TOP 20 CURRENT EVENTS FROM 2019-2020 PHILIPPINES

IN THE EXAM, ONLY 20-40 QUESTIONS IS BEING ASKED UNDER GENERAL
INFO. &CURENT EVENTS, BELOW IS YOUR COMPLETE TABLE TO MUST

FAMILIAR WITH TO GET A PERFECT SCORE IN THIS SUBTEST.
INCUMBENTS
President: Rodrigo R. Duterte (PDP–Laban)
Vice President: Leni G. Robredo (Liberal)
Congress (18th):
Senate President: Vicente Sotto III (NPC)
House Speaker:
Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista), until October 13
Lord Allan Velasco (PDP–Laban), from October 13
Chief Justice: Diosdado Peralta
IMPORTANT EVENTS
2019
January 8 – Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction

Philippines (HHIC Phil) filed for corporate rehabilitation after
it declared bankruptcy; the biggest ever bankruptcy in the
Philippines surpassing the more than $386 million financial
losses in the country related to the Lehman Brothers
bankruptcy of 2008. HHIC defaulted its $412 million loan
credited to five local banking firms.
January 10 – Maia Santos Deguito, the former bank manager

of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) was found guilty
of money laundering in connection with the $81-million cyber
heist on Bangladesh's central bank in 2016.
January 21 – A plebiscite takes place with the majority of

voters deciding to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law creating
the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and abolishing the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao. Cotabato City also votes to join the
new autonomous region while in Isabela City in Basilan rejects
its inclusion to the region.
January 24 – The International Union for the Conservation of

Nature (IUCN) has placed tawilis on the list of endangered
species.
THE BASICS TO PASS _CURRENT EVENTS 2019-2020 ***LJ SIERRA*** Page 1

January 27: At least 20 people were killed while 111 people were
injured as explosions rocked the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel in Jolo, Sulu.
February 6 – The second round of the Bangamoro Organic Law

plebiscite is held with voters in 67 barangays in North Cotabato
and 6 towns in Lanao del Norte deciding if they are in favor of
their localities joining the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region. 63 barangays in North Cotabato votes to join the new
autonomous region while 6 municipalities in Lanao del
Norte rejects its inclusion to the region.
February 13 – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is arrested by

the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for cyber libel upon
orders from Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46. She posted
bail the next day. Ressa claimed that her right to due process
was violated, since she was not informed of the complaint
against her. She also described her arrest as an "abuse of
power" and "weaponization of the law". Ressa's arrest was
condemned by journalists, organizations, and influential figures
from the Philippines and abroad, describing it as an attack on
press freedom. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo denied
that the government was trying to silence press
freedom. President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly labeled
Rappler as "fake news" as he perceived the online news site to
be too critical of his administration. However, the libel
complaint was filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng regarding a
Rappler article published in May 2012 (updated in February 2014)
where Keng was alleged to have lent a vehicle to Chief
Justice Renato Corona, who was undergoing an impeachment trial
at the time. The article also linked Keng to human trafficking
and drug smuggling.
February 26 – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region was formally

established and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is
constituted.
March 6 – Numerous areas across Metro Manila, estimated to be

52,000 households by Manila Water, experience water
scarcity. Manila Water COO Geodino Carpio cited the delay of
water infrastructure projects, such as the constructions of
a wastewater treatment plant in Cardona, Rizal and the Kaliwa

Dam in Tanay, Rizal, for the issue. Manila Water also noted the
critically low levels of the La Mesa Dam, its lowest level in 12
years, which the company relies on as their emergency supply of
water source.
March 15 – Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario filed a case in
the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Chinese
President Xi Jinping and other Chinese government officials for
alleged crimes against humanity. The complaint cited
environmental damage in the West Philippine Sea due to land
reclamation, occupation of islands, and destructive fishing
activities conducted by China. The communication was delivered
to the ICC two days before the Philippines' ICC withdrawal
became effective.
March 17 – The Philippines formally withdraws from

the International Criminal Court after the country's withdrawal
notification was received by the Secretary-General of the United
Nations last year. The court earlier launched a preliminary
investigation whether it has jurisdiction to tackle on
allegations of state-sanctioned human rights violations in the
Philippine Drug War.
March 29 – Rappler CEO and journalist Maria Ressa is arrested

for allegedly violating the Anti-Dummy Law, which prohibits
foreigners from intervening in the management and operation of a
Filipino media company. She was released the same day after
posting bail. The charge is based on Rappler's issuance of
Philippine Depositary receipts (PDRs) to the American
company Omidyar Network in 2015. Ressa described her arrest as
an attack on press freedom, accusing the Philippine government
of being "intolerant of journalists". Presidential
Spokesperson Salvador Panelo responded, saying: "press freedom
has nothing to do with the charges... She's charged of a crime
and there is a determination of probable cause hence a warrant
of arrest has been issued... She cannot be always using the
freedom of the press as an excuse to attack the administration.
March 30 – Fourteen people are killed during the police

operations across Negros Oriental. Human rights and farmer
groups condemned the incident, whom they said that these people
were killed were merely the farmers and tricycle drivers.
April 3 – A series of video was uploaded by the account named

"Ang Totoong Narcolist" on YouTube, accusing the Duterte family,
as well as former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong

Go, of involving in the illegal drug trade. Rodel Jayme is
arrested on April 30 by the NBI for sharing "Bikoy" videos
accusing President Rodrigo Duterte and his family of their
involvement in the illegal drug trade.
April 10 – Fossil fragments found in the Callao Cave in

the Philippines reveal the existence of the "Homo luzonensis"
species of humans. The species is named after the island where
it was discovered, Luzon.
April 22:
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit the large parts of Luzon, leaving

at least 16 person killed and injured 81 others. The "Oust-
Duterte" matrix, containing the destabilization efforts by media
organizations and journalists against Duterte, was revealed to
the public.
April 23 – A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit the island

of Visayas with the epicenter at San Julian, Eastern Samar less
than 24 hours after the Luzon earthquake.
May 6 – Peter Joemel Advincula, the man claimed to be "Bikoy", a

hooded-figure in the video, reveals himself to the public where
he asked for legal assistance. Advincula also denied the links
of any political position. On May 23, Advincula surrenders to
the Camp Crame, where he retracted the statement by claiming to
the public that the videos were "orchestrated" by LP and Senator
Trillanes. He also said that he is vowed to received ₱500,000 in
exchange of being there in the video.
May 13 – Philippine general elections were held. Voters elects

new members of the House of Representatives as well as elect 12
members of the Senate to join the 12 winners of the 2016 Senate
elections. May 21 – Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has
been denied entry to Hong Kong due to her "security
threat". Though the Hong Kong did not explain the cause, the
Malacañang stated that it was a retaliation of Chinese
government against Carpio-Morales for filing an ICC criminal
case against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials
over the China's land reclamation in the disputed South China
Sea.
May 22 – Commission on Elections (COMELEC), sitting as the

National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), proclaims 12 winning
senators in the midterm elections. It also proclaims 51 winning
party-list members as well.

June 8 – Religious corporation Kapa-Community Ministry
International was shut down by the authorities under the orders
of President Rodrigo Duterte over the allegations of Ponzi
scheme.
June 9 – A fishing boat F/B Gem-Ver sank at Reed Bank after the
Chinese vessel rammed the boat.
June 10 – Dr. Brian Sy, owner of the WellMed Dialysis Center in

Quezon City who were accused of making "ghost" claims with the
Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) is arrested by
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the charges of
estafa, falsification of public documents, and violation of the
PhilHealth law.
June 17 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 has

found John Paul Solano, a member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity,
guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the Atio
Castillo hazing case.
June 21 – Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del

Rosario has been denied entry to Hong Kong due to known reasons
even if he carried a valid diplomatic passport.
June 27 – Several opposition groups began to file

the impeachment complaints against Rodrigo Duterte due to Reed
Bank incident and his subsequent policy of "allowing China to
fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine
Sea".
June 29 – Tons of Canadian garbage left in the Philippines in

2013 and 2014, has finally docked in a port on the outskirts of
Vancouver and putting an end to a festering diplomatic row that
highlighted how Asian nations have grown tired of being the
world's trash dump.
July 8 – President Rodrigo Duterte has awarded a certificate of

public convenience and necessity (CPCN) to Dito Telecommunity,
the consortium of Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy and
allowing it to operate.
July 11 – A resolution initiated by Iceland was adopted by

the United Nations Human Rights Council calling for an
investigation on the human rights situation in the Philippines
including deaths linked to President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign
against drugs in the country.

