2013 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2013.
Incumbents
President: Benigno S. Aquino III (Liberal) Vice President: Jejomar C. Binay, Sr. (PDP–Laban) Congress (15th, ended June 6): Senate President: Juan Ponce Enrile, Sr. (PMP) – resigned June 5 Jinggoy Estrada (PMP) – acting June 5 to 6 House Speaker: Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. (Liberal) Congress (16th, convened July 22): Senate President: Franklin M. Drilon (Liberal) – elected July 22 House Speaker: Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. (Liberal) – elected July 22 Chief Justice: Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno
Events
January January 17 – USS Guardian (MCM-5), an American mine countermeasures ship, ran ground at Tubbataha Reef, testing relations between the Philippines and the United States.
February
February 12 – Gunmen claiming to be part of the royal army of the Sulu Sultanate lands on Lahad Datu, Sabah causing a standoff which tested bilateral relations between the Philippines and Malaysia.
March March 4 – The Gramercy Residences, the tallest residential building in the Philippines at 250 m is opened.Emporis Century City website Gramercy – The Residences The Philippine Star Gramercy Residences holds groundbreaking – October 19, 2007Nova Construction + Development Gramercy March 16 – The Solaire Resort & Casino at the Entertainment City in Parañaque opens to the public, becoming the first resort-casino complex to open in the area. March 25 – President Aquino III, signs Anti Drugged and Drunk Driving Law of 2013 or RA. 10586.
April April 20 – A Chinese fishing vessel with 20 fishermen on board, runs ground at Tubbataha Reef, almost two months after the USS Guardian ran ground on the same reef. The fishermen will face charges of illegal poaching and attempted bribery.
May
May 2 – Former police officer Cezar Mancao, who is accused of involvement in the murders of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000, escaped from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation. May 5 – A massive power outages strikes Luzon after several transmission lines trip out. May 7 – Mayon Volcano produces a surprise phreatic eruption lasting 73 seconds. Ash and rock were produced during this eruption. Ash clouds reached 500 meters above the volcano's summit, which drifted west southwest The event killed five climbers, of whom three were Germans, one was a Spaniard living in Germany and one was a Filipino tour guide while Seven others were reported injured. May 9 – A Philippine Coastguard vessel opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing vessel, allegedly inside Philippine maritime territory, leaving one Taiwanese fisherman dead. Tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines heat up as Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, threatens to impose sanctions on the Philippines a day after the incident. The Philippine Coast Guard sympathizes with the victim but refuses to apologize for the incident and insisted that its personnel are just doing their job to address illegal fishing. May 13 – 2013 Mid-term Elections. May 31 – A fatal explosion occurs at the Two Serendra condominium complex, in the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Multiply cease operations.
June June 2 – Cebu Pacific Flight 971, using an Airbus A320-214 and registered as RP-C3266 carrying 165 passengers inbound from Manila, overshoots the runway at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City during heavy rain. There are no fatalities and injuries, but the plane is heavily damaged and written-off. June 5 – Senator Juan Ponce Enrile resigns as Senate President amidst various allegations against the senator.
July July 19 – The League of Cities of the Philippines finally acknowledges the cityhood of Baybay, Leyte; Bogo, Cebu; Catbalogan, Samar; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Lamitan, Basilan; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Tayabas, Quezon; Tabuk, Kalinga; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental; Guihulngan, Negros Oriental; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; El Salvador, Misamis Oriental; Carcar, Cebu and Naga, Cebu. Its National Executive Board Resolution adopted on July 5 which formally recognizing the cities after the decision of the Supreme Court on the cityhood case and memoranda from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). July 26 – At least 8 people are killed and 48 people injured in a bomb blast at the Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.
August August 5 – At least 8 people are killed and 40 others injured after a car bomb exploded in Cotabato City. It is the worst such attack ever in the city.John Unson (August 14, 2013). "Photos of Cotabato City bombing suspects released". The Philippine Star. August 9–10 – Typhoon Labuyo. Typhoon Utor (2013) August 12 – MNLF leader Nur Misuari unilaterally declares the independence of the Bangsamoro Republik. The Philippine government and the international community refuses to recognize it. August 16 – MV St. Thomas Aquinas collides with MV Sulpicio Express Siete resulting in 55 deaths. 65 people remain missing. August 18–20 – Typhoon Maring (international name Trami) Typhoon Maring hit northern Luzon, but affected the whole areas of Luzon through the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. The southwest monsoon brought by Typhoon Maring hit Metro Manila, Cavite, some parts of Rizal and Laguna, leaving many areas flooded. Eight people were reported dead, with over 200,000 homeless. August 26 – Widespread protests against the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam was organized nationwide. Some Filipino communities worldwide also held solidarity protest. The biggest demonstration that was held on this day was the Million People March held in Luneta Park in Manila.
August 28 – Just hours after Malacañang sets a P10-million bounty for any information leading to her arrest, Janet Napoles surrenders to President Aquino III.
