

June. ABS-CBN is the Philippine TV network with the biggest audience share, as it holds 41% audience share in Metro Manila and 71% audience share in the regions.

July. Peso tumbles in wake of Asian currency crisis. December. Eugenio Lopez Jr. turns over the ABS-CBN chairmanship to his

son Eugenio Lopez III. Freddie Garcia becomes the network's president. 1998

May 11. Actor Joseph Estrada elected 13th Philippine president. June 12. The Philippine Declaration of Independence celebrates its

100 years centennial anniversary. June 30. Joseph Estrada becomes 13th Philippine president

1999 June 28. ABS-CBN reports its chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez, Jr.

dies from cancer. August 2. A massive landslide occurred in Cherry Hills subdivision

in Antipolo City, Rizal province that was primarily caused by the heavy rains of the approaching Typhoon Olga.

2000 January 1. The Philippines celebrates the new 2000 millennium

nationwide. The same year, ABS-CBN, the largest media conglomerate in the Philippines, unveils a new logo for the new millennium.

March 15– July 12. All-out war in Mindanao happened when Government troops clashed against MILF rebels as a warning to the separation of an Islamic state.

April 19. Air Philippines Flight 541 crashes into a coconut plantation in Island Garden City of Samal, Killing 131 passengers and crew.

April 28. SM City Manila, the sixth SM Supermall in Metro Manila, ninth SM Supermall and first SM Mall in Manila was opened.

May 3. Abu Sayyaf terrorists’ hostage 21 people including 10 tourists and 11 resort workers in a resort island of Sipadan, Malaysia. The hostage crisis lasts four months.

May 17. Terrorists bombed Glorietta Mall in Makati, injuring 12 persons mostly teenagers.

May 21. Terrorists bombed SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, killing 1 person and 17 others injured.

June 14. GMA Network Center was inaugurated by President Estrada and the network's board of directors.

June 17. GMA Network celebrates its 50th golden year since was established in 1950.

July 16. The Central total lunar eclipse of July 16 becomes the longest lunar eclipse in the century which lasted for 108 minutes; it was witnessed by many amateur astronomers and eclipse watchers throughout the country since the one happened in 1953.

September 15 – October 1. The Philippines participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia by sending a delegation of 20 members. But all of the athletes lost in the said event and did not home their medals.

November 11. SM City Pampanga, the tenth SM Supermall, second SM Supermall in Luzon (outside Metro Manila), first SM Mall in Pampanga and first SM Supermall in Northern Luzon was opened.

2001 April 22 – Dream Satellite TV launched as the country's

first DTH satellite TV provider and commenced commercial services. May 14 – Legislative and local elections were held nationwide. May 27 – Twenty tourists were hostage by the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in

a popular island resort in Palawan, leaving 22 hostages were killed and the crisis lasts 12 months.

November 7 – Actress Nida Blanca was killed in a parking lot in San Juan.

2002August 18. The Tseung Kwan O MTR Line opens.April 1 to 5: ABS-CBN breaks news from Palawan of the death of its talent--popular actor/host/comedian Rico Yan--then covers the mourning rites and the funeral rites via Paalam Rico, Mahal Naming Kapamilya (Goodbye Rico, Our Dear Family Member). January 1: ABS-CBN airs the New Year midnight show Countdown 2002 with Mari Kaimo and Karen Davila as hosts featuring the live New Year celebrations in Metro Manila and around the Philippines. October 2. A bomb blast in front of a Malagutay district karaoke bar near a military arms depot in Zamboanga City killed an American Green Beret commando and three Filipino civilians. At least 25 other people, one of them another American trooper, were wounded in the blast.October 17. Two TNT bombs exploded around noon inside a shopping center in the commercial district of Zamboanga City, when the mall was most busy, killing at least seven and wounding about 150 people. Two department stores were destroyed in the attack.October 21. A Philippine Marine guarding the church was killed and 18 others were wounded after a bomb, placed in bag left at a candle store, exploded at Fort Pilar, a Catholic shrine in Zamboanga City.

December 24. The first line of the Delhi Metro was inaugurated by Atal Behari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India.2003

January 22-25. 4th World Meeting of Families was held at the Quirino Grandstand Luneta Park, Manila

April. SARS virus outbreak in Singapore and other parts of Asia. June 20. The North East MRT Line opens. July 27. Oakwood mutiny September 24. In an interview on TV Patrol, Kris Aquino, revealed

that she incurred a sexually transmitted disease and that she feared for her life when she had a heated argument with her former lover Joey Marquez.

2004 June 24. Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo elects 14th president. June 30. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo becames 14th president. December 28. The grand opening of the Shenzhen Metro system

occurred at 5:00 pm.2005

February 14: ABS-CBN covers the gory events surrounding the simultaneous bombings in Makati, Davao and General Santos.

March 7-13: ABS-CBN Cebu breaks news on the Cassava Cake Poisoning Tragedy, in which scores of children in Bohol are poisoned after eating the poisoned cassava cakes during their school recess, and begins the ABS-CBN media coverage on the incident.

April 2, 2005 - Pope John Paul   II  passes away at 9:37 p.m. Vatican time (CEST) at the age of 84, thus beginning the period of sede vacante.

April 3, 2005 - Pope John Paul   II  lies in state in the Clementine Room of the Apostolic Palace for a private viewing, a ceremony to confirm and certify the death of the Pontifex Maximus.

