1979 in the Philippines

Ferdinand E.
Marcos Sr.

Querube C.
Makalintal

Enrique M.
Fernando

• President: Ferdinand Marcos (KBL)
• Prime Minister: Ferdinand Marcos (KBL)
• House Speaker: Querube Makalintal
• Chief Justice:
  • Fred Ruiz Castro (until July 2)
  • Enrique Fernando (starting July 2)

• March 29 – A fire in a discothèque and massage parlor in Manila kills 15 persons.^[1]

• April 10 – Presidential Decree No. 1616, an act to create an Intramuros Administration for the purpose of restoring and developing Intramuros is enacted.^[2]
• April 18 – A typhoon kills at least 12 persons, left hundreds homeless, and caused property damage estimated at $3.5 million.^[1]

• May 7 – Sangguniang Pampook elections are held for the Regional Legislative Assembly of the former Autonomous Regions in the Philippines which are the Region IX and Region XII.

• October 31 – Project Gintong Alay, a national sports program commences.

• December 20 – A bus plunges into a river in Isabela, killing at least 50 persons.^[1]

On February 15, President Marcos issued Letter of Instruction No. 814, providing a list of holidays for that year, and guidelines for observation of such.^[3]

Legal public holidays

• January 1 – New Year's Day
• April 9 – Bataan Day
• April 12 – Maundy Thursday
• April 13 – Good Friday
• May 1 – Labor Day
• June 12 – Independence Day
• July 4 – Fil-Am Day
• August 26 – National Heroes Day
• November 30 – Bonifacio Day
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 30 – Rizal Day

Nationwide special holidays

• April 14 – Holy Saturday (additional holiday)^[4]
• September 11 – Barangay Day
• September 21 – Thanksgiving Day
• November 1 – All Saints Day
• November 2 and 3 – additional holidays^[5]
• December 31 – in lieu of Rizal Day since the latter fell on Sunday

• July 30 – Eat Bulaga!, the longest running noon-time variety show in the Philippines, premiered on RPN. It was also aired on ABS-CBN from 1989 to 1995, GMA Network from 1995 to 2023 and the TV5 since 2023.^[6]
• November 12 – Melanie Marquez is crowned as Miss International 1979 in the pageant night which was held in Mielparque, Tokyo, Japan.

• January 18 – Mark Anthony Fernandez, actor
• January 21 – Rex Gatchalian, politician
• January 29 – Marvin Agustin, actor, chef, and entrepreneur
• January 30 – Richard "Muji" Rivera, A heavy weight bodybuilder of the 90's
• February 23 – Wacky Roxas, actor
• March 1 – Lee Vann Corteza, pool player
• March 4 – Mariz Umali, broadcast journalist
• March 17 – Sarji Ruiz, actor
• April 10 – Ryan Agoncillo, film and television actor, model and photographer
• April 14 – King, singer
• April 26 – Neil Ryan Sese, actor
• May 9 – Ara Mina, Actress and singer
• May 11 – Eric Yap, politician
• June 9:
  • Steven Alonzo, actor, musician and Voice Unlimited member
  • Jefferson Utanes, voice actor and announcer (d. 2025)
• June 14 – Ren-Ren Ritualo, basketball player and coach
• July 20 – Claudine Barretto, actress
• August 16 – Sarah Balabagan, prisoner and singer
• August 22 – Angelu De Leon actress
• September 22 – Jericho Rosales, actor and singer
• September 23 – Maureen Larrazabal, actress
• September 24 – Julia Clarete, actress, singer, and host
• September 28 – Amanda Griffin, actress, TV host and commercial model
• October 2 – Mark Vernal, actor
• October 4 – Zen Hernandez, broadcast journalist
• November 19 – Mark Caguioa, basketball player
• December 10 – Lui Villaruz, actor and TV director
• December 12 – Carlos Agassi, actor and model
• December 17 – Denise Joaquin, actress