September September 9–28 – The Moro National Liberation Front and government forces clash in Zamboanga City, paralyzing economic activity in the city. September 26 – The Comelec disqualifies Laguna governor E. R. Ejercito for poll overspending.
October
October 11 – Typhoon Santi Typhoon Nari (2013) October 15 – A magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes the island of Bohol with a depth of . Its epicenter is in the town of Sagbayan. At least 144 deaths are recorded, with 291 people injured. October 28 The elections for the barangay officials are held. Davao Occidental becomes the 81st province of the Philippines by the virtue of Republic Act No. 10360.
November
November 7 – Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion pork barrel scam faces the Senate for the first time to answer the allegations against her.
November 8 – Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda), the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, causes catastrophic destruction in the Visayas, particularly on the islands of Samar and Leyte, killing 6,300 people. About 11 million people have been affected by the typhoon with many left homeless. November 15 – A group of Abu Sayyaf militant raids a resort on the Malaysian island of Pom Pom in Semporna, Sabah. During the ambush, a couples from Taiwan was on the resort when one of them been shot dead by the militant while the second victim was kidnapped and taken to the Sulu Archipelago. The victim was later freed in Sulu Province with the help of Philippine security forces. November 20 – The Supreme Court of the Philippines abolishes the Priority Development Assistance Fund otherwise known as the 'pork barrel'. November 25 – The special barangay elections are held in Zamboanga City and Bohol.
December December 2 – Drone technology is introduced for the first time in Philippine television through UNTV capturing the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. December 6 – Former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste is released after four years on parole. December 9 – The Philippines and the Bangsamoro sign a power-sharing agreement, paving the way for the peace process.Philippines, Muslim Rebels Near Final Pact Amid Power-Share Deal. Bloomberg. December 8, 2013. Pacific Time. December 12 – The Comelec disqualifies governors Vilma Santos of Batangas, E. R. Ejercito of Laguna, Ryan Luis Singson of Ilocos Sur and Amado Espino, Jr. of Pangasinan. The commission also disqualified congressmen Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Pampanga and Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa and several elected government officials failed to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. December 15 – Former Pagadian mayor Samuel S. Co and his wife, Priscilla are arrested. Both are facing syndicated estafa case in connection with the multi-billion Ponzi scheme of Aman Futures.
December 16 – A bus operated by Don Mariano falls off the Metro Manila Skyway near Bicutan, Parañaque, killing 18 people and injuring 20 others. The accident which was the worst along the skyway at that time led to calls for the installation of speed-limiting or monitoring devices in public utility vehicles. December 20 – A shooting at the arrival area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila killed four people, including Mayor Ukol Talumpa of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and his wife Lea, and left five others injured. December 28 – San Pedro becomes a component city in the province of Laguna through ratification of Republic Act 10420.
Holidays
On December 11, 2009, Republic Act No. 9849 declared Eidul Adha as a regular holiday. Also amending Executive Order No. 292, also known as The Administrative Code of 1987, the following are regular and special days shall be observed. The EDSA Revolution Anniversary was proclaimed since 2002 as a special nonworking holiday. On February 25, 2004, Republic Act No. 9256 declared every August 21 as a special nonworking holiday to be known as Ninoy Aquino Day. Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays" and those in italics are "nationwide special days".
January 1 – New Year's Day February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution March 28 – Maundy Thursday March 29 – Good Friday April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) May 1 – Labor Day May 13 – Election Day June 12 – Independence Day August 9 – Eidul Fitr August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day August 25 – National Heroes Day October 15 – Eidul Adha November 1 – All Saints Day November 30 – Bonifacio Day December 25 – Christmas Day December 30 – Rizal Day December 31 – Last Day of the Year
In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are also "special days."
Theater, culture and arts April 14 – Ariella Arida, Bea Rose Santiago, Joanna Cindy Miranda, Mutya Johanna Datul and Pia Wurtzbach was crowned as the new Binibining Pilipinas winners. Arida was crowned by Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon as the new Miss Universe–Philippines 2013. Santiago was crowned as the new Binibining Pilipinas–International 2013 by the outgoing titleholder Nicole Schmitz. Miranda as the new Binibining Pilipinas–Tourism 2013 crowned by Katrina Jayne Dimaranan. Datul was crowned as the new Binibining Pilipinas–Supranational 2013 by Miss Supranational 2012 3rd runner-up Elaine Kay Moll. Wurtzbach ended as the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 1st runner-up. August 18 – Megan Young is crowned Miss World Philippines 2013 at the Solaire Resort & Casino in Parañaque September 6 – Mutya Johanna Datul is crowned Miss Supranational 2013 and is the first Asian and first Filipina to win the title. September 28 – Miss Philippines Megan Young was crowned Miss World 2013 and is the first Filipina to win the title. October 5–6 – ABS-CBN marks its 60th anniversary of the Philippine Television with the Grand Kapamilya Weekend held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Smart Araneta Coliseum and Marikina Sports Complex. November 9 – Miss Philippines Ariella Arida wins third runner-up in the Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow Oblast, Russia.