April 8. The funeral of Pope John Paul II takes place.  April 18. Black smoke signals no new Pope is chosen in the first ballot

in the Papal conclave, 2005. April 19. Papal conclave, 2005: Ringing bells and white smoke at

the Vatican indicate that, after four ballots, a new Pope, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, has been elected. He has taken the regnal name Pope Benedict   XVI .

April 20. The Government of Singapore's approval for the building of two casinos as part of integrated resorts in Singapore's new downtown, and on Sentosa island ignites intense speculation on the likely winners from 19 submitted proposals, and caps off more than a year of moral debates in the traditionally conservative city.

April 23. YouTube is founded and launched. April 24. Pope Benedict XVI is formally installed as Pope of the

Catholic Church in an inaugural mass.

June 18. The Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 begins operation as the first metro line in the West of China.

June: ABS-CBN is the first to report on the passing of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.  ABS-CBN covers the funeral of Cardinal Sin one week later.

July 7. Four explosions are reported on the London Underground and bus system, leading to the entire transport network being shut down. A previously unheard-of splinter group of al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility, though their involvement has not yet been verified. The attacks have left at least 50 people dead and roughly 700 others injured.

July 8. In the Philippines, resigned ministers, other politicians, socialites, fashion designers, hair and make-up artists, models, TV and movie actors, sports icons and businessmen call President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign as well and hand the reins of the country over to PR guru and events extraordinaire Keren Pascual.

July 13. In the Philippines, thousands of protestors gather in Manila to demand the resignation of President Arroyo, who has reshuffled her cabinet. The military is on alert in case of violence.

July 15. In the Philippines, opposition demonstrators demanding resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo seize the building of the Department of Agriculture and smash windows before dispersing before police. Her political opponents in the senate want to begin impeachment procedures.

August 4. Negotiations between the Philippines government and the National Democratic Front, the political wings of the Communist Party of the Philippines, break down. The Government has ended immunity of their members from arrest.

August 16. World Youth Day 2005 begins in Cologne, Germany. August 21. More than 800,000 people joined Pope Benedict XVI for the

concluding Mass of World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany.  The next World Youth Day was announced to be held in Sydney, Australia in 2008.

August 28. Hurricane Katrina continues to rapidly strengthen reaching Category Five status. It has the second lowest pressure for an American hurricane in recorded history, with only the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 having a lower measurement. Katrina is at 908 mb. and dropping; the Labor Day event of 1935 had 892 mb.

August 29. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:o The death toll in Biloxi, Mississippi, may be as high as 80.

Mayor A.J. Holloway declares that Katrina "is our tsunami", comparing the catastrophe to the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami.

o US Highway 90  along Gulfport, Mississippi, has been destroyed.o New Orleans , Louisiana, almost completely floods

when levees along Lake Pontchartrain break. At least one attempt to repair broken levees was ended unsuccessfully. Gas

leaks pollute the floodwaters. The primary evacuation site at the Louisiana Superdome is safe, with water only 3 ft. (1 m) deep outside. Death tolls there remain untold. Governor Kathleen Blanco orders the evacuation of everyone remaining in New Orleans.

o The storm surge has totally destroyed the Interstate 10 causeway connecting the east side of New Orleans to mainland Louisiana over the east tip of Lake Pontchartrain.

o The American Red Cross declares that the relief effort will exceed in scope that after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

September 1. Typhoon Talim passes over Taiwan, killing at least one person and injuring 24.

September 2. U.S. President George W. Bush tours the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina amidst growing criticism of his lack of leadership. Media reports say he will not visit New Orleans. Bush said order would be restored and New Orleans would emerge from its "darkest days".

September 3. The Line 1, Nanjing Metro opens to the public. September 5. Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton calls for a

"9/11 Style Inquiry" into the U.S. federal government's response to the Hurricane.

September 5. Mandala Airlines Flight 091: A Mandala Airlines flight crashes into a residential area of the Indonesian city of Medan, killing at least 100 passengers. Among the dead are the governor and former governor of Sumatra Utara, Rizal Nurdin and Raja Inal Siregar.

September 12. Hong Kong Disneyland opens to the public at 13:00 local time.

September 13. President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao meets with U.S. President George W. Bush at the United Nations during the Leaders' Gathering in honor of the 60th Anniversary of the UN's founding.

November: ABS-CBN is the first to report on the crowning of Precious Lara Quigaman, the first Filipina to win in the Miss International Pageant in Japan.

November 27-December 5: ABS-CBN covers the Philippines playing host to the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, as the games are hosted all over the country.

2006 January 21. Boxer Manny Pacquiao defeated Mexican Erik Morales in a

tenth-round technical knockout at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas. The victory caused jubilation in the country wracked by poverty and political instability.

January 27. Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, who escaped from the Philippine Army headquarters on December 14, was recaptured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Faeldon and other junior officers of the AFP launched the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003, where they demanded President Arroyo and then Defense secretary Angelo Reyes to resign.

February 1. The Revised-Value Added Tax (R-VAT) was implemented, causing a hike in prices of consumer goods.

February 4. A stampede occurred during the first anniversary of ABS-CBN's television program Wowowee at the PhilSports Complex, causing the deaths of 74 people and the wounding of about 400 others.

February 14. Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular launch 3G in selected cities in the country.

February 17. After heavy rains in the preceding ten days, a mudslide occurred on the town of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, killing fifty people, but with 958 people still missing the death toll is expected to rise dramatically.

February 19. Red Bull Barako wins the Philippine Basketball Association 2005–06 Fiesta Conference after defeating the Purefoods Chunkee Giants in six games.

