1998 in the Philippines

← 1997 1996 1995 1998 in the Philippines → 1999 2000 2001
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	List of years in the Philippines films

1998 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1998.

The year was also designated for the country's year-long 100th centennial anniversary of the Philippine Independence, as known by its theme, "100 Kalayaan: Kayamanan ng Bayan (1898-1998)".

Incumbents[]

• President
  • Fidel Ramos (Lakas) (until June 30)
  • Joseph Estrada (PMP) (starting June 30)
• Vice President
  • Joseph Estrada (PMP) (until June 30)
  • Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Lakas) (starting June 30)
• Senate President
  • Ernesto Maceda (until January 26)
  • Neptali Gonzales (January 26-June 30)
  • Marcelo Fernan (starting July 27)
• House Speaker
  • Jose de Venecia (until June 30)
  • Manny Villar (starting July 27)
• Chief Justice
  • Andres Narvasa (until November 30)
  • Hilario Davide (starting November 30)
• Philippine Congress
  • 10th Congress of the Philippines (until June 5)
  • 11th Congress of the Philippines (starting July 27)

Events[]

February[]

• February 2 – Cebu Pacific Flight 387 crashes on the slopes between Mount Sumagaya and Mount Lumot in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, killing all 104 people on board. It is once considered as the country's worst air accident since 1964, before another one happened in 2000.^[1][2]
• February 11 – Talisay becomes a city in the province of Negros Occidental through ratification of Republic Act 8489 approved on the same date.

March[]

• March 7
  • Samal becomes a city in the province of Davao del Norte through ratification of Republic Act 8471 which was approved last January 30.
  • Tagum becomes a city in the province of Davao del Norte through ratification of Republic Act 8472 which was approved last January 30.
• March 14 – Passi becomes a city in the province of Iloilo through ratification of Republic Act 8469 which was approved last January 30.
• March 20 – San Fernando becomes a city in the province of La Union through ratification of Republic Act 8509 which was approved last February 13.
• March 21
  • Calapan becomes a city in the province of Oriental Mindoro through ratification of Republic Act 8475 which was approved last February 2.
  • Urdaneta becomes a city in the province of Pangasinan through ratification of Republic Act 8480 which was approved last February 10.
  • Victorias becomes a city in the province of Negros Occidental through ratification of Republic Act 8488 which was approved last February 11.
• March 22
  • Kidapawan becomes a city in the province of Cotabato through ratification of Republic Act 8500 which was approved last February 12.
  • Malaybalay becomes a city in the province of Bukidnon through ratification of Republic Act 8490 which was approved last February 11.
  • Parañaque becomes a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republic Act 8507 which was approved last February 13.

April[]

• April 4 – Antipolo becomes a city in Rizal province through ratification of Republic Act 8508 which was approved last February 13.
• April 19 – Tarlac becomes a city in the province of Tarlac through ratification of Republic Act 8593 which was approved last March 12.

May[]

• May 11 – Synchronized national and local elections were held.

June[]

• June 6 – Carmela Arcolas–Gamboa of Negros Occidental, was crowned Miss Philippines Centennial 1998.
• June 12 – The Philippines celebrates the centennial of its independence.
• June 30 – Former vice president Joseph Estrada is sworn in as the 13th president of the Philippines, succeeding Fidel Ramos. Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also sworn as tenth vice president of the Philippines as the latter's successor.
• June–September – Dry spell felt in 16 regions amid country's four-year growth, with ₱9 billion worth of agricultural damages.

September[]

• September 18 – Passenger ferry Princess of the Orient sinks off Fortune Island during a typhoon, killing 150.

October[]

• October 14 – Typhoon Iliang causes massive damage to the provinces in Ilocos, Northern, and Central Luzon, that left 83 people dead, injuring 63 others and left ₱1.76 billion in damages.

December[]

• December 3 – Asociacion de Damas Filipinas, an orphanage house in Paco, Manila was gutted by a fire that killed 28 people, mostly children who were admitted in the center.^[3]
• December 18 – Abu Sayyaf founder Abdurajak Janjalani dies in a police encounter.
• December 30 – Valenzuela becomes a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republic Act 8526 which was approved last February 14.

