1981 in the Philippines

1981 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1981.
Incumbents
President: Ferdinand Marcos (KBL)
Prime Minister:
Ferdinand Marcos (KBL) (until June 30)
Cesar Virata (KBL) (starting June 30)
House Speaker: Querube Makalintal
Chief Justice: Enrique Fernando
Events
January
January 5 – The Film Academy of the Philippines is founded through Executive Order 640-A issued by President Ferdinand Marcos.
January 17 – Martial Law is lifted by President Marcos.
February
February 12 – At least 119 military officers are massacred in Pata Island, Sulu.
February 17–22 – First papal visit of Pope John Paul II in the country; during the visit, he beatified Lorenzo Ruiz.
February 26 – A U.S. Air Force C-130 plane crashes into the South China Sea, near Subic Bay Naval Base, killing 23 of 24 American, Philippine, Australian, and New Zealand military personnel aboard.
April
April 7 – National and local plebiscites are held. The majority of the Filipino people voted yes to the terms and constitutional amendments. All were in favor of the creation of the new municipalities in Bohol, South Cotabato and Zamboanga del Norte provinces.
June
June 16 – Presidential elections are held. Incumbent Ferdinand E. Marcos of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) defeats former Gen. Alejo Santos of the Nacionalista Party in a landslide victory garnering 88% of the votes. Most opposition parties boycott the elections as a sign of protest over the 1978 elections for an interim Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly) which they condemned as fraudulent.
July
July 1 – Tropical Storm Kelly lashes through the islands, killing 120 people in floods and mud slides.
September
September 20 – The Philippine Navy destroyer 'Datu Kalantlaw' runs aground, killing at least 40 sailors.
November
November 17 – Manila Film Center collapses, killing 169 workers.
November 24 – Typhoon Irma batters the northern part of the island of Luzon, killing more than 50 people.
December
December 26 – Typhoon Lee sweeps across the Philippines, killing 50 people and leaving nearly 200,000 homeless.
Holidays
As per Act No. 2711 section 29, issued on March 10, 1917, any legal holiday of fixed date falls on Sunday, the next succeeding day shall be observed as legal holiday. Sundays are also considered legal religious holidays. Bonifacio Day was added through Philippine Legislature Act No. 2946. It was signed by then-Governor General Francis Burton Harrison in 1921. On October 28, 1931, the Act No. 3827 was approved declaring the last Sunday of August as National Heroes Day. As per Republic Act No. 3022, April 9th was proclaimed as Bataan Day. Independence Day was changed from July 4 (Philippine Republic Day) to June 12 (Philippine Independence Day) on August 4, 1964.
January 1 – New Year's Day
February 22 – Legal Holiday
April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
April 16 – Maundy Thursday
April 17 – Good Friday
May 1 – Labor Day
June 12 – Independence Day
July 4 – Philippine Republic Day
August 13 – Legal Holiday
August 30 – National Heroes Day
September 21 – Thanksgiving Day
November 30 – Bonifacio Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 30 – Rizal Day
Entertainment and culture
Sports
December 6–15 – Philippines hosts the 11th Southeast Asian Games for the first time in Manila. The country ranks third with an overall total of 187 medals.
Births
January 5 – Kyla, actress, singer, host
January 19:
Paolo Bugia, basketball player
Kerby Raymundo, basketball player
February 1 – Jay-R, actor, singer, host
February 26 – Assunta De Rossi, actress, model
March 4 – Carol Banawa, actress, singer, host
March 7 – Rica Peralejo, actress
March 22:
Karylle, actress, host
Mark Andaya, actor and basketball player
April 21:
Luis Manzano, actor, host
Kathleen Hermosa, actress
Cindy Kurleto, Austrian model and actress
May 5 – Paul Artadi, basketball player
May 12 – Dennis Trillo, actor
June 10 – Arwind Santos, basketball player
June 15 – James Blanco, actor, model
June 20 – Maricar Reyes, Filipina actress, endorsement
June 23 – Mikey Bustos, singer, comedian, and YouTube content creator
June 28 – Angela Lagunzad, Journalist, news anchor
July 3 – Empoy Marquez, singer, actor, model, endorsement, comedian
July 31 – M.C. Caceres, basketball player
August 5 – Tanya Garcia, actress
August 30 – Antoinette Taus, actress, singer, host, model
September 14 – Patrick Garcia, actor
October 15 – Ronald Tubid, basketball player
October 16 – Marc Pingris, basketball player
October 17 – Paul Soriano, film director and producer
October 19 – Christian Bautista, actor, singer, host
October 20 – Isabel Oli, actress, model
October 24 – Alfred Vargas, actor, model, politician
October 29 – Angelika Dela Cruz, actress and politician
November 1:
Mark Borboran, basketball player
Coco Martin, actor producer and VTR commercial voice endorsement
November 13 – Mark Cardona, basketball player
November 18:
Gian Magdangal, singer and actor
Dianne dela Fuente, singer and actress
December 8 – Ranidel de Ocampo, basketball player
December 11:
Lani Cayetano, politician
Deaths
March 22 – Gil Puyat, Filipino businessman and politician, Senator of the Philippines and Senate President (b. 1907)
July 6 – Fort Acuña, professional basketball player and coach (b. 1948)
July 25 – Gerardo de León, film director and actor (b. 1913)
December 30 – Alfie Anido, actor (b. 1959)
See also
1981 in Philippine television
References