2008 in the Philippines

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Years in the Philippines:	2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Centuries:	20th Century · 21st century · 22nd century
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s
Years:	2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2008 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2008.

1 Incumbents
2 Events
3 Television
- 3.1 Premieres
- 3.2 Finales
4 Film
5 Albums
6 National holidays
7 Births
8 Deaths
9 References

[edit] Incumbents

President: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Vice President: Noli de Castro
Senate President: Manuel Villar
House Speaker: Jose de Venecia;^[1] Prospero Nograles^[2]
Chief Justice: Reynato Puno

[edit] Events

[edit] January

January 9: Two people died and several others injured as over 2 million Filipinos celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.^[3]
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,^[4] the highest such figures since 1977.^[5]

[edit] February

February 4 to February 5: The House of Representatives voted to replace House Speaker Jose de Venecia with Prospero Nograles.^[6] Shortly before his removal, de Venecia criticized the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and announced to the media that he was joining the political opposition.^[7]
February 8: Jun Lozada, an official with the DENR, testified before the Philippine Senate that former COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos offered a 200 million peso bribe to then-NEDA Chairman Romulo Neri in connection with the National Broadband Network contract, ^[8] and that Neri had instructed him not to implicate the husband of President Arroyo in the controversy.^[9]
February 15: The Supreme Court nullified warnings issued in 2006 by the Secretary of Justice and the NTC against the airing of the so-called "Hello Garci" tapes.^[10]

[edit] March

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.^[11]
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.^[12]
March 11: A Manila trial court acquitted former First Lady Imelda Marcos of 32 counts of illegal money transfers.^[13]
March 16: In a split decision, Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Márquez and claimed the WBC Super Featherweight boxing championship.^[14]
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.^[15]
March 17: The Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments on a certiorari petition filed by the Philippine government, which invoked sovereign immunity in connection with the enforcement of an American civil judgment against the estate of former President Ferdinand Marcos in favor of 9,500 human rights victims.^[16]
March 24: The family of Corazon Aquino announces that the former President is suffering from colon cancer.^[17]
March 25: The Supreme Court rules that the Senate may not compel former NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri to divulge his conversations with President Macapagal-Arroyo relating the bribery attempts surrounding the National Broadband Network contract.^[18]

[edit] April

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.^[19]
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.^[20]
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.^[21]
April 8: Police seize hundreds of bomb components in Alaminos, Laguna, following a raid that targeted a Filipino with alleged links to Jemaah Islamiyah.^[22]
April 8: Nine military officers receive prison sentences from a Makati City trial court for their role in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.^[23]

[edit] May

May 16: Eight employees and a security guard of a Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation branch in Cabuyao, Laguna were killed in a bank robbery. ^[24] The bank manager of the said branch, who was also shot during the massacre, died of gunshot wounds on May 18. ^[25]
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.^[26]

[edit] Television

These are TV programs that premiered and had their finales this year; new seasons and miniseries are excluded.

[edit] Premieres

January 14: Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN)
January 28: Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN), Lobo (ABS-CBN), Palos (ABS-CBN)
February 11: Joaquin Bordado (GMA)
April 21: The Singing Bee (ABS-CBN)

[edit] Finales

January 11: Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal (ABS-CBN)
January 25: Lastikman (ABS-CBN)
February 8: Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan (GMA)
April 19: 1 vs. 100 (ABS-CBN)
April 25: Kung Fu Kids (ABS-CBN), Palos (ABS-CBN)

[edit] Film

January 1: 33rd Metro Manila Film Festival
- Anak ng Kumander (MP Productions)
- Banal (ComGuild Production)
- Desperadas (Regal Films)
January 9: Retaso (Grupong Sinehan)
January 16: Sikil (Journey Films)
February 13: My Bestfriend's Girlfriend (GMA Films)
February 27: My Big Love (Star Cinema)