Television[]

Sports[]

• January 17 – The Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters achieved their 6th title of the PBL after their winning against AGFA HDC Films in Game 5 of the 1998 PBL All-Filipino Cup Finals, 82–76.
• March 7 – The Inauguration games of the Metropolitan Basketball Association held at Don Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
• May 8 – The Alaska Milkmen regain the 1998 PBA All-Filipino Cup crown with a 4–3 series victory against the San Miguel Beermen and repeated as back-to-back title, Alaska winning their 8th PBA title.
• July 6 – The Tanduay Centennial Rhum Masters were crowned as the PBL Basketball champions of the 1998 Yakult PBL Centennial Cup after beating Batang Red Bull in the Game 3 of the finals series, 71–65. and also breaking its seventh title drought.
• August 14 – The Alaska Milkmen won their 9th straight PBA title, defeating the San Miguel Beermen for the second time in the season, winning in six games.
• October 6 – The Mobiline Phone Pals won the PBA Centennial Cup title, defeating the Formula Shell Super Unleaded in winning the overtime 67–66.
• October 31 – The Pampanga Dragons wins as the first MBA champions, winning against Negros Slashers 4–1. The Dragons clinch the first MBA national championship.
• December 6–20 – The Philippines participated in the 1998 Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand from December 6 to December 20, 1998. Ranked 21st with 1 gold medal, 5 silver medals and 12 bronze medals with a total of 18 over-all medals.^[4]
• December 9 – Formula Shell Super Unleaded wins their third PBA title and their first in six years, with a 4–3 series victory over the Mobiline Phone Pals.

Births[]

• January 4 – Liza Soberano, actress
• January 10 – Ayra Mariano, actress
• February 3 – James Teng, actor
• February 5 – Sammie Rimando, actress
• February 10 – Donny Pangilinan, actor
• February 16 – Jack Reid, actor and Commercial model
• February 24 – Mariel Pamintuan, actress
• February 27 – Carla Catamco, actress and singer
• March 14 – Elaine Duran, singer
• March 27 – BJ Forbes, actor
• March 29 – Alice de Leon, member of MNL48
• March 30 – Janella Salvador, actress
• April 16 – Paul Salas, actor
• May 15 – Kokoy de Santos, actor, singer, dancer and commercial model
• May 25 – Ricci Rivero, actor and basketball player
• May 26 – Wealand Ferrer
• May 27 – Sachzna Laparan, model and actress
• May 28 – Luis Gabriel Moreno, archer and Youth Olympic Games medalist
• June 3 – Markus Paterson, actor
• June 22 – Maureen Wroblewitz, Asia's Next Top Model winner and TV co-host
• August 1 – Barbie Imperial, actress
• August 19 – Ella Guevara, actress
• August 21 – Prince Villanueva, actor
• August 23 – Russell Reyes, member of BoybandPH
• August 24 – Sofia Andres, actress
• September 1 – Argel Saycon
• September 21 – Miguel Tanfelix, actor
• October 1 – Ryle Paolo Santiago, member of Hashtags
• October 10 – Nash Aguas, actor
• November 10 – Renz Valerio, actor
• November 11 – Carlo Lacana, actor
• November 22 – Jane de Leon, actress
• November 27 – Jeremiah Lisbo, actor
• December 2 – Gabbi Garcia, actress and endorser
• December 6 – Krystelle Yague, news anchor and singer
• December 9 – Mika Dela Cruz, actress
• December 21 – Jong Madaliday, singer
• December 25 – Jose Emmanuel Martinez, comic book expert
• December 26 – Ashley Ortega, actress
• December 28 – Aaron Junatas, actor

Deaths[]

• January 9 – Charito Solis, actress (b. 1935)
• March 31 – DJ Dejarlo, Filipino professional basketball player and MBA player
• April – Pancho Magalona, Philippine actor (b. 1921)
• June 11 – Leopoldo Salcedo, actor (b. 1912)
• August 27 – Babalu, actor and comedian (b. 1942)
• September 1 – Francisco Coching, Filipino comic books illustrator and writer (b. 1919)
• September 6 – Ric Segreto, recording artist (b. 1952)
• October 9 – Anthony Alonzo, Filipino actor and politician (b. 1948)
• October 23 – Adrian Gonzales, Filipino comic book artist (b. 1937)
• December 17 – Alberto Jover Piamonte, fourth Archbishop of Jaro in the Philippines (b. 1934)
• December 18 – Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, chief founder and leader of Abu Sayyaf (b. 1959)

Deaths unknown[]

• Mariano Tolentino, Olympic Basketball Player (b. 1928)
• Manuel C. Herrera, Filipino judge (b. 1924)

References[]