July 13 – Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III from Daet,
Camarines Norte is elected the Master of the Order of Preachers,
the head of the Dominican Order, for a nine-year term. Timoner
is the first Filipino, as well as the first Asian, to be elected
as such.
Since July 18 – A series of killings occurred in Negros Oriental

when four police officers were killed by the suspected
communists groups.
July 18 – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a

sedition complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo, several
senators and opposition personalities in connection with videos
annotated by a certain Bikoy, who linked members of the Duterte
family to illegal drugs.
July 26 – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a halt in all

gaming operations with franchises, licenses or permits granted
by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), citing
corruption. On July 27, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has
began shutting down lotto kiosks and other gaming outlets
nationwide, after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the
suspension of gaming schemes authorized by the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). On July 30, President Rodrigo
Duterte lifts the suspension of operations of lotto game. On
August 22, President Rodrigo Duterte lifts the suspension on the
operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) in the country. On
September 28, President Rodrigo Duterte lifts the suspension on
the operations of Keno Game and Instant Sweepstakes Scratch-It
schemes.
July 27 – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Batanes. It was

preceded by a 5.4 magnitude foreshock. Nine people were killed
by the combined effects of the earthquakes. A state of calamity
was declared in the whole province.
August 2 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Proclamation No. 781,

that conferred the National Scientist title to American-educated
plant geneticist and agronomist Emil Javier, who once served as
president of the University of the Philippines.
August 3 – At least 31 were killed when strong winds capsized

three boats in Guimaras Strait.
August 5:

COMELEC cancels the nomination of former National Youth
Commission Chairperson Ronald Cardema as representative of the
Duterte Youth party-list due to misrepresentation. On September
13, Cardema formally withdraws his bid as the party-list's first
nominee.
Sandiganbayan dismisses a ₱102 billion civil case filed by

the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in 1987
against the family of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and their
cronies, on the involvement of former Amb. Roberto Benedicto in
the allegations of using dummies and government corporations to
obtain assets.
August 20 – News reports stated that former Calauan,

Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, the mastermind in the rape and
murder of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez in 1993, "could have
walked free in the next two months" after spending 25 years in
prison, citing "good conduct" according to the document bearing
the signature of Bureau of Corrections director Nicanor
Faeldon. The impending release of Sanchez sparked nationwide
outrage and condemnation. However, on August 22, Justice
Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
Director-General Nicanor Faeldon has announced that
former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, the prime suspect
in the Murders of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez in 1993, is
not eligible under a 2013 law (RA No. 10592), that credits good
conduct time allowance (GCTA) for an early release from
prison. On August 26, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Bureau of Corrections
chief Nicanor Faeldon not to release convicted rapist-murderer
Antonio Sanchez due to his bad behavior.[146] On September 2,
the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee begins its investigation on the
supposed early release of rape and murder convict former mayor
Antonio Sanchez and the controversial Good Conduct Time
Allowance (GCTA) law. On same day, Bureau of Corrections
Director General Nicanor Faeldon has confirmed that George
Medialdea, Rogelio Corcolon and Zoilo Ama, the three men who
were convicted for the June 1993 rape and killing of Eileen
Sarmenta and Allan Gomez were already dead in jail.
August 22 – Former foreign affairs chief Perfecto Yasay Jr. was

arrested by Manila Police District (MPD) officers, in relation
to criminal charges allegedly committed by officials of Banco
Filipino.
September 1 – An 11-seater Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft on a

medevac mission from Dipolog Airport, Zamboanga del Norte

to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila crashed in Pansol,
Calamba, killing all nine people on board and injuring two on
the ground.
September 2 – Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor

Faeldon has confirmed the release of 4 persons convicted for
the July 1997 murder of the Chiong sisters in Cebu. On September
6, Ariel Balansag and Alberto Caño, the two of the four convicts
of the Chiong sisters rape-slay case, who were released by
virtue of the controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance Law, has
been surrendered to the authorities. On September 18, James
Anthony Uy and Josman Aznar, the last two of the four convicts
of the said case, has finally surrendered to the authorities.
September 3 – The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of

Atty. Jess Falcis for the removal of a legal barrier to same-sex
marriages in the Philippines, even as it said the Constitution
does not restrict marriage on the basis of sex.
September 4 – President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Bureau of

Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon after the latter approved the
release of several heinous crime convicts in the June 1993 rape
and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez and July 1997 rape
and murder of Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong. On September 5,
Yolanda Camelon, wife of an inmate in NBP, testifies in the
third Senate hearing on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA)
law and claiming that Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) employees
asked ₱50,000 from her in a botched deal to buy her husband's
early release from prison. On September 9, Ombudsman Samuel
Martires has ordered the suspension for six months without pay
of 30 officials of the Bureau of Corrections in connection with
the release of over 1,900 convicts of heinous crimes under the
Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.
September 9 – The first case of African swine fever has been

confirmed by the Department of Agriculture. It was also
confirmed that an undisclosed number of individual pigs were
culled in Rizal in a bid to contain a "suspected animal
disease".
September 18 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 15 has

found, 8 Philippine Coast Guard personnel, guilty of homicide,
for the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman off the northernmost
province of Batanes in May 2013, which had sparked a diplomatic
row between Taipei and Manila.

September 20 – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has
confirmed that Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio died of
injuries resulting from hazing rites, supposedly at the hands of
three upperclassmen inside the military school on September 18.
September 24:
Voted 17–0, the Senate has authorized the blue ribbon and
justice committees to release the names of the rogue cops
involved in the so-called "Agaw-bato" scheme, in which cops
allegedly sell the illegal drugs they seized in narcotics
operations.
Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista and Brigadier General

Bartolome Bacarro were resigned to their post in the Philippine
Military Academy, following the death of 20-year-old PMA Cadet
4th Class Darwin Dormitorio due to hazing inside the academy. On
October 9, Cadet 1st Class Ram Michael Navarro is also resigned
to his post in PMA.
September 25 – Sandiganbayan dismisses another civil case filed

by the PCGG against the family of former Pres. Marcos and their
cronies, on the involvement of former Amb. Bienvenido Tantoco
and others on the family's hidden wealth; decision is released
to the media on October 8.
September 27 – The US Senate Appropriations Committee has

approved an amendment to deny entry to any Philippine official
who was involved in the two-year detention of Sen. Leila de
Lima.
October 1 – PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde appears before the

Senate's inquiry on "ninja cops", the police officers involved
in the illegal drug trade. Albayalde denied the allegations of
protecting his former subordinates who were accused of
misappropriating a large quantity of illegal drugs seized in a
drug raid in 2013. Albayalde was later resigned on October 14,
because of the controversy. On October 21, the PNP–Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has added Albayalde as
a respondent in criminal charges being reinvestigated by the
Department of Justice (DOJ). October 4 – BuCor chief Gerald
Bantag orders the relief of some 300 guards at the maximum
security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa
City.

October 6 – Usage of the landline numbers with an additional
digit from 7 digits is officially implemented, upon the order of
the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
October 8 – The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the validity of a

legal provision setting the minimum base pay for nurses in
government health institutions to Salary Grade 15, but said
implementing the clause would require a law providing funds for
it.
October 11 – The Supreme Court allows Filipina death row

inmate Mary Jane Veloso to testify against her alleged
recruiters through deposition in Indonesia.
October 14 – Sandiganbayan dismisses another civil case filed by

the PCGG against the family of former Pres. Marcos and their
cronies, on the involvement of Fe and Ignacio Gimenez and others
on the family's hidden wealth; decision is released to the media
on October 25.
October 15 – The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential

Electoral Tribunal (PET), has ordered the release of the
official report on the initial vote recount involved in the
election protest of former senator Bongbong Marcos against Vice
President Leni Robredo.
October 16 – The 2019 Cotabato series of earthquakes begins,

with a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 5 persons
and injuring more than 53 others. Another earthquake on October
29 with a magnitude of 6.6 kills at least 9 people and injures
200 others. A third one on October 31, a magnitude 6.5, not
considered to be an aftershock of the second event, kills at
least 6 persons and injures more than 20 people. The epicenters
of these earthquakes are located near Tulunan, Cotabato.
October 18 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by

Senator Richard J. Gordon, announced and recommended the filing
of criminal charges against former PNP chief Gen. Oscar
Albayalde and the 13 cops who were involved in an irregular drug
operation in Pampanga in 2013.
October 31 – Cebu City has been selected to be part of

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) Network of Creative Cities.
November 5 – President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Vice

President Leni Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency

Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), to handle the
government's war on drugs.
November 6 – The Department of Justice (DOJ) grants refugee

status to Iranian beauty queen Bahareh Zare Bahari, who had
sought asylum in the Philippines for fear of death or detention
in her home country.
November 8:
The Supreme Court extends the deadline for the ruling on the
cases against Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr. and nearly 200
others tagged in the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao
province on November 23, 2009
President Rodrigo Duterte abolishes the Pasig River

Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), after he transferred the
river's rehabilitation to the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR).
November 11 – Six soldiers were killed while 20 others were

wounded in a firefight against the New People's Army in Sitio
Bangon, Brgy. Pinanag-an, Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
November 15 – The Sandiganbayan finds

former Isabela governor Grace Padaca guilty of malversation of
public funds and graft in connection with the granting of
P25 million to a private entity for Isabela's rice program.
November 18 – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck in Kibawe,

Bukidnon, Phivolcs said that the earthquake happened 9:22 pm,
with the epicenter Kadingilan, Bukidnon The earthquake, which
was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 10 kilometers and was
felt in the following areas.
December 2 – Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy) hits the provinces

in Southern Luzon, Bicol Region and Visayas, leaving massive
damage to agriculture estimated at ₱3.67-billion, and reported
death toll of at least 17 people.
December 7 – Majority of residents of the then-named Compostela

Valley approve a law (Republic Act No. 11297) changing the name
of their province to Davao de Oro in a plebiscite.
December 8 – Pope Francis names Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis

Antonio Tagle as the new prefect of the Congregation for the

Evangelization of Peoples, which is regarded as the second most
important position in the Vatican.
December 15 – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits Matanao, Davao del

Sur killing 7 people and injuring 100 others. It is the 5th
earthquake to hit Mindanao in the span of 3 months.
December 19 – Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes serves her judgment on the Maguindanao
massacre case at a special court session held at Camp Bagong
Diwa in Taguig City. In the verdict, the Ampatuan brothers,
Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan, and 28 co-accused
are convicted of 57 counts of murder and sentenced to reclusion
perpetua (40 years) without parole; 15 are sentenced to 6–10
years for being accessories to the crime; while 55 others are
acquitted, including one of the main suspects, incumbent mayor
of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao Datu Sajid Islam
Ampatuan.
December 24 – Typhoon Phanfone (Ursula) hits the provinces

in Southern Luzon and Visayas, especially the areas hit earlier
by another typhoon, leaving damages worth at least a billion
peso, and reported death toll of 50 people (as of Dec. 31).
IMPORTANT Holidays
February 5 – Chinese New Year
February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution
April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
April 18 – Maundy Thursday
April 19 – Good Friday