February 24. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 11:25 am declared a state of emergency via Proclamation No. 1017 after a failed coup attempt and street protests commemorating the 20th anniversary of the People Power Revolution. The protesters converged at the EDSA Shrine led by Vice President Teofisto Guingona were dispersed right after the proclamation. The protesters at EDSA-Santolan led by Prof. Randy David were dispersed violently by the police. Several leftist and rightist leaders were arrested or were under the threat of arrest within the next seven days.

February 24–25. The World Wrestling Entertainment RAW Live Tour made its stop at Araneta Coliseum, featuring matches for the WWE Championship, the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and the WWE Women's Championship, among others. John Cena, Shelton Benjamin and Trish Stratus retained their title belts on the two-night event amidst an overflowing crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

March 3. The President declared the lifting of the state of emergency via Proclamation No. 1021.

March 10. The Department of the Interior and Local Government orders barangays to conduct barangay assemblies for the adoption of a new constitution.

March. ABS-CBN and other media groups file complaints to the local courts, questioning the government's subsequent actions on the Declaration of the State of Emergency, among them the February 24 events at its Quezon City studios and a government official's private call urging to stop its February 26 coverage.  

March 15. Cito Alejandro resigns as ABS-CBN president. March 24. The Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Borbon Rosales was

installed as Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at a ceremony at Rome. April 1. Keanna Reeves wins Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition on

its Big Night finale held at the Manila Central Post Office grounds.

April 20. The Supreme Court declared that a part of Executive Order No. 464 as unconstitutional, thus paving way for the resumption of Congressional inquiries.

April 25. The Supreme Court ruled that a part of the government policy of Calibrated Pre-Emptive Response as unconstitutional.

May 3. The Supreme Court ruled that the Proclamation No. 1017 was constitutional, although a part of General Order No. 5 as unconstitutional.

May 7. Gerald Santos wins Pinoy Pop Superstar on its Grand Showdown held at the Araneta Coliseum.

May 11. Typhoon Caloy (international name: Typhoon Chanchu) made landfall on Samar. On the next day, it made landfall on Mindoro. Caloy caused the deaths of 41 and $1.9 million in damages.

May 18. Mountaineer Leo Oracion reached the summit of Mount Everest via the Nepalese side, becoming the first Filipino to do so, although another mountaineer, Dale Abenojar claimed that he reached the summit first via the Tibetan side, on May 15.

May 20. Grand Opening of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. June 2. Four U.S. Marines facing rape charges in the Philippines see their

accuser in court for the first time as the formal trial begins in a case that was filed in December, stemming from an incident at a Subic Bay bar. The case has prompted protests and calls for the Visiting Forces Agreement to be amended or scrapped.

June 3. The death of three Philippines soldiers by the communist New People's Army is confirmed. The ambush by NPA guerrillas took place on Wednesday in Balbalan, Kalinga. The NPA also says two more government soldiers were killed and four were wounded in another attack on Wednesday on an army outpost in Pinukpok town, but the government could not confirm this.

June 4. Kim Chiu wins Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition. June 8. U.S. Navy investigators who looked into rape allegations against

four marines in the Philippines are barred by the U.S. embassy from testifying in the trial of the four. The plaintiff's attorney characterised the move as a "clear attempt on the part of the US government, to keep us from getting the evidence that we need and from showing the court the truth."

June 13. A group calling itself Taong Bayan at Kawal, or Masses and Soldiers, claims for an early-morning bomb blast at a police headquarters in Manila, as well as earlier blasts at Manila office building on June 6, an explosion outside the home of an ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last week and two simultaneous bomb blasts in police stations on June 11. The group denies it was behind a bombing in Lipa City that injured nine people on June 11.

June 19.o 900 villagers are evacuated as Mount Bulusan spews ash

at Sorsogon.

o The Philippine government announces strategies to end communist insurgency by the New People's Army, promising "dramatic results in two years" by boosting military spending and development budgets in poor areas.

June 24.o President Arroyo signed the repeal of the death penalty law, as

stated in Republic Act No. 9346.o Opening of the 82nd season of the NCAA hosted by De La Salle-

College of Saint Benilde. June 26.

o Released after four days in captivity in Nigeria, two kidnapped Filipino are expected to return to the Philippines within the week.

o The opposition bloc files impeachment charges against President Arroyo.

July 2. Manny Pacquiao wins a 12 round unanimous decision over Mexican Óscar Larios in front of his hometown fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

July 8. Opening of the 69th season of the UAAP hosted by the University of the East.

July 13: Tropical storm Florita (pictured, international codename: Bilis) slams into Batanes, causing the deaths of fourteen people.

July 14: Mayon Volcano in Albay spews out lava and ash. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level from level 1 to level 3, prompting evacuations.

July 15: The Professional Regulation Commission admitted that there was a leakage of test questions in the June 2006 Nurses Licensure Examination

July 21: The Purefoods Chunkee Giants defeated the Red Bull Barako at the Philippine Basketball Association 2006 Philippine Cup Finals, 4–2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

July 24:o Senator  Manuel Villar is elected as the new Senate President,

replacing Franklin Drilon at the resumption of the regular session of Congress.

o President  Arroyo suspends classes in Metro Manila and other areas due to Typhoon Glenda (international codename: Kaemi).

o On her State of the Nation Address, President Arroyo proposed for the creation of 5 new super regions, pushed for constitutional change, among others.

August 7: Mayon Volcano intensifies its volcanic activity, leading the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to raise the alert level from level 3 to level 4, which prompted mandatory evacuation procedures.

