1990 in the Philippines

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1990 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1990.

Incumbents

President: Corazon Aquino (PDP-Laban)
Vice President: Salvador Laurel (Nacionalista)
Senate President: Jovito Salonga
House Speaker: Ramon Mitra, Jr.
Chief Justice: Marcelo Fernan
Philippine Congress: 8th Congress of the Philippines

Events

January

January 30 – Majority of voters in the Cordillera Administrative Region reject the creation of an autonomous entity in what would be the region's first referendum, as provided by the Organic Act (Republic Act No. 6766) that has approved the previous year, with Ifugao as the only province to vote for it.^[1]

February

February 12 – General elections are held for the first time in the newly created Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the Regional Governor and Vice-Governor.
February 27 – Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile is arrested regarding his involvement in the December 1989 coup attempt.^[2]

March

March 4 – Hotel Delfino in Tuguegarao, Cagayan is seized by suspended Cagayan governor Rodolfo Aguinaldo commanding his private army estimated at 300 men.^[3] His suspension as governor in January 1990 and his subsequent indictment on charges of rebellion and murder were both related to his support for the Dec. 1-9, 1989 failed coup attempt against President Corazon Aquino.^[4] Brig. Gen. Oscar Florendo, sent by Aquino to serve Aguinaldo with an arrest warrant,^[5] was captured by Aguinaldo's men and later shot in the hotel, he died of his wounds.^[6] Hours of standoff ensued until nearly 1,000 government troops^[3] attacked the hotel to dislodge Aguinaldo's forces.^[4] In this siege at least a dozen others were killed in or around the hotel.^[6] Following the melee, Aguinaldo fled with about 90 fighters for mountains in the north.^[7]

April

April 25 – Two U.P. Students, Ernesto "Cochise" Bernabe II and his girlfriend Anna Lourdes "Beebom" Castanos were abducted and killed in Pampanga. Their decomposing bodies are found on June 25–26.

May

May 13 – Gunmen kill two United States Air Force airmen near Clark Air Base on the eve of talks between the Philippines and the United States over the future of American military bases in the Philippines.

June

June – U.S. Peace Corps remove 261 volunteers from the country amid Communist threats.^[8]

July

July 2 – A court in New York, United States acquits former First Lady Imelda Marcos of racketeering and fraud charges regarding accusations of investing the Philippine treasury's money to the US.^[9]
July 16 – An earthquake with a 7.8 M_s strikes Luzon.^[10] It kills around 2,000 and leaves damages of at least ₱10-billion, mainly from Metro Manila and regions in northern and central Luzon, especially Baguio, the most devastated, as well as Dagupan and Cabanatuan.^[11]^[12]^[13]

September

September 28 – Sixteen military members are convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment regarding the 1983 assassination of Sen. Aquino.^[14]

October

October 4–6 – Forces loyal to Col. Alexander Noble declare the independence of Mindanao and seize two military garrisons in Cagayan de Oro and Butuan. The rebels are isolated by government forces and Noble surrenders on October 6.

November

November 12 – Typhoon Ruping slams Visayas and affects Cebu City, Bacolod, and other key cities in the Visayas.^[15]
November 16 – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is officially founded.

December

December 19 – The military tribunal convicts 81 army personnel of mutiny in relation to the August 1987 coup attempt, giving them 12–20-year prison sentences at hard labor.^[16]

Holidays

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987.^[17] 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
April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
April 12 – Maundy Thursday
April 13 – Good Friday
May 1 – Labor Day
June 12 – Independence Day
August 26 – National Heroes Day
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."

Television

Sports

September 22–October 7 – The Philippines participates in the 1990 Asian Games held in Beijing, China and it ranks 13th with one gold medal, two silver medals and seven bronze medals with an overall total of ten medals.

Births

January 8 – Melissa Ricks, actress
January 12 – RR Garcia, basketball player
January 14 – Mikee Lee, actor, model and host
February 1 – Ryan Buenafe, basketball player
February 7 – Neil Etheridge, football player
February 12 – Joana Houplin, football player
February 13 – John Riel Casimero, boxer
February 15 – Patrick Deyto, football player
February 17:
- Michelle Gavagan, model, environmentalist, Miss Philippines Fire 2011
- Bea Rose Santiago, Miss International 2013
February 20 – Ken Alfonso, actor and model
February 27 – Megan Young, U.S.-born Filipina actress and Miss World 2013
March 8 – Nico Salva, basketball player
March 24 – Aljur Abrenica, actor ^[18]
March 26 – Matteo Guidicelli, actor
March 27 – Jake Ejercito, actor and model
April 19:
- Kim Chiu, actress ^[19]
- Gretchen Ho, beach and indoor volleyball player and TV host
April 27 – Jackie Rice, actress
May 4 – Andrea Torres, TV/film actress and commercial model
May 9:
- Harold Arboleda, basketball player
- Maxine Medina, designer, model, beauty pageant titleholder, actress and TV host
May 31 – Justine Peña, host of O Shopping, commercial model and actress
June 3 – Juneric Baloria, basketball player
June 10 – Valeen Montenegro, actress
June 12 – Eric Camson, basketball player
June 19 – Jason Dy, singer
June 25:
- Andi Eigenmann, actress ^[20]
- Chris Newsome, basketball player
June 27 – Angelia Ong, model and beauty queen
July 5 – Arron Villaflor, actor and model
July 13 – Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, basketball player
July 17 – Hiyasmin Neri, actress and host
July 20 – Dominic Roque, actor and model
July 23 – Young JV, singer-songwriter
August 3 – Sophie Albert, actress
August 10 – Gwen Zamora, Filipina actress
August 12 – Enzo Pineda, actor
August 29 – Rizzini Alexis Gomez, 2012 Miss Tourism International titleholder (d. 2015)
September 16 – Nar Cabico, singer
September 20 – Erich Gonzales, actress
September 21 – Ivan Dorschner, actor
September 27 – Charee Pineda, Filipino-American actress
September 29 – Gerphil Flores, classical singer
October 3 – Rhian Ramos, actress ^[21]
October 11 – Jericho Cruz, Filipino basketball player of UAAP and PBA
November 16 – Arjo Atayde, actor
November 20 – Rodney Brondial, basketball player
December 2 – Abra, rapper
December 11 – Rome dela Rosa, basketball player
December 21 – Sam Mangubat, singer