April 20 – Black Saturday
May 1 – Labor Day
May 13 – Election Day
June 5 – Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan)
June 12 – Independence Day
August 12 – Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
August 26 – National Heroes Day

November 30 – Bonifacio Day
December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Business and economy
January 19 – Financial services firm Cebuana Lhuillier announces

that the personal information of around 900,000 people are
affected in a data breach involving their email server which is
used for marketing purposes.
December 9 – President Duterte, that the Metropolitan Waterworks

and Sewerage System's Subsidiaries Maynilad and Manila Water
will expire its agreement on 2022 due to high taxes.
Health
February 6 – A major measles outbreak, exacerbated by the

effects of the Dengvaxia controversy on vaccination, is declared
on Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
February 20 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Universal

Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223), a measure that would
provide health care coverage for all Filipinos.
July 15 – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III declares a

"National Dengue Alert" as cases of dengue continue to rise in
the country.
September 19 – DOH confirms the re-emergence of polio in the

Philippines, 19 years after the World Health
Organization declared the country polio-free.
September 26 – DOH confirms that the death of a 10-year-old

student in Pandacan is due to diphtheria, a highly communicable
bacterial infection.
November 15 – DOH confirms the first reported case of an illness

related to vaping or the use of e-cigarettes, one involving a
teenage girl.
December 22–26 – At least 23 people died after

drinking methanol-laced lambanog in Laguna and Quezon.

SPORTS
January 7–16, Football – The Philippines makes their first-ever

appearance in the AFC Asian Cup. The national team fails to
advance past beyond the group stage in the edition of the
tournament hosted in the United Arab Emirates.
January 19, Boxing – Manny Pacquiao won via unanimous decision

against American boxer Adrien Broner to retain WBA welterweight
title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
April 13, Diving – El Nido, Palawan hosts the 11th season of

the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, the first time the
country as hosts.
April 27 – May 5, Multi-sport events – The Davao City was hosted

the 2019 Palarong Pambansa.
April 27 Boxing – Nonito Donaire was crowned himself as the new

WBA "Super" bantamweight champion and after he defeated American
boxer Stephon Young for the WBA World Boxing Super Series Semi-
finals held in Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana.
May 15:
Men's Volleyball – The NU Bulldogs are once again the UAAP

season 81 Men's Volleyball champions after they defeated the FEU
Tamaraws, in four hard-fought sets, on Game 2 of the best of 3
series. Bryan Bagunas was named as the Finals MVP.
Basketball – The San Miguel Beermen pulled off a rare seven-game

sweep after outclassing Magnolia Hotshots, 72–71, in the 2019
PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon
City.
May 18, Women's Volleyball – The Ateneo Lady Eagles won their
third championship after defeating the UST Golden Tigresses of
the UAAP Women's Volleyball in the Season 81 Finals at the Mall
of Asia Arena in Pasay City.[270] Bea de Leon was awarded as
finals MVP.
July 7–12, Floorball – The 2019 Men's Asia-Oceania Floorball

Cup was held in Biñan, Laguna. The Philippines, the hosts,
finished third.
July 20, Boxing: – Manny Pacquiao won via split decision against
American boxer Keith Thurman to defend WBA Super welterweight

championship title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
July 21, Basketball – The Philippines' Mighty Sports defeats the

Republic of China White, 81–71, to win the 2019 William Jones
Cup.
August 16, Basketball – The San Miguel Beermen has reclaimed the
PBA Commissioner's Cup throne with a convincing 102–90 victory
over TNT in Game 6 of the finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
August 31 – September 15, Basketball – The Gilas Pilipinas grab

their fifth losses in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[279] The
Philippines with a 0–5 record, in four decades the country's
worst performance since the 1978 edition.
September 3, Athletics – Pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ"

Obiena became the first Filipino to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics after surpassing the 5.80-meter qualifying standard in
an athletics meet in Chiara, Italy.
September 20, Wrestling – The World Wrestling

Entertainment (WWE) returns to the Philippines for a one-night
event, which was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
October 8, Gymnastics – Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo has

qualified to compete in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics after
placing 18th in the individual all-around qualification of the
49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships for the men's
division which was held in Stuttgart, Germany.
October 12, Gymnastics – Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo has

won the men's floor title at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics
Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
October 13:
Boxing – Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio bagged the gold medal in

the featherweight division of the 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing
Championships which was held in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
Karate – Jamie Berberabe Lim, daughter of PBA legend Avelino

"Samboy" Lim, wins a gold medal in the 2019 Amatör Spor Haftasi
Karate Championship in Sakarya, Turkey.
October 24:

Fencing – Filipino teen fencer Samantha Kyle Catantan wins the
gold medal in the Asian Under 23 Fencing Championships in
Bangkok, Thailand.
Weightlifting – Vanessa Sarno of the Philippines captured two

gold medals and one silver medal, while fellow Filipinos Chariz
Macawli and Rosegie Ramos took home a silver and two bronze
medals in the 2019 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting
Championships in Pyongyang, North Korea.
October 27, Ice Skating – Eleven-year-old skater Katrina Amber

Cruz wins 4 gold medals at the Skate Indonesia Leg of the Ice
Skating Institute Asia (ISIAsia) Championship Series 2019, which
was held in Jakarta.
November 6, Collegiate sports – University of Santo

Tomas Soulemane Chabi Yo and Grace Irebu were named the Most
Valuable Player of the Men's and Women's division in UAAP Season
82.
November 7, Boxing – Nonito Donaire is defeated by Japanese

boxer Naoya Inoue via unanimous decision to grab the IBF and WBA
bantamweight titles in the World Boxing Super Series
bantamweight final, which was held in Saitama Super Arena in
Saitama, Japan.
November 10, Archery – Andrea Robles won a gold medal at the

2019 Indoor Archery World Series, which was held in China.
November 12, Basketball – Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball

League (MPBL) president Manny Pacquiao files a formal complaint
with the Department of Justice, against 21 individuals who were
accused of game-fixing, betting and point-shaving.
November 30 – December 11 – Multi-Sport Event – Philippines

hosted the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Despite huge delegation
and big expectations of grabbing 149 gold medals, the
Philippines as the overall champion also as 1st.
ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE
January 8 – Miss Philippines Francesca Taruc was crowned Miss

Tourism World Intercontinental 2019, which was held in Nanjing,
China.
January 22 – Rogel Cabisidan, a Filipino from Paete, Laguna has

carved a name for himself in the ice sculpting arena after

bagging the jury's prize in the 28th Edition of the
International Ice Carving Competition in Valloire in France.
January 26 – Miss Philippines Karen Gallman wins the Miss

Intercontinental title in a pageant night held at the Mall of
Asia Arena in Pasay City. It was the first time the Philippines
won in the pageant.
February 24 – The coronation event of the Mister International

2019 pageant takes place at the One Esplanade in Pasay for the
second time that the Philippines hosted the event. Trinh Van Bao
of Vietnam was crowned as Mister International 2019.
March 28 – Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach's wax figure was

unveiled to the public during a press launch at the EDSA
Shangri-La Hotel. She is the first Filipino to get a wax figure
from Madame Tussauds.
March 29 – Miss Philippines Maureen Montagne wins the title of

1st runner-up in the Miss Eco International 2019 pageant which
was held in Egypt.
April 5 – The statue of Saint Vincent Ferrer in Bayambang,

Pangasinan, with 64 feet and 9.56 inches (50.23 meters) in
height, now holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest
bamboo sculpture in the world.
April 7 – Roxanne Baeyens, a 22-year-old Filipino-Belgian beauty

representing Baguio City was crowned Face of Tourism Philippines
2019.
April 17 – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is named Time magazine's most

influential people of 2019, along with some prominent music
personalities, government officials and world leaders.
April 27 – Aly Padillo, a 18-year-old Cebuana was crowned Center

Girl for MNL48 2nd Generation at ABS-CBN Vertis Tent.
May 4 – Janjep Carlos of Philippines was crowned Mr Gay World

2019, which was held in Cape Town, South Africa.
May 8 – The first coronation event of the Miss Teen Philippines

2019 pageant takes place at the New Frontier Theater in
Cubao, Quezon City. Cagayan de Oro student Nikki De Moura won
the Miss Teen Philippines pageant.

June 9 – Gazini Christiana Ganados, from Talisay City, Cebu, was
crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2019, while Bea Patricia
Magtanong of Bataan, was also crowned as Binibining Pilipinas-
International 2019, during the coronation night of
the Binibining Pilipinas 2019, which was held at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
July 10 – Janelle Tee, was crowned as Miss Earth Philippines

2019, during the coronation night of the Miss Earth Philippines
2019, which was held at The Cove, Okada Manila, Parañaque City.
July 16–5 MOR Pinoy Music Awards, was held at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum, Quezon City, which was coincide with the sixth
anniversary of MOR 101.9 For Life!.
July 17–20-year-old Jane De Leon has been chosen to portray the

iconic role of Filipino heroine "Darna".
July 28:
Aicelle Santos has finished the 2nd Placer at the ASEAN+3 Song
Contest which was held in Vietnam. Timmy Pavino also
represented the Philippines in the singing competition.
Zephanie Dimaranan of Laguna won as the first Idol

Philippines grand champion.
August 4 – Yamyam Gucong of Bohol was hailed as the Big

Winner of Pinoy Big Brother: Otso.
August 5 – Jin Macapagal of Cebu City won as the

first BidaMan of It's Showtime.
August 13 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No.