[edit] Albums

[edit] National holidays

[edit] Births

[edit] Deaths

January 1: Eloisa Mabutas, Manila Times columnist (born 1939)
January 15: Eduardo Hontiveros, Jesuit composer and musician (born 1923)
January 28: Crisologo Abines, former Congressman, 2nd District of Cebu (born 1947)
February 2: Billy Balbastro, entertainment columnist and DZMM anchor (born 1940)
February 2: Pedro Baban, first Igorot general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (born 1914)
February 4: Larry Cruz, restaurateur, founder of LJC Restaurant Group (born 1941)
February 8: Victor Dominguez, incumbent Congressman, Lone District, Mountain Province (born 1938)
February 29: Tino Reynoso, retired Philippine Basketball Association player (born 1945)
March 8: Carol Varga, FAMAS-award winning actress (born 1928)
March 13: Joseph Marañon, incumbent governor of Negros Occidental (born 1934)
March 17: Rafael Recto, former Batangas Assemblyman and political scion (born 1931)
March 25: Chito Madrigal-Collantes, socialite and philantrophist (born 1921)
March 28: Nemesio Prudente, former PUP president and political prisoner (born 1927)
March 29: Venicio Escolin, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice (born 1921)
April 14: Olivia Cenizal, film actress (born 1926)
April 16: Lucia "Aling Lucing" Cunanan, inventor of sisig (born 1928)
April 23: Loreto Paras-Sulit, writer of short fiction (born 1908)
May 8: Jose Feria, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice (born 1917)
May 16: Henry Canoy, founder of Radio Mindanao Network (born 1923)
May 20: Crispin Beltran, incumbent congressman and labor leader (born 1933)
May 25: Dommy Ursua, flyweight boxer (born 1936)
May 26: Dolly Aglay, journalist with Reuters and Philippine Star (born 1966)
May 26: Howlin' Dave, radio disc jockey (born 1955)
May 29: Romeo Brawner, incumbent COMELEC Commissioner (born 1935)
June 7: Rudy Fernandez, Filipino actor (born 1952)
June 7: Danilo Lagbas, incumbent Congressman (born 1952)

[edit] References

^ Until 4 February 2008
^ Beginning 5 February 2008
^ 2 die, scores hurt in Black Nazarene feast--police By Thea Alberto, Philippine Daily Inquirer. 15:25:00 01/09/2008
^ Augusto B. Santos (2008-01-31). STATEMENT OF SECRETARY AUGUSTO B. SANTOS ON THE RELEASE OF THE FY 2007 NATIONAL INCOME ACCOUNTS - 31 JANUARY 2008. National Economic and Development Authority. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Cheryl Arcibal. "Economy soars 7.3% in '07, fastest growth in 31 years", GMANews.TV, GMA Network, 2008-01-31. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Maila Ager. "Nograles is new House Speaker", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-02-05. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
^ "De Venecia declares ‘war’ against Arroyo", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-02-04. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
^ Efren Danao; Agence France-Presse. "Bribes the ‘norm’ in system: Lozada confirms P200-M bribe to Neri", Manila Times, 2008-02-09. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
^ Veronica Uy. "Lozada links First Gentleman, Abalos to NBN deal", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-02-08. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
^ Jay B. Rempillo (2008-02-15). SC Nullifies Government Warning Against Airing of ‘Hello Garci’ Tapes. Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
^ Maila Ager. "Solons seek probe of Spratlys deal with China", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-03-06. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
^ Alcuin Papa. "US, Australian agents to grill 3 suspected terrorists", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-03-14. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
^ "Imelda Marcos Acquitted, Again", New York Times, 2008-03-11. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
^ "Pacquiao takes WBC title from Marquez", GMANews.TV, 2008-03-16. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
^ Tetch Torres. "Labor chief takes oath as Supreme Court Justice", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
^ Pete Yost, Associated Press. "Victims Battle Over Marcos' Money", Washington Post, 2008-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
^ "Cory Aquino has colon cancer--family", ABS-CBN News Online, 2008-03-24. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
^ Rey E. Requejo. "High court upholds Palace position on Senate hearings", Manila Standard Today, 2008-03-26. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
^ Jim Gomez, Associated Press. "Philippines: No Kidneys for Foreigners?", Washington Post, 2008-04-01. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
^ Teresa Cerojano, Associated Press. "Palau Leader Stranded at Manila Airport", Washington Post, 2008-04-03. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
^ Christine Avendaño. "Rice import quotas lifted", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-04-08. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
^ Associated Press. "Philippines Police Seize Bomb Materials", New York Times, 2008-04-09. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
^ Carlos H. Conde. "9 Officers Sentenced in Philippine Coup Plot", New York Times, 2008-04-09. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
^ Raymond Africa, with Reuters. "9 ‘executed’ in Laguna bank rob", Malaya (newspaper), 2008-05-19. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
^ GMANews.TV. "Survivor in Laguna bank heist dies; police chief axed", GMANews.TV, GMA Network, 2008-05-18. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
^ Mark Merueñas. "MPD: Ex-soldiers could be behind Manila, Laguna robberies", GMANews.TV, GMA Network, 2008-05-19. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.

Categories: 2008 in the Philippines