Deaths

February 7 – Alfredo M. Santos, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (1962–65) (b. 1905)
May 12 – Anastacio Caedo, Filipino sculptor (b. 1907)
June 30 – Miguel Cuenco, lawyer and politician (b. 1904)
December 20 – Lauro Mumar, Olympic basketball player (b. 1924)

References

^ —"RA 6766" 10-23-1989. Republished in the website of the NEDA—CAR, same day. 09-24-2009.
—"Administrative Order No. 160, s. 1990" Official Gazette. 03-30-1990.
—(Editorial) "Cordillera turns back on autonomy" The Manila Times (Internet Edition); republished in the website of the NEDA—CAR, same day. 09-06-2008.
—"Gauge views on autonomy, Cordillera leaders asked" Inquirer.net. 02-12-2019.
—"Chronology for Igorots in the Philippines" Minorities at Risk Project via UNHCR–Refrworld. 2004.

All were retrieved 03-27-2022.
^ "Enrile arrested for alleged role in coup attempt" AP News. February 27, 1990. Retrieved 04-30-2021.
^ ^a ^b Yabes, Criselda (March 5, 1990). "MANILA ENDS HOSTAGE STANDOFF". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Government troops beat back rebel attack". UPI. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
^ "14 Die as Philippine Troops Fight Rebel Governor". The New York Times. March 5, 1990. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Rebel Clash Puts Aquino in New Crisis : Philippines: The battle leaves a dozen dead, including a general. The renegade governor who supported December coup attempt escapes arrest". Los Angeles Times. March 5, 1990. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
^ Uli Schmetzer, Chicago Tribune. "OUSTED GOVERNOR THREATENS AQUINO". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
^ Drogin, Bob (June 30, 1990). "With Tears and Hugs, Peace Corps Starts Evacuation : Philippines: Fears of rebel attacks cut short the work of 261 volunteers in one of the organization's oldest and largest overseas programs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ Wolff, Craig (July 3, 1990). "The Marcos Verdict; Marcos Is Cleared of All Charges In Racketeering and Fraud Case". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
^ Landingin, Jay (July 30, 1990). "Rescuers Pull Another Survivor From Ruins of July 16 Quake". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ "July 16, 1990: Earthquake wreaks havoc in the Philippines" History. Retrieved 03-30-2022.
^ News articles from Manila Standard:
—"Killer quake!" (07-17-1990) pp. 2, 4.
—"Quake toll reaches 256" (and related news stories; 07-18-1990) pp. 2–5. (See link for the issue of 07-17-1990)

All aforementioned were retrieved 07-16-2022.
^ —"1990 July 16 Ms7.8 Luzon Earthquake" Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
—"FAST FACTS: The 1990 Luzon earthquake" Rappler. July 16, 2019.
Publications:
—"The July 16, 1990 Luzon earthquake" (PDF) United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
—"Technical Report on Luzon Earthquake of July 16, 1990, Republic of the Philippines with Recommendation for Reconstruction and Development" (PDF; incomplete) Published 1990. Desastres (CIDBIMENA; Honduras).
—"Liquefaction-induced damage, and geological and geophysical conditions during the 1990 Luzon earthquake" (PDF) Published 1992. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
— Ishihara, Kenji; Acacio, Alex A.; Towhata, Ikuo (March 1993). "Liquefaction-Induced Ground Damage in Dagupan in the July 16, 1990 Luzon Earthquake". Soils and Foundations. 33 (1): 133–154. Bibcode:1993SoFou..33..133I. doi:10.3208/sandf1972.33.133. — Velasco, Aaron A.; Ammon, Charles J.; Lay, Thorne; Hagerty, Michael (October 10, 1996). "Rupture process of the 1990 Luzon, Philippines ( M w = 7.7), earthquake". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 101 (B10): 22419–22434. doi:10.1029/96JB02290.