11370, declaring September 8 a special working holiday to
commemorate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
August 18 – Klyza Castro of Davao City was crowned as Mutya ng

Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International 2019, during the coronation
night of the Mutya Pilipinas 2019, which was held at the Mall of
Asia Arena in Pasay City.
August 23 – The coronation event of the Mister World

2019 pageant was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon
City. It was the first time that the Philippines hosted the said
event. Jack Heslewood of England won the Mr World pageant.

September 9 – Filipino music icon Ryan Cayabyab and four other
Asians officially receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award at
the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
September 15:
Kim de Leon and Shayne Sava were hailed as the Ultimate Male and
Female Survivors for the 7th season of StarStruck.
Michelle Dee of Makati City was crowned as Miss World

Philippines 2019, during the coronation night of the Miss World
Philippines 2019, which was held at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum in Quezon City.
September 28 – Elaine Duran of Butuan City was hailed as the

winner of the 3rd season of Tawag ng Tanghalan.
October 4 – The Miss World Philippines Organization has

announced, that Vanessa Mae Walters had been stripped of the
Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2019 title for violating the
organization's rules. She was replaced by Mary Daena Zaide
Resurrecion.
October 13 – "Mabagal", a song entry composed by Dan Martel

Simon Tañedo and interpreted by Daniel Padilla and Moira Dela
Torre was named as Himig Handog 2019 grand winner.
October 22 – Miss Philippines Leren Mae Bautista wins 2nd

runner-up title at the Miss Globe 2019, which was held in
Montenegro.
October 26:
Nicole Borromeo (from Cebu) was crowned as Miss Millennial

Philippines 2019 of the noontime show, Eat Bulaga! held at
the Meralco Theater.
J-Crisis (from Sampaloc, Manila) was hailed as the Classic

Showtime 10th Anniversary Grand Champion of the noontime
show, It's Showtime held at the Newport Performing Arts
Theater, Resorts World Manila.
Team Vice with Miss Q and A Queens was hailed as Magpasikat 2019
Grand Champion of the noontime show, It's Showtime held
at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.

Nellys Pimentel of Puerto Rico was crowned as Miss Earth 2019,
during the coronation night of the Miss Earth 2019 Pageant,
which was held at the Cove Manila at Okada Manila in Parañaque
City.
October 30 – Jose Saguban wins the main award for Top 20 best
cacao beans in the world, finishing second in the Asia Pacific
region in the prestigious Salon du Chocolat or the International
Cocoa Awards.
October 31 – The province of Sorsogon bagged the Guinness World

Record for the largest Filipino folk dance with its Pantomina sa
Tinampo performance as they celebrated the province's 125th year
founding year.
November 3:
Vanjoss Bayaban, coached by Sarah Geronimo, won the fourth

season of The Voice Kids, the grand finals of which were held at
the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.
Miss Philippines Kayesha Clauden Chua was crowned Miss Asia

Awards 2019, during the coronation night which was held at
Holiday Inn and Suites Saigon Airport in Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam.
November 6 – Two documentaries programs of GMA Network:

"Reporter's Notebook: Batas ng Karagatan" and "The Atom Araullo
Specials: Babies4sale.Ph", were gave honors to the Philippines
at the prestigious 2019 Association for International
Broadcasting Awards (AIBs), which was held in London.
November 8 – Miss Philippines Cyrille Payumo was crowned as the

new Miss Tourism International 2019, during the coronation night
which was held at the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa in Petaling
Jaya, Malaysia.
November 9 – Ethel Booba of General Santos City was emerged as

the first-ever Tawag ng Tanghalan Celebrity Grand Champion.
December 1 – Patricia Javier was crowned as the first ever Noble

Queen of the Universe, during the coronation night which was
held at the Manila Hotel.
December 8 – Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados placed in the Top

20 of the Miss Universe 2019 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta,
Georgia, United States.

2020
January 7 – The Philippine Army ordered the relief of Lieutenant

Colonel Napoleon Pabon, the commanding officer of the 2nd
Infantry Battalion, in connection with the release of a
"manipulated" photo of the surrendered of 300 New People's
Army rebels in Masbate in December 2019.
January 8 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Salary

Standardization Law of 2019, increasing the salaries of over
1.4 million government employees starting this year.
January 12 – The Taal Volcano begins to erupt,

prompting PHILVOCS to raise the alert level to 4 until January
26.The eruption was the first major eruption of Taal since 1977.
In response, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No.
906 on February 21, declaring a state of calamity in
the Calabarzon region for one year unless lifted.
January 15 – The Philippine government has imposed a total

deployment ban to Kuwait after a National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) autopsy revealed the grim circumstances
surrounding the death of Filipino worker Jeanelyn Villavende in
the Gulf state in December 2019. On February 13, The ban was
officially lifted, as the two governments reached an agreement
for better working conditions of overseas Filipino workers.
January 16 – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable

cause to charge former Philippine National Police chief Police
General Oscar Albayalde and a dozen police officers over an
allegedly anomalous anti-drug operation in Pampanga in November
2013.
January 20 – Three Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials

Ramoncito Roque, Maribel Bancil and Veronica Buño, were ordered
dismissed from service by the Ombudsman in connection with the
questionable implementation of the Good Conduct Time
Allowance (GCTA), a controversy that broke out in August 2019.
January 21 – The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Philippine

National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and ex-PNP Special
Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas of graft and usurpation
charges for their involvement in the anti-terrorist operation

that led to the deaths of 44 SAF commandos in Mamasapano,
Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.
January 22 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No.

11467, which hikes the excise taxes on alcohol and imposes
new duties on heated tobacco and vapor products effective
January 1, 2020.
January 30 – The Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch

88 founds Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, the
recruiters of overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso guilty
of illegal recruitment in a separate case filled by Lorna
Valino, Ana Marie Gonzales, and Jenalyn Paraiso.
January 31 – The Sandiganbayan found former MRT General Manager

Al Vitangcol III and PH Trams incorporator Arturo Soriano,
guilty of graft and violation of Procurement Law, for awarding
MRT3's maintenance contract to an unqualified joint venture, PH
Trams and CB&T, in 2012.
February 3 – A state of calamity is declared by the provincial

government of Davao Occidental, due to the African Swine
Fever outbreak, a first for the region.
February 5 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has recommended

the filing of criminal charges against individuals involved in
the Good Conduct Time Allowance controversy, including the near-
release of former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez, the
mastermind in the June 1993 rape and murder of UPLB students
Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. On February 12, the Senate
adopts the said recommendation.
February 8 – A group of archaeologists led by the National

Quincentennial Committee, unearthed the grave of Filipino World
War II guerilla and scientist Maria Orosa at the Malate Catholic
School compound in Manila, nearly 75 years since her death on
February 13, 1945.
February 10 – The DOJ cleared Vice President Leni Robredo and

several opposition figures of sedition but indicted former
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others for "conspiracy to
commit sedition" over an alleged ouster plot against President
Rodrigo Duterte. On February 14, a Quezon City court issued an
arrest warrant against Trillanes and nine others and four days
later, Trillanes posted a bail for the case.

February 11 – The Philippines announced that it will terminate
the Visiting Forces Agreement with the U.S. The announcement is
rescinded on June 1.
February 12 – Lai Yu Cian, a Taiwanese woman who was rescued

from illegal offshore gaming operations has revealed the abuses
in the industry, adding that these companies evade arrest due to
a "very powerful" backer in government.
February 14 – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has confirmed the

inclusion of Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido in the
government's drug watch list.
February 15 – President Rodrigo Duterte leads the inauguration

of the commercial operations at Sangley Airport in Cavite, 8
months after he ordered the start of its general aviation
operations.
February 17:
President Rodrigo Duterte signs Executive Order No. 104, or

the Improving Access to Healthcare Through the Regulation of
Prices in the Retail of Drugs and Medicines, that imposing a
limit on the prices of several medicines and drugs.
Senator Risa Hontiveros has revealed the alleged "pastillas"

modus operandi within the BI that allows the entry of Chinese
nationals to the country in exchange for ₱10,000 each. On
February 20, President Rodrigo Duterte has relieved all
Immigration officials and employee involved in the said
bribery scheme that allegedly gives VIP treatment to Chinese
visitors. On September 2, the NBI has filed a complaint
against 19 BI personnel in connection with the said scheme. On
September 22, Joshua Paul Capiral, a NBI official was arrested
in an entrapment operation for allegedly accepting bribes from
Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the said scheme.
On September 28, DOJ files extortion and graft charges against
NBI legal assistance chief Joshua Paul Capiral and his brother
Christopher John, an immigration officer, before the Manila
Regional Trial Court for allegedly accepting bribes from
Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the said scheme.
February 18 – Former Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)

chairman and New People's Army (NPA) commander Rodolfo Salas was
arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga.