August 11: An oil spill off the coast of Guimaras occurs, causing widespread environmental damage.

August 16: The administration block at the Judicial Committee of the House of Representatives junks the last impeachment case against President Arroyo.

August 19: A Junior League softball team from Bacolod City was beaten by a team from Naples, Florida, 8–0, at the Junior League World Series held at Kirkland, Washington

August 24: The House of Representatives plenary junked the impeachment case against President Arroyo, voting 173–32.

August 27: The pair of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante defeated the American tandem of Rodney Morris and Earl Strickland to win the first World Cup of Pool.

August 31: The petition of Sigaw ng Bayan group for a people's initiative for amendments in the constitution was trashed by the Commission on Elections on the basis that there was no enabling law.

September 11: Efren Reyes wins the World 8-Ball Open Championship at Reno, Nevada, beating Rodney Morris, 8–6.

September 22: San Beda College wins the 82nd NCAA seniors' basketball tournament, beating the Philippine Christian University (PCU). San Sebastian College-Recoletos defeated the PCU High School to win the juniors' championship.

September 27: President Arroyo suspends classes in affected areas, including Metro Manila as Typhoon Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane) approached the western coast of Luzon.

September 28: Typhoon Milenyo causes widespread damage throughout Luzon, causing at least two deaths, destruction to property, suspension of classes and the Metrorail, closing down of government offices, suspension of trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange, the paralyzation of the South Luzon Expressway, cancellation of flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and a Luzon-wide blackout. 

October 2: The University of Santo Tomas defeated the Ateneo de Manila University, 76–74, in overtime, at the deciding third game of the 69th UAAP men's basketball tournament. Their women's counterpart won the Women's championship while the Ateneo juniors’ team won the juniors championship.

October 10: Mayor Jose Catindig, Jr. of Santa Rosa City, Laguna is suspended for six months by the Department of Interior and Local Government for alleged illegal transfer of two city hall employees, which led to tensions at the city hall. This comes after the suspension of Peewee Trinidad of Pasay City.

October 12: Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales issued a pastoral statement in behalf of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Manila, asking Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down from the presidency as he had lost the moral authority to govern.

October 12: Studio 23 celebrates its 10th anniversary, still the number 1 UHF channel in the Philippines.

October 13: the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines joined the cry for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

October 17: former Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino also demanded that the President take the “supreme self-sacrifice” of resignation. Former Philippine Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Ejercito-Estrada also joined the chorus.  Early on, Philippine Vice-President Noli L. de Castro resigned as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and later asked for Arroyo’s resignation.

November 1: four (4) senior economic advisers, members of the Council of Senior Economic Advisers, resigned.  They were Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, former Senator Vicente Paterno and Washington Sycip.

November 4: Secretary Peter Favila also resigned from the Department of Trade and Industry.

November 13: House Speaker de Venecia transmitted the Articles of Impeachment signed by 115 representatives, or more than 1/3 of all the members of the House of Representatives to the Senate.  This caused political convulsions in both houses of Congress.  Senator Villar was replaced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as Senate President. Speaker de Venecia was unseated by Representative Prospero Nograles.

November 18: Boxer Manny Pacquiao knocked out Erik Morales at their boxing bout held at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas.

November 20: The Senate formally opened the impeachment trial of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Twenty-one (21) senators took their oath as judges with Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio C. Panganiban, presiding.

November 26: Miss Earth 2006 beauty pageant was hosted by the Philippines at the National Museum Grounds at Manila. Miss Chile won the pageant.

November 30: Typhoon Reming intensifies as it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility; the government has suspended classes in affected areas for November 30.

December 7: the impeachment trial started. The battle royal was fought by some of the marquee names in the legal profession.  Standing as prosecutors were then House Minority Floor Leader Chiz Escudero and Representatives Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr., Wigberto Tañada, Sergio Apostol, Oscar Moreno, Salacnib Baterina, Roan Libarios, Oscar Rodriguez, Clavel Martinez and Antonio Nachura.  They were assisted by a battery of private prosecutors led by now Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales and now Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo.  Serving as defense counsel were former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., former Solicitor General and Secretary of Justice Estelito P. Mendoza, former City Fiscal of Manila Jose Flamiano, former Deputy Speaker of the House Raul Daza, Atty. Siegfried

Fortun and his brother, Atty. Raymund Fortun.  The day to day trial was covered by Philippine, Chinese, Hong Kong, Macanese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean television and radio stations and during its course enjoyed the highest viewing rating. It’s high and low points were the constant conversational piece of the chattering classes.  The dramatic point of the December hearings was the testimony of Clarissa Ocampo, senior vice president of Equitable-PCI Bank.  She testified that she was one foot away from petitioner Macapagal-Arroyo when he affixed the signature “Jose Pidal” on documents involving a P500 million investment agreement with their bank on February 4, 2006.

December 8:o Due to Typhoon Seniang threatening Cebu, the 12th ASEAN Summit

was postponed. Dinagat Islands became the 81st province after the voters approve of its secession from Surigao del Norte.

December 10: Mau Marcelo was declared the first Philippine Idol at the final results show was held in the Araneta Coliseum.

December 11: At the 2006 Asian Games at Doha, Antonio Gabica won the Men's Nine-ball event, defeating fellow Filipino Jeff de Luna to win the country's first gold medal.

December 30: The infamous Rizal Day bombings rocked the peaceful celebration in Metro Manila, killing 22 people and more than 100 others injured.