All were retrieved June 17, 2022.
^ Branigin, William (September 29, 1990). "16 CONVICTED IN PHILIPPINE ASSASSINATION". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ Branigin, William (November 17, 1990). "PHILIPPINES' TYPHOON TOLL PUT AT 188 DEAD". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ "Captured rebel officer sentenced in the Philippines". United Press International. February 7, 1991. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
^ "Executive Order No. 292 [BOOK I/Chapter 7-Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days]". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 25, 1987. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
^ "Aljur Abrenica". IMDb. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^ "Kim Chiu shrugs off Internet photos of Simon Atkins kissing Sam Pinto". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^ "Andi Eigenmann". Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^ "Rhian Ramos at the Internet Movie Database". IMDb. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

[1] —"RA 6766" 10-23-1989. Republished in the website of the NEDA—CAR, same day. 09-24-2009.
—"Administrative Order No. 160, s. 1990" Official Gazette. 03-30-1990.
—(Editorial) "Cordillera turns back on autonomy" The Manila Times (Internet Edition); republished in the website of the NEDA—CAR, same day. 09-06-2008.
—"Gauge views on autonomy, Cordillera leaders asked" Inquirer.net. 02-12-2019.
—"Chronology for Igorots in the Philippines" Minorities at Risk Project via UNHCR–Refrworld. 2004.

All were retrieved 03-27-2022.

[2] "Enrile arrested for alleged role in coup attempt" AP News. February 27, 1990. Retrieved 04-30-2021.

[:0-3] Yabes, Criselda (March 5, 1990). "MANILA ENDS HOSTAGE STANDOFF". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

[:1-4] "Government troops beat back rebel attack". UPI. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

[5] "14 Die as Philippine Troops Fight Rebel Governor". The New York Times. March 5, 1990. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

[:2-6] "Rebel Clash Puts Aquino in New Crisis : Philippines: The battle leaves a dozen dead, including a general. The renegade governor who supported December coup attempt escapes arrest". Los Angeles Times. March 5, 1990. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

[7] Uli Schmetzer, Chicago Tribune. "OUSTED GOVERNOR THREATENS AQUINO". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

[8] Drogin, Bob (June 30, 1990). "With Tears and Hugs, Peace Corps Starts Evacuation : Philippines: Fears of rebel attacks cut short the work of 261 volunteers in one of the organization's oldest and largest overseas programs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[9] Wolff, Craig (July 3, 1990). "The Marcos Verdict; Marcos Is Cleared of All Charges In Racketeering and Fraud Case". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2023.

[10] Landingin, Jay (July 30, 1990). "Rescuers Pull Another Survivor From Ruins of July 16 Quake". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[11] "July 16, 1990: Earthquake wreaks havoc in the Philippines" History. Retrieved 03-30-2022.

[12] News articles from Manila Standard:
—"Killer quake!" (07-17-1990) pp. 2, 4.
—"Quake toll reaches 256" (and related news stories; 07-18-1990) pp. 2–5. (See link for the issue of 07-17-1990)

All aforementioned were retrieved 07-16-2022.

[13] —"1990 July 16 Ms7.8 Luzon Earthquake" Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
—"FAST FACTS: The 1990 Luzon earthquake" Rappler. July 16, 2019.
Publications:
—"The July 16, 1990 Luzon earthquake" (PDF) United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
—"Technical Report on Luzon Earthquake of July 16, 1990, Republic of the Philippines with Recommendation for Reconstruction and Development" (PDF; incomplete) Published 1990. Desastres (CIDBIMENA; Honduras).
—"Liquefaction-induced damage, and geological and geophysical conditions during the 1990 Luzon earthquake" (PDF) Published 1992. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
— Ishihara, Kenji; Acacio, Alex A.; Towhata, Ikuo (March 1993). "Liquefaction-Induced Ground Damage in Dagupan in the July 16, 1990 Luzon Earthquake". Soils and Foundations. 33 (1): 133–154. Bibcode:1993SoFou..33..133I. doi:10.3208/sandf1972.33.133. — Velasco, Aaron A.; Ammon, Charles J.; Lay, Thorne; Hagerty, Michael (October 10, 1996). "Rupture process of the 1990 Luzon, Philippines ( M w = 7.7), earthquake". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 101 (B10): 22419–22434. doi:10.1029/96JB02290.

All were retrieved June 17, 2022.

[14] Branigin, William (September 29, 1990). "16 CONVICTED IN PHILIPPINE ASSASSINATION". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[15] Branigin, William (November 17, 1990). "PHILIPPINES' TYPHOON TOLL PUT AT 188 DEAD". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[16] "Captured rebel officer sentenced in the Philippines". United Press International. February 7, 1991. Retrieved January 12, 2025.

[17] "Executive Order No. 292 [BOOK I/Chapter 7-Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days]". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 25, 1987. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.

[18] "Aljur Abrenica". IMDb. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

[19] "Kim Chiu shrugs off Internet photos of Simon Atkins kissing Sam Pinto". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

[20] "Andi Eigenmann". Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

[21] "Rhian Ramos at the Internet Movie Database". IMDb. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

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