This timeline of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines covers three periods of Philippine history in which Marcos wielded political control. First, it covers the period of Marcos' first two terms—1965 to 1969 and 1969 to 1972—under the 1935 Constitution, as well as the antecedent events which brought Marcos to political power. Second, it covers the period in which Proclamation 1081, which put the entirety of the Philippines under Martial Law, was in force—from September 1972 to January 1981. Lastly, it covers the entirety of the period described as the "Fourth Republic," where the Philippines was governed by the 1973 Marcos Constitution after the formal lifting of Proclamation No. 1081.
The timeline covers many of the events highlighted in narrations of Philippine history since history-writing often has a slant towards political events. However, numerous historical events—especially typhoons and earthquakes—that took place in the Philippines during the Marcos presidency era are excluded from the list, as they are not primarily political in nature and did not highlight the political involvement of the Marcos administration.
First and second terms, and antecedent events (1965–1972 and earlier)
Year Date Event Source 1965 November 9 Ferdinand Marcos elected President of the Republic of the Philippines. December 30 Ferdinand Marcos takes his oath of office. 1966January 11-22 Marcos includes Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz in a broadcast list of officials accused of corruption after Alcaraz refuses Marcos' orders to reduce the navy's antismuggling patrols. Refusing to take Marcos' accusations quietly, Alcaraz rejected the accusation, criticized Marcos' defense policies, and walked out of a session of the House Defense Committee as he announced he was leaving the Navy. Marcos withdraws his accusation to stop Bulacan Representative Rogaciano Mercado from continuing a congressional exposé which Historian Alfred W. McCoy suggests would have covered Marcos' alleged meeting "with smuggler-king [Lino] Bocalan."June 25Marcos issues Executive Order 66, paving the way for the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and appointing a six-member board that promptly elects first lady Imelda Marcos as chair.1967May 21A demonstration conducted by Lapiang Malaya ends in a violent dispersal by the Philippine Constabulary, killing 33. August 8 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was formed. 1968 March 18 In the Jabidah massacre, 68 members of a secret commando unit recruited by the Armed Forces of the Philippines are killed when they refuse further training. May 1Two months after the Jabidah Massacre, former Cotabato Governor Datu Udtog Matalam issues a manifesto declaring the creation of what would later be called the Mindanao Independence Movement, seeking the independence of the Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan regions from the Philippines. May The Mindanao Independence Movement is short lived; failing to garner the support of the Muslim masses. But it causes fear among non-Muslim settlers. The Marcos administration encourages the settlers to form of self-defense groups, which would later be known as the Ilagas.The Bangsamoro Struggle for Self-Determintation: A Case Study November Matalam changes his positions five months later and becomes Ferdinand Marcos' adviser on Muslim Affairs. December 26 The Communist Party of the Philippines is established. 1969 March 29 The New People's Army is formally organized as the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines June 14Marking the beginning of Ferdinand Marcos' 1969 Presidential campaign, the Nacionalista Party Junta, led by Senate President Gil Puyat, hold a meeting at the Manila Banking Corporation building on Ayala Avenue, Makati, to assure that Ferdinand Marcos and Fernando Lopez would be nominated unchallenged at the Nacionalista Party convention a week later. President Marcos joins the group once the decision on his nomination has been finalized.July 3–5U.S. President Richard Nixon visits the Philippines.AugustA few months before the 1969 Philippine presidential election, long-time Marcos associate and campaign donor Rodolfo Cuenca's Construction and Development Corporation began construction on the high-visibility San Juanico Bridge project linking Samar to first lady Imelda Marcos' home province of Leyte, sparking questions about the timing of the project when there was very little need for highway travel across the straight at the time. Bureau of Public Highways commissioner Baltazar Aquino eventually reveals that Marubeni Corporation of Japan paid Marcos a 15% bribe supplier of the materials and equipment for the