1991 in the Philippines

Events

January

January 1 – Rodolfo Calzado, a former air force colonel who have been convicted for his involvement in a 1987 coup attempt and escaped from a military jail in 1989, is captured by the military in Manila.^[1]
January 17 – Former Lt. Col. Billy Bibit, one of the leaders of the 1989 coup attempt who have been escaped from jail about nine months prior, is arrested by military agents in Alabang, Muntinlupa.^[2]
January 19 – A bomb attack on the Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center in Makati failed, leaving one attacker dead.^[3]
January 29 – The Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police are merged to form the Philippine National Police.^[4]

February

February 4 – Charges are filed by the government against rebel leader, army colonel Gregorio Honasan, and 31 other individuals under a new law, which have been effective since January and severely punishes coup plotters, increasing the prison sentence from 12 to 40 years. By that time, five of them are in custody.^[5]
February 6 – Rebel former military officers Maj. Abraham Purugganan, spokesperson and one of the founders of the Young Officers' Union, and Lt. Col. Victor Batac, chief propagandist of the Alliance of the People's Revolution, who have been involved in coup attempts in 1987 and in 1989, are captured separately in Makati.^[6] On February 7, Purugganan, among those convicted in 1990 in relation to a 1987 uprising, is sentenced by a general court-martial to 12 years imprisonment.^[7]
February 10 – Lenny Villa, a first-year Ateneo Law student, dies of serious physical injuries after three days of bloody hazing rites by the members of Aquila Legis fraternity.^[8]

June

June 10 – About 15,000 Americans are evacuated from Clark Air Base as Pinatubo eruption begins.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]
June 15 – Mount Pinatubo erupts, the peak of series of major explosions on June 12–16, in what will be the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century;^[9]^[13]^[14] volcano's alert level has been raised to the highest, June 9; Typhoon Yunya further worsens lahar flows and ashfalls causing collapse of roofs on structures that contribute to about 350 of 847 deaths. The eruption costs US$700-million in total damages.^[10]^[11]^[15]^[16]
June 28 – SM Megamall is opened as the third SM Supermall in the Philippines.^[17]
June 30 – Three members of Vizconde family are murdered at their home in Parañaque. The case becomes controversial as eight sons of prominent families are involved. The Supreme Court in 2010 would reverse the 2000 conviction of six of them, including Hubert Webb; the rest are still at large. A policeman, also convicted, would be sentenced to a prison term.^[18]^[19]

July

July 2 - Eldon Maguan, an engineering student at De La Salle University, is shot in the head by Rolito Go in a road rage incident in San Juan, Metro Manila. Go was convicted of frustrated homicide, which was elevated to murder after Maguan died of his wounds days after. Go was eventually sentenced to reclusión perpetua only to escape and be re-arrested on multiple occasions from 1994 to 2012. He was eventually released from prison in 2016 upon completion of his sentence.
July 13 – Maureen Hultman and John Chapman are murdered by Claudio Teehankee, Jr. The case was controversial as Teehankee is the son of a former Chief Justice.

September

September 16 – The Senate, by a 12–11 vote, rejects the proposed RP-US Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace, which would have extended American military presence at Subic Bay Naval Base.^[10]^[15] American troops earlier abandoned Clark Air Base after Pinatubo erupted, and completed their withdrawal from Subic in 1992.

October

October 10 – The Local Government Code, by virtue of Republic Act No. 7160, is signed into law.

November

November 3 – Former First Lady Imelda Marcos returns to the country to face charges against her.^[20]
November 4–5 – Tropical Storm Uring lashes into Eastern Visayas, leaving 8,000 people dead as a result of widespread flooding in the coastal city of Ormoc, Leyte.^[21]
November 27 – US closes and surrenders Clark Air Base.^[22]

Holidays

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987.^[23] 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
March 28 – Maundy Thursday
March 29 – Good Friday
April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
May 1 – Labor Day
June 12 – Independence Day
August 25 – 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

These are TV programs that premiered and had their finales this year.

Premieres

Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata, comedy (1991–1997)
Maalaala Mo Kaya, drama anthology (1991–2022)
Kape at Balita, morning show (1991–1993)

Finales

Chika Chika Chicks, comedy (1987–1991)
Goin' Bananas, comedy (1987–1991)

Sports

November 24–December 3 – Manila is selected again as the host city for the 16th Southeast Asian Games, ten years since the 11th SEA Games held in the same city in 1981. The Philippine team participates in the 16th SEA Games and placed second with 91 gold, 62 silver and 84 bronze medals for a total of 237 medals ahead of Indonesia is in the first place.