February 19 – Former official of BuCor Fredric Anthony Santos
was shot dead in Muntinlupa City.
February 21:
The NBI filed a complaint for murder against Philippine Charity

Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam and six others over
the killing of Charlie Yuson III on October 9, 2019.
The BIR shut down the operations of SAFYI, the first Philippine
Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) to be given a license by the
government, after it failed to pay the 5% franchise tax.
Pres. Duterte signs Executive Order No. 106 that prohibits

vaping in public and prohibited the sale and manufacture of
unregistered e-cigarettes due to their potential health risks.
February 24 – The Senate public services committee begins its

hearing on the issues surrounding the franchise renewal of ABS-
CBN Broadcasting Corporation. On February 26, President Rodrigo
Duterte has accepted the apology of ABS-CBN over his unaired
campaign ads during the 2016 presidential election.
February 27 – The Philippine government has lifted the

suspension on negotiations and signing of loan and grant
agreements with countries that sponsored and voted in favor of a
United Nations investigation on the country's human rights
situation.
February 28 – The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former PNP

chief Alan Purisima of eight counts of perjury over his alleged
failure to declare his wealth in full for 6 years.
March 2 – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confirms that suspected

syndicates brought in an estimated $370 million into the
Philippines in December 2019, with the help of Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and
airport police escorts.
March 3 – Ombudsman Samuel Martires has filed graft and indirect

bribery charges against former Nayong Pilipino Foundation,
Inc. (NPFI) chairman of the board Patricia Ocampo-Desiongco and
five other ex-NPFI officials for accepting free transportation
to and accommodation in Jeju Island, South Korea from a private
firm during negotiations on a lease contract involving the same
firm.

March 9 – President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 922,
declaring a public health emergency over the increasing number
of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country.
March 12 – Code Red Sublevel 2 was declared in response to the

COVID-19 pandemic and issuing a partial lockdown on Metro Manila
to prevent a nationwide spread of the said disease.
March 16:
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed reports

that bird flu or the H5N6 avian flu has been detected in Jaen,
Nueva Ecija.
President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 929, placing the entire

Philippines under a state of calamity amid the ongoing situation
of COVID-19. On September 16, President Duterte
signs Proclamation No. 1021, that extends until September 12,
2021, the state of calamity in the country due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has

issued Memorandum Order March 1, 2020, that all broadcast and
communications companies would have the authority to stay on air
with their permits automatically renewed while the
entire Luzon is placed under enhanced community quarantine due
to the coronavirus pandemic.
March 17 – Luzon is under enhanced community quarantine due to

coronavirus pandemic in the country as announced by the
President in his evening address last March 16, 2020. This
expanded the community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila on
March 15. Quarantine measures in other parts of the country of
varying levels were imposed as well in the following months.
March 25 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Bayanihan to Heal

as One Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11469), a measure that
gives him additional powers to strengthen government's response
to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic after
Congress urgently deliberated and passed the measure within a
day. On July 1, the Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the
petition filed by Jaime Ibañez, that questioning the
constitutionality of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
March 26 – Militant groups in the Philippines have agree to U.N.

Secretary-General António Guterres's call for a ceasefire as
security forces focus on battling the COVID-19 virus.

Diwata-1, Philippines' first micro-satellite
April 6 – Diwata-1, the Philippines' first micro-satellite for

scientific earth observation built by Filipino scientists, has
been officially decommissioned after re-entering the Earth's
atmosphere.
April 14 – The government has begun its mass testing processes

on the persons suspected of having COVID-19.
April 17 – The Supreme Court has conducted a special en

banc session, the first-ever done online in its 119-year history
as the judiciary seeks to deal with urgent matters amid a Luzon-
wide lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19).
April 21 – Winston Ragos, a former Philippine Army corporal, was

shot dead by police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr., for
allegedly attempting to pull a gun on the cops at checkpoint
in Quezon City.
April 24 – The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines received

criticism after releasing a music video about the relations of
China and the Philippines amid the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19), because of its message amid China's assertion of
rights to the West Philippine Sea and the areas which the
Philippines claims and occupies in the South China Sea.
April 27:
15 senators, files a resolution that seeks to amend the Senate

rules to allow the conduct of plenary sessions and committee
hearings via teleconference amid the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) situation.
President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 111, which abolished

the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic
Planning Office (PCDSPO), which served as his chief message-
crafting body.
April 28 – Taiwan has rejected the Philippine Department of

Labor and Employment's (DOLE) moves to deport Elanel Egot
Ordidor, an overseas Filipino worker over social media posts
critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the Philippines
must first consult with Taiwan before taking any drastic action.

The sign-off message broadcast by DWWX-TV (ABS-CBN Manila)
before stopping all broadcasts at 7:52 pm (PST) in compliance
with the NTC order on May 5, 2020.
BRP Jose Rizal, the country's first missile-capable warship
May 1 – Pope Francis names former Manila Archbishop

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to the rank of Cardinal-Bishop, the
highest title of a Cardinal in the Catholic Church.
May 4:
The radio and television franchise for ABS-CBN has

expired. Renewal of the franchise is uncertain due to tense
relations of the network with the current administration of
President Rodrigo Duterte. On May 5, ABS-CBN's broadcasting
operations were signed off the air at 7:52 p.m. due to the cease
and desist order of the NTC to stop broadcast operations of the
said network because of the expiration of its franchise granted
to them on March 30, 1995. On June 23, the Supreme Court en banc
has dismissed Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition
questioning ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise, ruling that the
issue was "moot and academic". On August 25, the Supreme Court
has dismissed ABS-CBN's petition challenging the National
Telecommunications Commission's cease and desist order that
forced it to shut down broadcast operations on May 5. On
September 9, NTC recalled the frequencies assigned to ABS-CBN,
which it said was warranted in the absence of a legislative
franchise.
President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Philippine Health

Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to make the payment of
premiums voluntary for overseas Filipino workers in light of
opposition against premium rate increases.
May 6 – President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 114, that

ordered the implementation of the "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-
asa" Program to decongest Metro Manila and promote countryside
development.
May 8 – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the petition filed
by Atty. Dino de Leon, that seeking the disclosure of
President Rodrigo Duterte's health records. On September 8, SC
denies with finality the bid of Atty. de Leon, to compel
President Duterte to disclose his health records.

May 13 – The National Bureau of Investigation has launched a
probe into Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy
administrator Mocha Uson over a coronavirus-related fake news.[83]
May 23 – BRP Jose Rizal, the country's first missile-capable

warship has arrived in Subic, Zambales, after a 5-day maiden
journey from South Korea.
June 3 – The Senate Electoral Tribunal has denied the petition

filed by Reymar Mansilungan and Efren Adan that seeking to
declare Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III ineligible for the
senatorial term 2019–2025.
June 4 – The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for

Human Rights (UN-OHCHR) has released its comprehensive report on
the widespread killings in the Philippines under President
Rodrigo Duterte.[86]
June 5 – Former Presidential Commission on Good

Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio was arrested by the
members of National Bureau of Investigation in his home
in Quezon City over the execution of judgment in one of the
criminal cases against him pending before the Sandiganbayan.[87]
June 15 – The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch

46 convicts Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer
Reynaldo Santos Jr., of cyber libel over a 2012 article that
linked a businessman to alleged illegal activities. On July 25,
the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 has denied the motion
for reconsideration filed by Ressa and Santos, Jr. in the cyber
libel case that they were convicted.
June 19 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No.

11475, that officially transferring the capital and seat of
government of Rizal province to Antipolo from Pasig.
June 21 – An annular solar eclipse was witnessed by many

astronomers and skywatchers throughout the country.[91]
June 25 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No.

11476, that mandating the inclusion of Good Manners and Right
Conduct (GMRC) classes in the K-12 program.[92]
June 29 – Four soldiers were killed following an shooting

incident with policemen in Barangay Walled
City, Jolo, Sulu.[93] On July 21, the National Bureau of

Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal complaints against
members of the local police in Sulu allegedly involved in the
said shooting incident in Jolo. On September 7, the PNP-Internal
Affairs Service has filed administrative and criminal complaints
against cops involved in the said shooting incident.
July
Supporters conducting a nightly noise barrage in front of the

ABS-CBN headquarters, with ABS-CBN artist Angel Locsin speaking
in front on July 10, 2020
The session hall had limited physical attendance due to social

distancing measures observed in response to the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic
July 3 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Anti-Terrorism Act

of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11479), a measure that giving the
government more powers to act against persons or groups falling
under what critics say is a dangerous and vague definition of
terrorism.
July 8 – Pope Francis names former Manila Archbishop

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as a member of the Pontifical
Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, the Catholic Church's
central office on the promotion of understanding among
religions.
July 10 – After 12 hearings which started last May 26, the House
of Representatives, particularly on the Committee on Legislative
Franchises, voted 70–11 to deny the franchise application
of ABS-CBN.[98]
July 16 – Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, was chosen among

the One Young World politicians for "using their positions to
create change for young people in their communities and
countries".
July 17 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No.