project.SeptemberThe Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila is inaugurated, with costs ballooning so high by December 1968 (PhP48 million from the original budget of PhP15 million) that Imelda was forced to seek US$7 million to finish the project in time to be a Marcos showcase for the 1969 presidential election. November 11 The 1969 Philippine presidential election is held.December 30The Second inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos is held at Quirino Grandstand1970 January–March First Quarter Storm January 26 – It begins when protesting students confronted Pres. Marcos after his Presidential Address in the Old Legislative Building, Manila. January 30 – Battle of Mendiola occurs. February 18 & 26 – People's Congresses held in Plaza Miranda. March 3 – People's March is organized, route is from Welcome Rotonda to Liwasang Bonifacio."30th Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution" Official Gazette (Philippines). 2016. Retrieved Mar 16, 2018 –"EDSA 30: A history of the Philippine political protest" [with Appendix Related features from the same website: –"Martial Law" –"Declaration of Martial Law" –"Ninoy Aquino Day" –"The Fall of the Dictatorship" Related infographics from the same website: –"EDSA30" –"The day Marcos declared Martial Law"March 23Brothers Quintin and Rizal Yuyitung of the Chinese Commercial News are arrested on subversion charges and clandestinely deported to Taiwan AprilA large rally at Plaza Miranda is dispersed, resulting in a street battle between protesters and government forcesApril 6 A jeepney strike paralyzes greater Manila.June 27President Marcos endorses the formation of Barrio Self Defense Units (BDSUs), which would eventually be renamed the Civilian Home Defense Forces. November 17 Elections for 315 members of a Constitutional Convention held. November 27 Pope Paul VI makes his first papal visit in the Philippines. He survives an assassination attempt by Benjamín Mendoza y Amor Flores at Manila International Airport. December 29Forces led by Lt. Victor Corpuz raid the armory of the Philippine Military Academy.1971 February 1–9 Diliman commune June 1 The Constitutional Convention assembles to rewrite the 1935 Constitution. The convention elects former Pres. Carlos Garcia as its head. June 14 Death of Carlos Garcia, former Philippine President; another former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal succeeds as the president of the Constitutional Convention. June 19Manili massacre August 21 Plaza Miranda is bombed during the Liberal Party's election campaign, seriously injuring some opposition personalities. August 22 Pres. Marcos suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus following the Plaza Miranda bombing. September 1Naval Station Sangley Point is formally turned over the Philippine government, ending 73 years as a US Naval Base.Stiegelmar, Loren (2001), A Brief History of Sangley Point November 81971 Philippine Senate election1972January 11Pres. Marcos restores the Writ of Habeas Corpus March to SeptemberVarious explosions take place in the greater Manila area, which would later be called the 1972 Manila bombings; the administration attributes the explosions to communists, but this is questioned by legislators who noted that the only suspects caught in connection to the explosions were actually linked to the Philippine Constabulary. May 19Constitutional Convention delegate Eduardo Quintero delivers a privilege speech, in which he exposes bribery at the Constitutional ConventionMay 30Quintero provides further details, identifying Imelda Marcos and three others as the source of the payola money used for bribery at the Constitutional ConventionJuly 5MV Karagatan incident; The Philippine Constabulary confiscates arms and ammunition in a raid in Digoyo Point, Isabela.September 13Oplan Sagittarius, a top-secret plan to place the capital under military control, is exposed by Senator Benigno Aquino, using information provided by Brig. Gen. Marcos Soliman.
Martial law period (September 1972 – January 1981)
Year Date Event Source1972 September 17 or 21 (accounts vary) Pres. Marcos signs the Proclamation No. 1081 document, placing the entirety of the Philippines under Martial Law. September 22 Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile survives an "assassination" attempt. Pres. Marcos announces that he had placed the entire country under martial law, with the earlier "ambush" as a pretext. Marcos issues Letter of Instruction no. 1, which orders the closure of media establishments and wire agencies.Sen. Ninoy Aquino is the first person to arrested under Proclamation No. 1081, at a late-night meeting of opposition legislators, shortly before midnight. September 23