2007

January 1: ABS-CBN airs Countdown to 2007: the Weekend News Special Edition with anchor Erwin Tulfo featuring New Year events in Metro Manila.

January 2-20: ABS-CBN covers the final days of the President Arroyo impeachment trial via On Trial: a Nation in Crisis, and the reprisal of the EDSA Revolution that unseats Arroyo as president and makes public relations guru and events extraordinaire Keren Pascual the new Philippine president via the top-rating marathon broadcast EDSA Dos.

January 2: More bombshells were exploded by the prosecution. January 11: Atty. Edgardo Espiritu who served as petitioner’s

Secretary of Finance took the witness stand.  He alleged that the petitioner jointly owned BW Resources Corporation with Mr. Dante Tan who was facing charges of insider trading.

January 17: when by a vote of 11-10, the senator-judges ruled against the opening of the second envelop which allegedly contained evidence showing that Macapagal-Arroyo held P3.3 billion in a secret bank account under the name “Jose Pidal.” The public and private prosecutors walked out in protest of the ruling.  In disgust, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile resigned as Senate President. (Those who voted “yes” to open the envelop were:  Senators Nene Pimentel, Manny Villar, Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon, Pia S. Cayetano, Jun Magsaysay, Juan Flavier, Rodlofo Biazon, Serge Osmeña III.  Those who vote “no” were Senators Jamby Madrigal, Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago, John

Osmeña, Alfredo S. Lim, Gringo Honasan, Manuel A. Roxas II, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, and Jinggoy Estrada.) The ruling made at 10:00 p.m. was met by a spontaneous outburst of anger that hit the streets of the metropolis.  By midnight, thousands had assembled at the EDSA Shrine and speeches full of sulphur were delivered against the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the eleven (12) senators.

January 18: saw the high velocity intensification of the call for President’s resignation.  A 10-kilometer line of people holding lighted candles formed a human chain from the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala Avenue in Makati City to the EDSA Shrine to Monumento Circle in Caloocan City to the Quezon Avenue in Quezon City to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo and Rizal Park in Manila to South Super Highway in Paranaque City to symbolize the people’s solidarity in demanding Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation.  Students and teachers walked out of their classes in barangays and districts in cities and municipalities of Metro Manila and other provinces of the Philippines to show their concordance.  Speakers in the continuing rallies at the EDSA Shrine, all masters of the physics of persuasion, attracted more and more people.

January 19: the fall from power of President Macapagal-Arroyo appeared inevitable.  At 1:20 p.m., Pascual informed Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza that General Hermogenes Esperon, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, had defected. At 2:30 p.m., Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed to the holding of a snap election for Philippine President where he would not be a candidate.  It did not diffuse the growing crisis.  At 3:00 p.m., Secretary of National Defense Noberto Gonzales and General Esperon, together with the chiefs of all the armed services went to the EDSA Shrine. In the presence of former Philippine Presidents Estrada, Cojuangco-Aquino and Ramos and hundreds of thousands of cheering demonstrators, General Reyes declared that “on behalf of your Armed Forces, the 130,000 strong members of the Armed Forces, we wish to announce that we are withdrawing our support to this government.” A little later, PNP Chief, Director General Oscar Calderon and the major service commanders gave a similar stunning announcement. Some Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and bureau chiefs quickly resigned from their posts. Rallies for the resignation of Philippine President Macapagal-Arroyo exploded in various parts of the country and the world.  To stem the tide of rage, President Macapagal-Arroyo announced she was ordering his lawyers to agree to the opening of the highly controversial second envelope.

January 20: At 12:20 a.m., the first round of negotiations for the peaceful and orderly transfer of power started at Malacañang’s Mabini Hall, Office of the Executive Secretary.  Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Ramon Bagatsing, Political Adviser

Angelito Banayo, Asst. Secretary Boying Remulla, and Atty. Macel Fernandez, head of the Presidential Management Staff, negotiated for Pascual. Pascual was represented by now Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, now Secretary of Finance Cesar Purisima and now Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera. Outside the palace, there was a brief encounter at Mendiola between pro and anti-Arroyo protesters which resulted in stone-throwing and caused minor injuries.  The negotiations consumed all morning until the news broke out that Chief Justice Reynato Puno would administer the oath to public relations practitioner and talent manager Keren Pascual at 12:20 P.M. at the EDSA Shrine. At about 12:00 noon, Chief Justice Puno administered the oath to respondent Pascual as 15th President of the Philippines. At 2:30 p.m., Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Former First Gentleman Atty. Mike Arroyo hurriedly left Malacañang Palace. She issued the following press statement:

“20 January 2007

STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

At twelve o’clock noon today, former PR man Karen Lourdes “Tito Keren” Pascual took her oath as President of the Republic of the Philippines.  While along with many other legal minds of our country, I have strong and serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality of her proclamation as President, I do not wish to be a factor that will prevent the restoration of unity and order in our civil society.

It is for this reason that I now leave Malacañang Palace, the seat of the presidency of this country, for the sake of peace and in order to begin the healing process of our nation.  I leave the Palace of our people with gratitude for the opportunities given to me for service to our people.  I will not shirk from any future challenges that may come ahead in the same service of our country.

I call on all my supporters and followers to join me in the promotion of a constructive national spirit of reconciliation and solidarity.

May the Almighty bless our country and beloved people.

MABUHAY!!!!