11480, which allows the president to move or reschedule the
start of the school year in an event of a state of emergency or
state of calamity.[100]

July 21 – Joel Apolinario, the founder of the Kapa Community
Ministry International and 23 others were arrested in Surigao
del Sur.
July 23 – Four soldiers died and another was injured after

a Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter crashed while taking off
at the Cauayan Air Station in Isabela.
July 27:
President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth State of the Nation

Address (SONA).[103]
Dr. Roland Cortez, the chief of the National Center for Mental
Health (NCMH), who was criticized over its handling of COVID-19
cases in the said facility in April 2020, was shot dead in
Quezon City.[104] On August 25, the Quezon City Police District
(QCPD) has filed murder complaints against seven suspects who
were allegedly involved in the killing of Dr. Cortez.
July 29 – The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of

Animal Industry (DA-BAI) has confirmed the detection of the
avian influenza A(H5N6) virus in an egg-producing farm in San
Luis, Pampanga.
July 30:
After 9 years of hiding, former Dinagat Islands congressman

Ruben Ecleo Jr., who was accused in the case of murder of Alona
Bacolod-Ecleo in 2002 and anomalous 3 construction projects
which undertaken between 1991 and 1994, during his term as mayor
of San Jose, Dinagat Islands, was arrested in San Fernando,
Pampanga.
Wesley Barayuga, the board secretary of the Philippine Charity

Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), was shot dead in Mandaluyong City.
August 4 – The Senate Committee of the Whole begins its hearing

on the alleged irregularities and fresh controversies hounding
state-run Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PhilHealth). On August 7, President Rodrigo Duterte
has formed a task force to investigate alleged corruption at the
said agency. On August 18, Ombudsman Samuel Martires has issued
a six-month long preventive suspension against 13 PhilHealth
officials. On August 24, PhilHealth senior vice president for the
legal sector Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. has tendered his

irrevocable resignation from his post. On August 26, PhilHealth
president and CEO Ricardo Morales has resigned from his post
amid allegations of corruption plaguing the state insurer and
his battle with lymphoma. On August 31, President Rodrigo
Duterte has named former NBI chief Dante Gierran as the new head
of PhilHealth. On September 14, President Rodrigo Duterte has
approved the recommendations of a task force to file criminal
and administrative charges against Morales and several other
executives in connection with irregularities in the state
insurer. On October 2, the inter-agency task force created to
investigate alleged anomalies in the said agency has filed
criminal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against
Morales and several other agency officials over fund
disbursements through the controversial Interim Reimbursement
Mechanism (IRM), a system where advance releases are made to
hospitals in case of unforeseen events. On October 8, PhilHealth
has announced that a total of 43 senior officers have either
tendered their courtesy resignation or retired from service.
August 6 – The government has formally launched the One Hospital

Command system which aims to improve the referral system and
interoperability of public and private health care facilities
catering to COVID-19 patients in the country.
August 10 – Randall "Ka Randy" Echanis, the peasant activist

and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace
consultant, was killed in Quezon City.
August 13 – Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Anduljihad "Idang"

Susukan, was arrested in Davao City.
August 17 – Zara Alvarez, a paralegal member for the human

rights watchdog group Karapatan, who was among those tagged as
"terrorists" in the proscription case of the Department of
Justice filed in 2018, was shot dead in Bacolod City.
August 18 – A 6.6–magnitude earthquake hit the island

of Masbate, leaving one person killed and injured 43 others.
August 24 – At least 15 people were killed while 75 others were

injured in twin explosions that ripped through Jolo, Sulu.
August 25 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by

Senator Richard J. Gordon, announced and recommended the filing
of criminal charges against former health secretary Janette
Garin, former budget Secretary Florencio Abad and
former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)

president & CEO Alexander Padilla for allegedly diverting ₱10.6
billion of funds to construct barangay health centers and
procure dental trucks which supposedly had not been utilized at
all in December 2015.
August 26 – Former Davao del Norte Representative Antonio

"Tonyboy" Floirendo Jr., has been convicted of graft over the
deal between his family-owned Tagum Agricultural Development
Co., Inc. and the Bureau of Corrections in 2003.
September
September 1:
The Senate Committee of the Whole, announced and recommended the

filing of criminal charges against former PhilHealth chief
Ricardo Morales, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and
several other officials over the alleged irregularities in the
state health insurer.
The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition of Citizens

Urgent Response to End COVID-19 (CURE COVID-19), that asking the
tribunal to compel the government to conduct proactive mass
testing for COVID-19, efficient contact tracing and isolation,
and effective treatment of positive cases.
The Office of the Ombudsman has issued Memorandum Circular No.

1, that limited the public access to Statements of Assets,
Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials,
allowing release only for official investigations, by court
order, or upon authority from officials themselves.
September 3 – The Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR) begins its dumping of powdery-white sand on the
baywalk of Manila Bay as part of the rehabilitation program of
the said bay.[132] The ₱389-million beautification project
received criticism from the environmental groups.[133] On
September 8, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued a cease
and desist order on two companies involved in the extraction and
sale of the dolomite used in the said beautification project.
September 7 – President Rodrigo Duterte has granted an absolute

pardon to US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who
was convicted of killing of transgender Filipino woman Jennifer
Laude in 2014.[135] On September 13, the Bureau of Immigration has
deported Pemberton from the Philippines.

September 8 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has formally
named Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, as the
Cacao Capital of the Philippines.
September 9 – The Supreme Court (SC) has unanimously denied the

petition of Atty. Larry Gadon that seeks to nullify the law that
renamed the Manila International Airport as the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport.
September 11 – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed

the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Republic Act No. 11494),
which provides a COVID-19 relief package worth ₱165.5 billion.
September 15:
The Supreme Court has rejected a request of Atty. Larry Gadon

and the Office of the Solicitor General to secure the statements
of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of SC Associate
Justice Marvic Leonen for a possible quo warranto
petition.[142][143][144][145]
The Supreme Court has junked the plea for protective writs filed
by Francis and Relissa Lucena, the parents of Alicia Jasper
Lucena, the alleged missing activist after it was found out that
she was not missing after all.
September 16:
Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has

joined Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in a landmark case seeking to
punish Chinese leader Xi Jinping over his country's destructive
activities in the South China Sea.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution urging the

Philippine government to drop charges
against Rappler chief Maria Ressa and renew the franchise
of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.
Four personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were killed

after a military helicopter was crashed in Lantawan, Basilan.
September 18 – Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has filed the

first case before the Quezon City Prosecutors Office against the
tabloid Bulgar, that published a fake topless photo of her.

September 19 – President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to retain
the policy of requiring a 1-meter distance between passengers on
public transport as the COVID-19 threat remains.
September 22 – The Sandiganbayan has upheld its December 2019

decision ordering associates of the late dictator Ferdinand
Marcos to return assets off their shares in Eastern
Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (ETPI) to the Philippine
government for being ill-gotten.
September 23 – Facebook has removed a network of fake accounts

and pages allegedly linked to the Philippine military and police
due to coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB), a violation of
its community standards.
September 28 – Pope Francis has chosen Archbishop Charles John

Brown to be the next apostolic nuncio to the Philippines.[165]
September 29:
The Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 has convicted seven
men of multiple murder and multiple attempted murder over
the deadly explosion at the Roxas Night Market in Davao City in
2016.[166]
The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion of Atty. Jessica "Gigi"

Reyes for provisional release on humanitarian grounds amid the
COVID-19 pandemic.
September 30:
Voted 184–1–9, members of the House of Representatives has

rejected House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano's offer of
resignation in a swift move that came in the wake of reports
that his term-sharing agreement with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan
Velasco was to take effect in October.
The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral

Tribunal, has required the Commission on Elections and the
Office of the Solicitor General to comment on pending issues in
the election protest filed by defeated candidate Ferdinand
"Bongbong" Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.
October
Lord Allan Jay Velasco taking his oath of office as House
Speaker on October 12, 2020

October 1 – The Sandiganbayan has cleared Terence King Ong, the
head of slipper maker Kentex Manufacturing Corporation as well
as Valenzuela City fire officials of criminal charges in
connection with the May 13, 2015 factory fire that left at least
74 people dead and scores other injured.
October 5 – The start of the 2020–21 school year in public

schools has officially begun - a few months later than usual due
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 9 – Nine gang members were killed in a riot between two

rival gangs inside New Bilibid Prison.
October 10 – Nana Isirani or Rezky Fantasya Rullie, also known

as Cici, an Indonesian female alleged to be a suicide bomber was
arrested along with two other women in Jolo, Sulu.
October 12–13 – 2020 Philippine House of Representatives

leadership crisis: 186 majority members of the House of
Representatives elect Lord Allan Jay Velasco as Speaker of the
House of Representatives, unseating incumbent Alan Peter
Cayetano amidst the political dispute over the Speakership
outside the Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
Cayetano declares Velasco's election as "illegal" and maintains
that he is the Speaker. The crisis was later ended the next day
when Rep. Cayetano announced his resignation from his post after
lawmakers formally installed Velasco as their new leader at the
Batasang Pambansa.[181]
October 12 – The Philippine Statistics Authority has begin its

pre-registration for the national identification (ID) system,
with a target to register 10 million people.
October 22 – Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lieutenant

General Antonio Parlade Jr., received criticism after he warned
actresses Liza Soberano, Angel Locsin and Miss Universe
2018 Catriona Gray, after urging them to withdraw their support
with a progressive groups which the military claims is a front
organization of communist rebels.
October 23 – Former acting chairman of the Local Water Utilities

Administration (LWUA) and Surigao del Sur Representative
Prospero Pichay Jr., and two others, were have been convicted of
graft over the LWUA’s illegal grant of ₱1.5 million in
government funds to the National Chess Federation of the
Philippines (NCFP) in 2010.

