1983 in the Philippines

Ferdinand E.
Marcos Sr.

Cesar A.
Virata

Nicanor E.
Yñiguez

Enrique M.
Fernando

• President: Ferdinand Marcos (KBL)
• Prime Minister: Cesar Virata (KBL)
• House Speaker: Nicanor Yñiguez
• Chief Justice:
  • Querube C. Makalintal (until June 30)
  • Enrique Fernando (starting June 30)

• February 6 – Fifteen workers die in a mine explosion in Danao, Cebu caused by a cigarette.^[1][2][3][4]

• July 12–15 – Typhoon Bebeng, The monsoon spawns a tropical depression on July 12, east of the Philippines. It heads westward, strengthening to a tropical storm that night and a typhoon on the 13th. Vera makes landfall on the 14th as an 85 mph (137 km/h) typhoon in the Philippines, weakens over the islands, especially Luzon,^[1] and strengthens over the South China Sea to a 100 mph (160 km/h) typhoon. Damages amounting to a total of US$9 million in the Philippines. The typhoon leaves 45^[1] people dead.

• August 17 – An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale strikes Luzon, the Philippines' largest island, leaving at least 21^[5] people dead.^[1]
• August 21 – Former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and Ronaldo Galman are shot dead at Manila International Airport tarmac after his arrival. The event is cited to be a catalyst to the People Power Revolution.

• September 29 – Forty-six soldiers and civilians are killed when an army patrol unit is ambushed by New People's Army guerrillas in Godod, Zamboanga del Norte; the death toll is the highest suffered by Government forces in a single attack.^[6]

• October 3 – More than 20,000 Filipino workers at two American military bases in Clark and Subic go on strike, demanding a wage increase.^[7]

• November 21 – The inter-island ferry MV Cassandra sinks during a storm off Cebu, killing at least 167 people.^[8]

Letter of Instruction No. 1087, issued by President Marcos in 1980 that provided revised guidelines for observation of holidays, remained in effect. The letter strictly mandated that when a legal holiday fell on a Sunday, only a proclamation was required to declare the following Monday a special public holiday.^[9]

Legal public holidays

• January 1 – New Year's Day
• March 31 – Maundy Thursday
• April 1 – Good Friday
• May 1 – Labor Day
• May 6 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Bataan, Corregidor and Besang Pass Day)
• June 12 – Independence Day
• July 4 – Filipino-American Friendship Day
• August 28 – National Heroes Day
• November 30 – Bonifacio Day
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 30 – Rizal Day

Nationwide special holidays

• September 11 – Barangay Day
• September 21 – Thanksgiving Day
• November 1 – All Saints Day
• December 31 – Last Day of the Year

• February 13 - The launching of Ang Iglesia ni Cristo the first religious program on MBS Channel 4 (now PTV-4).

• The religious program Ang Dating Daan starts its television broadcast on IBC 13.^[10][11]