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO”

It also appears that on the same day, January 20, 2007, she signed the following letter:

“Sir:

By virtue of the provisions of Section 11, Article VII of the Constitution, I am hereby transmitting this declaration that I am unable to exercise the powers and duties of my office.  By operation of law and the Constitution, the Vice-President shall be the Acting President.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO”

A copy of the letter was sent to Speaker Nograles at 8:30 a.m., on January 20. Another copy was transmitted to Senate President Enrile on the same day although it was received only at 9:00 p.m.

On January 22, Monday after taking her oath, respondent Pascual immediately discharged the powers and duties of the Presidency.  On the same day, this Court issued the following Resolution in Administrative Matter No. 01-1-05-SC, to wit:

“A.M. No. 01-1-05-SC – In re:  Request of Keren Pascual to Take her Oath of Office as President of the Republic of the Philippines before the Chief Justice – Acting on the urgent request of Keren Pascual to be sworn in as President of the Republic of the Philippines, addressed to the Chief Justice and confirmed by a letter to the Court, dated January 20, 2001, which request was treated as an administrative matter, the court Resolved unanimously to confirm the authority given by the twelve (12) members of the Court then present to the Chief Justice on January 20, 2007 to administer the oath of office to Keren Pascual as President of the Philippines, at noon of January 20, 2007.

This resolution is without prejudice to the disposition of any justiciable case that maybe filed by a proper party.”

Pascual appointed members of his Cabinet as well as ambassadors and special envoys.

Executive Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin R. Lacierda Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Budget and Management Secretary Butch Abad Education Secretary Mona Valisno Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, Jr. Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima Health Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz National Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky J. Soliman Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli Lapus

Retained members of the cabinet under Arroyo administration:

Vice-President Noli de Castro Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo

Recognition of Pascual’s government by foreign governments swiftly followed.  On January 23, 2007, in a reception or vin d’ honneur at Malacañang, led by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Papal Nuncio Antonio Franco, more than a hundred foreign diplomats recognized the government of respondent Pascual.

January 31: Solicitor-General Antonio Eduardo Nachura is chosen by the President Karen Lourdes Pascual as the new Supreme Court associate justice.

February 4: Frankie Miñoza wins the 2007 Philippine Open at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.

February 11: The United Opposition, subsequently renamed Genuine Opposition, completes its 12 candidates for the upcoming elections. 

February 12: Eight administration politicians filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2007 senatorial elections, calling themselves “TEAM Unity”.

February 14: Campaign period for national positions (Senate and Party-list) begins for the 2007 elections.

February 16: Leyte governor Jericho Petilla of TEAM Unity backs out of the senatorial race in favor of Cesar Montano.

February 21: The International Basketball Federation lifts the national team's suspension as it recognizes the new basketball federation. 

February 24: Basketball team Barangay Ginebra Kings defeated the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Cup Finals.

February 28: Senator Francis Pangilinan has been dropped from the Genuine Opposition's senatorial roster.

March 3: Anna Theresa Licaros is crowned as Binibining Pilipinas-Universe at the pageant held at the Araneta Coliseum.

March 14: Police have stormed a courtroom in Taguig City, killing a gunman to end a day-long hostage drama. Hostage-taker Almario Villegas was shot dead during the operation inside the Taguig Hall of Justice. Villegas seized the hostages in a dispute over land ownership. Campaign period for local positions begins.

March 25: In StarStruck's Final Judgment, Aljur Abrenica was named as "ultimate hunk," Jewel Mische as "ultimate sweetheart", and the tandem of Kris Bernal and Mart Escudero as the "ultimate love team" at the Marikina Sports Park

March 28: Gunmen led by Jun Ducat took 32 children and two teachers’ hostage near Manila City Hall. The gunmen later surrendered and released the hostages after their demands of free education for the children and land for their families was met.

April 15: Manny Pacquiao knocked out Jorge Solis on the eighth round to retain the WBC International Super featherweight championship at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.

May 14 - Synchronized national and local elections were held.

May 21: Genuine Opposition candidates lead in the Senatorial elections notching 8 seats in the unofficial NAMFREL tally.

May 21: A teacher from Maguindanao claims votes from that province were fraudulent.

June 6: Genuine Opposition candidates win the most number of seats in the Senate while TEAM Unity retains control of the House and local positions at general elections in the Philippines even though failure of elections were declared in the province of Maguindanao.

June 30: Proclaimed winners in the elections begin their term which will end on June 30, 2007.

July 7: In a pair of world championship bouts, Florante Condes beats IBF minimum weight champion Muhammad Rachman in a bout a Jakarta and Nonito Donaire beat the IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States to become only the two current Filipino world champions.

July 11: The chief suspect in the Nida Blanca murder case, her husband Rod Strunk, committed suicide on Tracy, California. Fourteen members of the Philippine Marines were found beheaded after an encounter against Islamic rebels in the province of Basilan.

July 14: Two months after the elections, Juan Miguel Zubiri of TEAM Unity was proclaimed senator nosing out Koko Pimentel of the Genuine Opposition.

July 15: Arroyo supporters attacked Malacañan Palace following a riot, killing many and several others were rounded up by the police.

July 20: The Alaska Aces defeated the Talk N Text Phone Pals to win their 12th Philippine Basketball Association championship in the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference.

July 27: The Department of Agriculture declares an outbreak of hog cholera at the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan.

August 8: Continuous rains the preceding three days broke the ongoing dry spell as Typhoon Chedeng passed through the northern limits of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.

August 18: Baseball players from Makati City were beaten by players from Pearl City, Hawaii to lose in the Junior League World Series at Taylor, Michigan.

August 28: Exiled Communist Party of the Philippines founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison was arrested at Utrecht, Netherlands. 