Predicted and scheduled events
TBA
The World Health Organization’s clinical trials for possible

COVID-19 vaccines is set to start and will last for 18 months.
Residents of Palawan except Puerto Princesa will vote in a

plebiscite to approve or disapprove a law
partitioning Palawan into three separate provinces.
Health
January 30 – The Philippines confirmed its first case of COVID-

19.
February 1 – The first COVID-19 death outside China was reported

in the Philippines: a Chinese tourist who recently arrived in
the country.
February 21 – The DOJ has indicted former Health

secretary Janette Garin and several other health officials over
children's deaths allegedly linked to the dengue vaccine
Dengvaxia.
March 6 – The DOH has confirmed that two Filipinos tested

positive for COVID-19 for the first time in the Philippines. On
March 7, the DOH and WHO confirms that the Philippines' fifth
confirmed COVID-19 patient is the first case of local
transmission.
March 10 – The FDA approves the use of test kits developed by

scientists at the University of the Philippines to confirm cases
of COVID-19 in the country. On April 3, the FDA approves the
said test kits for COVID-19 developed by UP-National Institutes
of Health and manufactured by Manila HealthTek, Inc. On May 20,
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has announced, that
the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health
(UP-NIH) had recalled its locally-made coronavirus test kits
over "very minor" defects. On July 19, DOH announced that the
COVID-19 test kit developed by the University of the Philippines
has been approved for commercial use.
March 11 – The first Filipino COVID-19 patient death, was

reported in the Philippines. The victim was a 67-year-old female
who was confined at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

October 6 – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was elected as
chairperson for the World Health Organization's Regional
Committee for the Western Pacific.
Business and economy
March 9 – The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index lost 457.77

points or 6.76%, its steepest decline since the financial crisis
of 2007–08.
April 10 – The World Bank has approved a $500-million policy

loan to boost the Philippines' capacity to respond and recover
from disasters such as the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) crisis.
April 23 – The World Bank approves a $100-million or

₱5.1 billion loan for the Philippines' COVID-19 Emergency
Response Project. On April 28, the Philippines and the World
Bank has signed the said loan agreement for the country's COVID-
19 Emergency Response Project.
April 28 – The Philippines and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

has signed an agreement for a $200-million loan for additional
funding for the government's emergency cash assistance program
to poor and vulnerable households hit by quarantine measures
imposed to contain COVID-19 spread.
May 2 – President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 113, that

temporarily increased tariffs on imported crude oil and refined
petroleum products to fund the country's COVID-19 response.
May 7:
The Philippine economy has contracted by 0.2% in the first

quarter of 2020, for the first time since 1998, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown.
Fitch Ratings has downgraded its outlook on the Philippines to

factor in the impact of the global health crisis brought about
by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
May 15 – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered

the Manila Electric Corporation (Meralco) to explain how it came
up with consumers' electricity bills during the three billing
cycles covering the lockdown periods.

May 16 – ABS-CBN Corporation has resumed its trading of shares
after complying with the disclosure requirements of
the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
May 21 – The Philippines is experiencing a shortage of onion and

garlic as local farmers are unable to "produce much" of the
crops amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
May 28 – The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has

approved a $750 million (37.9 billion) loan to the Philippines
to help the country cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
May 29 – The World Bank has approved a new $500-million policy

loan to boost the Philippines' capacity to mitigate the impact
of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on poor and
vulnerable households and to provide financial relief to small
and medium enterprises. On June 3, the Philippines and the World
Bank has signed the said policy loan agreement to ease the
social and economic impact of COVID-19 on poor households and
workers of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
June 3 – The Land Bank of the Philippines has approved some

₱250 million in loans under its ₱3-billion credit support for
private academic institutions to provide a "study now, pay
later" scheme to students hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
June 5:
The Philippines and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has

signed a $400-million loan agreement that supports the
government's efforts to strengthen domestic capital markets as
the country recovers from the economic fallout resulting from
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of jobless Filipinos hit record-high of 17.7%, in

April as the economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019
caused the displacement of millions of workers.
July 1 – The Philippines has signed a $26.5-million Asian

Development Bank (ADB) loan which would finance the reforms
needed to improve local property valuation and tax collection.
July 29 – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has officially

launched the enhanced new generation currency (NGC) banknotes,
which the central bank said features the latest anti-
counterfeiting technology.

August 6 – The Philippine economy has plunged further in the
second quarter to mark its worst performance on record based on
the available data since 1981, bringing the country to a
technical recession amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 13 – Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation has shutting

down its refinery in Tabangao, Batangas City as it shifts its
strategy from manufacturing to importation to sustain its
business amid the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 24 – The Philippines has signed a €24.5-million financing

agreement with the European Union, its third so far this year,
to finance initiatives in the Bangsamoro region and assist in
the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
August 25:
The Asian Development Bank has approved another $125 million (₱6
billion) loan to boost the Philippines' capacity to prevent and
control the spread of COVID-19.
Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. has announced that they are
entered into a franchise agreement with Singapore's Koufu Group
Ltd. to bring the R&B milk tea brand to the Philippines.[230]
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has approved the

acquisition of a controlling stake in Manila Water Inc. by
Enrique Razon-led Trident Water Holdings Company Inc., the
holding firm of Prime Metroline Holdings Inc. (PMHI).
September 15 – Olivia Limpe-Aw and Melanie Perkins, the two

Filipina businesswomens were included in the Forbes Asia's 2020
Power Businesswomen List, which features 25 outstanding female
leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.
September 16 – The Supreme Court (SC) has decided in favor of

billionaire Enrique Razon's MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE)
in a legal battle involving power distribution in Iloilo City.
September 24 – Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III has tendered his

resignation for personal reasons as Chairman Emeritus and
Director of ABS-CBN Corporation and other Lopez-owned companies.
October 5 – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has

suspended the mandatory use of Beep cards at the EDSA Busway,
with stakeholders scrambling to look for other service providers
that can suit the demands.

October 15 – The oil exploration activities in the West
Philippine Sea will be resume after President Rodrigo Duterte
approves the recommendation of the Department of Energy (DOE) to
lift the suspension of petroleum activities in the disputed
waters.
Entertainment and culture

For the events related to Philippine television in 2020,
see 2020 in Philippine television; for films, see List of
Philippine films of 2020; and for music, see 2020 in Philippine
music.
January 10–12 – The Philippines hosted the 24th Asian Television

Awards, the first to be held in the country.
February 6 – Binibining Pilipinas has released the official list

of the 40 candidates for the 2020 pageant.
February 9 – Miss Philippines Katrina Llegado wins the title of

5th runner-up in the Reina Hispanoamericana 2019 pageant which
was held in Bolivia.[241]
February 14 – The Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) organization

introduced the 46 official candidates for the 2020 pageant.
February 18 – Dual-voiced Filipino singer Marcelito Pomoy was

named as 3rd runner up for the well renowned US talent
competition America's Got Talent: The Champions.
February 22 – The coronation event of the Manhunt

International 2020 pageant takes place at the New Frontier
Theatre in Quezon City for the second time that the Philippines
hosted the event. Paul Luzineau of Netherlands was crowned
as Manhunt International 2020.
February 27 – Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, was

recognized the world's second Trending Destination by
TripAdvisor in its 2020 Travellers' Choice Awards.
March 5 – Former President Corazon Aquino and Rappler CEO Maria

Ressa have been included in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential
Women of the century.
March 8 – Cristine Reyes wins the best actress award at the 40th
edition of the Porto International Film Festival for her
performance in the movie Untrue.

March 16 – The acclaimed film Write About Love, about
screenwriters who fall in love in the process of collaborating,
was recognized at the 2020 Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF).
April 2 – Five Philippine representatives were included in

Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2020, joining a list of Asia's
top young entrepreneurs and change-makers.
April 8 – 26-year-old Ryan Gersava of Sultan Kudarat has topped

the World Summit Awards (WSA) Global Champion under the Young
Innovators category for 2020 with his virtual school for persons
with disabilities and other disadvantaged sectors.
April 22 – Three ABS-CBN News documentaries and two GMA Public

Affairs documentaries won medals in the prestigious 2020 New
York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
April 28 – ABS-CBN stars Liza Soberano and Ivana Alawi are among
the early nominees in the 2020 edition of 100 Most Beautiful
Faces, an international list driven by social media.
May 6 – Cebu-based artist Maria Victoria "Bambi" Beltran was

selected as one of 17 laureates of the 2020 Deutsche Welle (DW)
Freedom of Speech Award.
May 29 – Binibining Pilipinas candidate Maureen Montagne has

declined the Miss Eco International 2019 title after reigning
queen Suheyn Cipriani of Peru got dethroned due to pregnancy and
she is now competing in the Binibining Pilipinas 2020 beauty
pageant.
May 31 – The Philippines has landed on Forbes' list of Rising

Stars in Travel, one of seven countries cited to have potential
to become major tourist destinations.
June 18 – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Maasin in Southern

Leyte was acknowledged by the Vatican for being the first in the
Catholic Church to switch to renewable energy.
June 25 – Pope Francis appointed four priests of the Roman

Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen–Dagupan as the Catholic
Church's new "Missionaries of Mercy.
June 30:
Lumad Joeffrey S. Mambucon became the first Tigwahanon-

Manobo doctor of medicine.

July 5 – Roxanne Allison Baeyens, was crowned as Miss
Philippines Earth 2020, during the coronation event of the Miss
Philippines Earth 2020, which was held for the first time
through virtual contest.
July 8 – The island province of Palawan has reclaimed the top

spot in Travel + Leisure's "World's Best Islands" list for 2020
after getting the most votes from the magazine's readers.
July 21 – Liza Diño, the head of the Film Development Council of

the Philippines (FDCP), has been removed from the executive
committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
July 26:
Cinemalaya 2019 audience choice awardee for full-length feature

"Belle Douleur" is nominated in the 2020 Santorini Film
Festival.
Tiffany Grace Uy, the University of the Philippines' highest

grade record holder since World War II in June 2015, has
graduated from the UP College of Medicine Class of 2020 with
Latin honors anew.
July 27 – "Here, Here", a short film directed by Joanne Cesario,

was selected for the 2020 Locarno Film Festival's Pardi di
domani international competition.
July 28:
Miss World Philippines announced that it acquired the Miss

Supranational beauty pageant and will be sending representatives
to the Poland-based pageant.
Filipina dancer Andree Camille "AC" Bonifacio has won 2nd place
in Blackpink's "How You Like That" dance cover contest.
August 16 – Heart Salvador, Cydel Gabutero, Isang Manlapaz and

Kendra Aguirre, were declared as the winners of the second
season of The Voice Teens.
August 19 – The National Historical Commission of the

Philippines (NHCP) has sustained its findings that the Limasawa
Island in Southern Leyte as the site of the 1521 Easter Sunday
Mass, the first Catholic mass in the country.