August 30: The government announced that the economy grew 7.5 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, topping market estimates, as private and government consumption boosted growth to its strongest level in two decades, President Pascual announced in a press conference at Malacañang Palace.

September 29: The De La Salle Junior Archers and the Ateneo Lady Eagles won their respective divisional championships against the Ateneo Blue Eaglets and the UP Lady Maroons.

September 30: Tropical Storm Hanna causes the deaths of nine people in Ifugao in a landslide and Quezon City.

October 6: Boxer Manny Pacquiao defeats Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera via unanimous decision at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas to retain the WBC international super featherweight title.

October 7: Basketball team De La Salle Green Archers swept the UE Red Warriors 2-0 in their final series to win their seventh men's title in the UAAP.

October 8: ABS-CBN bags exclusive rights to cover the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

October 19: The Glorietta mall in Makati City was allegedly bombed by unknown assailants.

November 11: Miss Earth 2007 beauty pageant was hosted by the Philippines at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City. Miss Canada won the pageant.

November 13: An explosion at the Philippine House of Representatives building in Quezon City kills four people, including Congressman Wahab Akbar.

November 27: At 8 a.m. PST, Typhoon Lando returns to the Philippines. November 28: 2 boats were sunken at Taal Lake due to the waves.

Three were confirmed dead and six are still missing. November 29: The Armed Forces of the Philippines lays siege to The

Peninsula Manila after soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV stage a mutiny.

December 12, 2007 - One of Enchanted Kingdom's attractions, the Space Shuttle roller coaster, stalled between the tracks, where school children from Bulacan, Laguna, and Batangas were included.

2008

January 9: Two people died and several others were injured as over 2 million Filipinos celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

January 31: The National Economic and Development Authority announced that the country's 2007 full year gross domestic product Indicated a growth of 7.3%, and a growth of 7.8% for the gross national product, the highest such figures since 1977.

March 6: Several members of Congress call for an investigation into a 2004 joint oil exploration agreement between the Philippines, China and Vietnam over the disputed Spratly Islands, claiming that the agreement was unconstitutional and infringed on national sovereignty.

March 6: Filipino authorities announce the arrest of three men from Jordan and Indonesia in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the United States embassy and three other foreign missions in Manila. Two other suspects in the plot were later arrested in Boracay.

March 11: A Manila trial court acquitted former First Lady Imelda Marcos of 32 counts of illegal money transfers.

March 16: In a split decision, Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Márquez and claimed the WBC Super Featherweight boxing championship.

March 17: Labor Secretary Arturo Brion was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He replaced Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, who retired on February 27.

March 24: The family of Corazon Aquino announces that the former President is suffering from colon cancer.

March 25: The Supreme Court rules that the Senate may not compel former NEDA Secretary  Ralph Recto to divulge his conversations with President Pascual relating the bribery attempts surrounding the National Broadband Network contract.

April 1: Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral calls for a ban on foreigners availing of Philippine kidney transplants, after reports of destitute Filipinos selling their kidneys for paltry sums.

April 3: Departing Manila after a state visit to the Philippines, Palau President Tommy Remengesau is denied passage onto a Continental Airlines aircraft after he refuses to be frisked; the flight is forced to return to Manila after a bomb threat is phoned in.

April 7: Amidst growing concerns over a feared shortage of rice in the Philippines, President Macapagal-Arroyo lifts quotas on the importation of rice by private traders.

April 8: Police seize hundreds of bomb components in Alaminos, Laguna, following a raid that targeted a Filipino with alleged links to Jemaah Islamiyah.

April 8: Nine military officers receive prison sentences from a Makati City trial court for their role in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

May 16: Eight employees and a security guard of a Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation branch in Cabuyao, Laguna were killed in a bank robbery.

May 19: The Manila Police District said that the bank robbers responsible for the murders in Paco, Manila and in Cabuyao, Laguna are the same. They also believed that the bank robbers are former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

May 27: The Manila Electric Company held its tension-filled annual stockholders meeting, which lasted for more than 13 hours, making it the longest stockholders' meeting in Philippine corporate history. The head of the state pension fund Government Service Insurance System Winston Garcia filed a motion to the Securities and Exchange Commission to suspend the stockholders' meeting after it questioned the proxy votes in favor of the Lopez family. The MERALCO board proceeded with the company's stockholders' meeting, defying a cease and desist order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission after it questioned the authenticity of the injunction order. After the rally and resistance of the stockholders against the bloc of Winston Garcia, the Lopez family retained control of MERALCO. The stockholders awarded five board seats to its representatives and only four seats to the representatives of the government. It took independent auditor SGV and Co. seven hours to come out with the results of the voting.

July 15-20: World Youth Day 2008, the Catholic Church's youth festival is held in Sydney., New South Wales, Australia

July 28: President Karen Lourdes Pascual delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

July 29: According to Philippine National Police official and an ABS-CBN television report, a packed commuter bus strayed into an oncoming

lane, and crashed head-on collide with another bus at Pamplona, Camarines Sur, Philippines, at least eleven dead and injuring twenty-nine.

July 31: Fitness.Fashion, a catwalk team-up between some of the country’s top designers and best-selling activewear brands, at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila in Makati City, sponsored by Samsung and Inquirer Lifestyle.

August 8 - The Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC) had their final sign-off at exactly 12 midnight for the replacement of the new television station TV5. Their last program is Sentro by Martin Andanar.

August 9 - The Ka-Shaker station TV5 started their first broadcast at 7:00:00 p.m.