August 24 – The Manila city government has launched the newly
renovated Lagusnilad underpass which connects Intramuros to
the Manila City Hall.[275]
October 10 – ZOE TV channel 11 was rebranded to A2Z, which

feature some contents of programs from its selected blocktimers
(ABS-CBN and Knowledge Channel), licensors and providers (CBN
Asia, Trinity Broadcasting Network and others), and ZOE's
owned Light TV on the said network, after ABS-CBN and ZOE agreed
with the entering of blocktime deal on October 6.This also marks
the return of ABS-CBN programmings on free TV after the cease-
and-desist order by National Telecommunications Commission due
to expired legislative franchise on May 5 and the denial of its
renewed legislative franchise on July 10.
October 25 – The first coronation event of the Miss Universe

Philippines 2020 pageant was held at the Baguio Country Club and
Cordillera Convention Hall in Baguio City. Rabiya Mateo of
Iloilo City was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2020.
Scheduled events
TBA – The coronation event of the Binibining Pilipinas

2020 pageant will be held at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum in Quezon City.
Sports
January 17, Basketball – The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel were

crowned as the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup champions after clinching
a 105–93 against the Meralco Bolts in a Game 5 for the 12th
straight title at the Mall of Asia Arena.
January 28, Weightlifting – Hidilyn Diaz wins 3 gold medals in

the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, Italy.
January 31, Tennis – Alexandra Eala has made history with her
maiden juniors Grand Slam title with Indonesian partner Priska
Nugroho in the 2020 Australian Open juniors doubles tournament
in Melbourne Park.
February 11–16, Badminton – Badminton Asia Team Championships
February 29, Volleyball – The opening of the 8th season of

PSL was held at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

March 6 – 2020 PSA Annual Awards
March 8: Basketball – The opening of the 45th season of PBA was

held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
March 9, Basketball – The DENR Warriors claimed the first

championship title of the UNTV Cup Season 8 after they won
against the AFP Cavaliers in the Game 2 of the Finals series at
Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City. ₱4 million cash prize for
their chosen beneficiary.
March 12 – The major sports leagues across the country has

announce a temporary suspension or termination of play in an
attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
March 19 – The NCAA officially terminated Season 95 due to

COVID-19.
April 7 – The UAAP Board has decided to cancel Season 82,

following of the extension of the enhanced community quarantine
amid COVID-19.
April 29 – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has announced

the cancellation of all sporting events until December 2020,
amid the threat of COVID-19.
May 5 – The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced the

suspension of the annual interschool sports tournament Palarong
Pambansa and other events that draw large crowds as a precaution
against the spread of COVID-19.
May 8 – The 10th ASEAN Para Games which was rescheduled to

October 3–9 of this year, has been officially cancelled due to
COVID-19.
May 10, Taekwondo – Three-time UAAP poomsae champion Jocel

Ninobla of University of Santo Tomas wins a gold medal in the
Under-30 Female Division of the first Online Daedo Open European
Poomsae Championships.
May 11: Basketball – FIBA has announced that the 2023 FIBA World
Cup will be held on August 25 to September 10, 2023,
in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
May 22, Chess – Sander Severino, a Filipino chess master wins

second place in the first ever First FIDE Online Cup for People
with Disabilities.

June 1, Basketball – The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball
League (MPBL) has officially canceled its 2019–2020 season,
citing the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 crisis as well as
the uncertainty surrounding the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.
June 3, Basketball – The PBA Board of Governors approved the

transfer of the ownership of the Columbian Dyip franchise from
Columbian Autocar Corporation to its sister company Terrafirma
Realty Development Corporation.
June 17, Chess – Sander Severino won first place in the first
ever International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA)
Online World Championship.
June 19, Skateboard – Cebuanos Margielyn Didal and Motic

Panugalinog were declared winner in the men's and women's
divisions of the 2020 Asian Skateboarding Championship Lockdown
5 online competition
July 17 – Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski of the Philippines, was

elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive
Board, the highest body in the international sports governing
organization.
July 23, Football – Ceres Negros renamed the club to

become United City F.C. after Ceres chief Leo Ray Yanson decided
to sell the club to MMC Sportz Asia due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
July 25 – University of Santo Tomas (UST) was emerged as the

overall champion of the 82nd season of the UAAP, leading the way
in both the collegiate and high school divisions.
July 30, Weightlifting – Rio 2016 Olympics silver medalist

and 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz won
the 59 kg category of the 2020 Oceania Weightlifting Federation
(OWF) Eleiko Email International Lifters Tournament.
August 11, Karate – James delos Santos has beaten the world no.
1 in the virtual kata rankings to win the gold medal at the
Athlete's E-Tournament Series 1.
August 16, Golf – Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso has
finally won in the Japan LPGA Tour as she fired a 9-under par 63
to rule the NEC Karuizawa Tournament in Kitasaku-gun, Nagano
Prefecture.

August 17, Athletics – Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena bagged a
silver in his first online tournament, fresh from his historic
bronze-medal finish in the 2020 Monaco Diamond League.
August 30, Athletics – Kristina Knott, the 2019 Southeast Asian

Games champion for 200m, wins the silver medal and broke the
longstanding record which was previously held by athletics
legend Lydia de Vega, who registered 11.28 seconds during the
1987 SEA Games in Jakarta in historic fashion in the Drake Blue
Oval Showcase in Iowa, USA.
September 9:
Athletics – EJ Obiena has recorded a season-high 5.74 meters to

win the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike competition in Czech Republic.
Former University of Santo Tomas (UST) head coach Aldin Ayo has
been banned indefinitely from the UAAP for his role in the
controversial "Sorsogon bubble," where the UST men's basketball
team conducted a training camp in his hometown, in a potential
violation of quarantine protocols.
September 26, Boxing – John Riel Casimero of the Philippines has

made a successful first defense of his WBO bantamweight crown by
knocking out Ghana's Duke Micah in the third round of their
title fight in Connecticut.
October 25, Basketball – Calvin Abueva's suspension, which

lasted for over a year, has been lifted by the PBA
Commissioner's Office.
November 6, Football – United City F.C. clinches a historic 2020

Philippines Football League title under a new name and in the
first bubble set-up.
November 7, Basketball – Thirdy Ravena made his debut for San-en

NeoPhoenix in Japan's B.League with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3
assist.
November 9, Volleyball – Marck Espejo made his debut for Bani

Jamra in Bahrain's Isa Bin Rashid Volleyball League
Scheduled events
August – 2020 AFF Women's Championship

November 7–17 – 2020 Asian Swimming Championships
November 27 – 2020 Philippine Olympic Committee election

TOP 20 CURRENT EVENTS FROM 2019-2020 PHILIPPINES

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IN THE EXAM, ONLY 20-40 QUESTIONS IS BEING ASKED UNDER GENERAL

INFO. &CURENT EVENTS, BELOW IS YOUR COMPLETE TABLE TO MUST

January 8 – Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction

January 10 – Maia Santos Deguito, the former bank manager

January 21 – A plebiscite takes place with the majority of

January 24 – The International Union for the Conservation of

THE BASICS TO PASS _CURRENT EVENTS 2019-2020 ***LJ SIERRA*** Page 1

February 6 – The second round of the Bangamoro Organic Law

February 13 – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is arrested by

February 26 – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region was formally

March 6 – Numerous areas across Metro Manila, estimated to be

THE BASICS TO PASS _CURRENT EVENTS 2019-2020 ***LJ SIERRA*** Page 2

March 15 – Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former

March 17 – The Philippines formally withdraws from

March 29 – Rappler CEO and journalist Maria Ressa is arrested

March 30 – Fourteen people are killed during the police

April 3 – A series of video was uploaded by the account named

THE BASICS TO PASS _CURRENT EVENTS 2019-2020 ***LJ SIERRA*** Page 3

April 10 – Fossil fragments found in the Callao Cave in

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit the large parts of Luzon, leaving

April 23 – A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit the island

May 6 – Peter Joemel Advincula, the man claimed to be "Bikoy", a

May 13 – Philippine general elections were held. Voters elects

May 22 – Commission on Elections (COMELEC), sitting as the

THE BASICS TO PASS _CURRENT EVENTS 2019-2020 ***LJ SIERRA*** Page 4

June 10 – Dr. Brian Sy, owner of the WellMed Dialysis Center in

June 17 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 has

June 21 – Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del

June 27 – Several opposition groups began to file

June 29 – Tons of Canadian garbage left in the Philippines in

July 8 – President Rodrigo Duterte has awarded a certificate of

July 11 – A resolution initiated by Iceland was adopted by

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Since July 18 – A series of killings occurred in Negros Oriental

July 18 – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a

July 26 – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a halt in all

July 27 – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Batanes. It was

August 2 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Proclamation No. 781,

August 3 – At least 31 were killed when strong winds capsized

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Sandiganbayan dismisses a ₱102 billion civil case filed by

August 20 – News reports stated that former Calauan,

August 22 – Former foreign affairs chief Perfecto Yasay Jr. was

September 1 – An 11-seater Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft on a

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September 2 – Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor

September 3 – The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of

September 4 – President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Bureau of

September 9 – The first case of African swine fever has been

September 18 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 15 has

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Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista and Brigadier General

September 25 – Sandiganbayan dismisses another civil case filed

September 27 – The US Senate Appropriations Committee has

October 1 – PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde appears before the

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October 8 – The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the validity of a

October 11 – The Supreme Court allows Filipina death row

October 14 – Sandiganbayan dismisses another civil case filed by

October 15 – The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential

October 16 – The 2019 Cotabato series of earthquakes begins,

October 18 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by

October 31 – Cebu City has been selected to be part of

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