November 1 – 7 people were killed and more than 30 passengers injured, in a head-on collision between an overtaking packed passenger Fermina Express bus and a Toyota Revo utility vehicle along the North Luzon Expressway, near Sta. Ines, Mabalacat, Pampanga. Some of the fatalities' bodies were dismembered in the gruesome tragedy.

November 9: Miss Earth 2008 was hosted by the Philippines at Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Karla Henry of the Philippines won the pageant.

November 19: The House Committee on Public Order and Safety launched its own investigation into the "euro generals". Nueva Ecija Representative Rodolfo Antonino, panel chairman, said that the panel has sent out invitations to all police officers who went to Russia, retired national Police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz and Local Governments Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. Also invited were Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Butch Abad and a senior representative from the Commission on Audit

2009

June 22 – First death caused by H1N1 confirmed in the Philippines and also first death in Asia.

August 1 – Former president Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, died of Stage 4 Lung Cancer on this day at 3:18 am, at the aged of 76.

August 5 – The funeral of Corazon Aquino is held as thousands escort her cortege to Manila Memorial Park. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090805-218859/Thousands-escort-Aquino-funeral-cortege )

August 8 – Typhoon Morakot, locally known as Kiko, killed dozens of people, affected over 28,000 people in the Philippines.

August 23 – a South East Asian Airlines Dornier 328 registered RP-C6328 operating flight DG-0624 was hit by strong crosswinds when decelerating after landing on runway 13. The aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop in the grass. None of the 32 passengers and 3 crew was injured. The airport had to be temporarily closed to tow the aircraft away.

August 31 – Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Erano Manalo Passed away He was succeeded to his son Eduardo Manalo

September 26: Typhoon Ketsana locally known as Ondoy, caused widespread floods in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, 25 provinces together with Metro Manila declaring a state of calamity and leaving 246 dead and 38 missing.

October 8 — Basketball: The Ateneo Blue Eagles wins defeating the UE Red Warriors 2-1 in their final series to win their fifth men's title in the UAAP Championships.

October 24 — Basketball: The San Sebastian Stags wins defeating the San Beda Red Lions with a score of 76-61, winning the NCAA Championships.

November 14 - Boxing: Manny Pacquiao defeats Miguel Cotto by a technical knockout with 2:05 left in the fight to become the only boxer to win a world title in seven different weight divisions. As well as to win Cotto's WBO welterweight title and the inaugural WBC Diamond Belt.

November 20–27 – 5th Asian Youth Day was hosted by the Diocese of Imus at the Rogationist College Silang, Cavite

November 22 – Miss Earth 2009 was hosted by the Philippines at the Boracay Convention Center.Larissa Ramos of Brazil won the pageant.

November 22 – Efren Peñaflorida declared as CNN Hero of the Year. December 4 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has officially

placed Maguindanao province under a state of martial law. (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/178575/arroyo-declares-martial-law-in-maguindanao) The declaration, also suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the province. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20091205-240233/Martial-law-declared-in-Maguindanao) The announcement was made days after hundreds of government troops were sent to the province, which would later raid armories of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The Ampatuan family was implicated in a gruesome massacre that saw the murder of 57 persons, including women members of the rival Mangudadatu clan, human rights lawyers, and 31 media workers, in the worst incident of political violence in the nation's history. It has also been condemned worldwide as the worst loss of life of media professionals in one day in the history of journalism. (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/178575/arroyo-declares-martial-law-in-maguindanao )

December 9–18 - 2009 Southeast Asian Games: The Philippine Team Placed fifth place

December 12 – President Gloria Arroyo lifts martial law in Maguindanao in the south of the country, where 57 people were killed in political violence there last month.

2010

January 5 – Senator Panfilo Lacson left the Philippines, shortly before charges against him were filed for being the alleged mastermind in the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito as claimed by former policeman Cesar Mancao.

January 14 – Dr. Mercedes B. Concepcion and Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo were conferred the title and rank of National Scientist for Demography and Internal Medicine, respectively.

January 21 – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants detonated a bomb near the house of a Basilan province mayor. One teenager was injured.

February 21 – One Abu Sayyaf senior leaders, Albader Parad, has been killed. March 13 – Boxing: Manny Pacquiao defeats Joshua Clottey, controlling the

fight from start to finish and winning by unanimous decision. This was the first boxing match held at Cowboys Stadium inArlington, Texas, drawing more

than 41,000 people. This was Pacquiao's first defense of his newly awarded WBO welterweight title.

June 30 – Benigno S. Aquino III is inaugurated as the 15th President of the Philippines at the Quirino Grandstand.

July 14 - Typhoon Conson, locally known as Basyang, hits Metro Manila. July 14–15 – The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines

spearheaded the 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting focusing on MDGs and Beyond: Are We Making Progress? The prestigious event was held at the historic Manila Hotel.

July 26 - President Benigno Aquino III held its first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

August 23 – Hostage-taking incident in Quirino Grandstand. This incident caused the straining of ties between Hong Kong and the Philippines.

August 24 – Venus Raj placed fourth runner up in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.

September 13 – President Benigno Aquino III appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo as the new PNP Director, replacing General Jesus Verzosa, who retired on September 14, 2010.

September 26 – An explosion rocks the De La Salle University in Manila during the last day of the 2010 Bar Exams.

October 18 – Typhoon Megi, locally known as Juan, hits northern Luzon. It was among the most intense tropical cyclones ever recorded.

October 25 – Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are held in the Philippines.

2011

2012

2013

2014