2021 in the Philippines

2021 in the Philippines details events of note that have occurred, or are scheduled to take place, in the Philippines in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic, which largely defined 2020, is still expected to have an impact in 2021.

← 2020 2019 2018 2021 in the Philippines → 2022 2023 2024
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	List of years in the Philippines music television sports

Incumbents

Rodrigo R.
Duterte

Leni G.
Robredo

Vicente
Sotto III

Lord Allan Jay
Velasco

Diosdado
Peralta

• President: Rodrigo R. Duterte (PDP–Laban)
• Vice President: Leni G. Robredo (Liberal)
• Congress (18th):
  • Senate President: Vicente Sotto III (NPC)
  • House Speaker: Lord Allan Velasco (PDP–Laban)
• Chief Justice: Diosdado Peralta, until March 27

Ongoing events

• COVID-19 pandemic
• 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, which includes the 500th anniversaries of the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines, the Philippines' part in Magellan's circumnavigation of the world, and the victory of Lapu-Lapu's forces in the Battle of Mactan.[1]

Events

January

• January 18 – The Department of National Defense announced its unilateral termination of its 1989 accord with the University of the Philippines which took effect three days earlier over claims that the New People's Army is recruiting members in the universities' campuses. The agreement limited the entry of police and military of the national government in the University of the Philippines' campuses.[2]

• January 28 – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that the country's GDP contracted by 9.5% in 2020, the biggest GDP contraction since World War II.[3][4]

March

• March 13 – Residents of Palawan, except Puerto Princesa, will vote in a plebiscite to approve or disapprove a law partitioning Palawan into three separate provinces.[5][6]

Unknown

• The Philippine government will review the status of the termination process of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States which it initiated in February 2020 by notifying the United States. The termination was to took effect after six months but was extended in June and November the previous year.[7][8]

Holidays

On July 31, 2020, the government announced at least 18 Philippine holidays for 2021 as declared by virtue of Proclamation No. 986, series of 2020.[9] Note that in the list, holidays in italics are "special non-working holidays," those in bold are "regular holidays," and those in non-italics and non-bold are "special holidays for schools."

In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are also "special days."

• January 1 – New Year's Day
• February 12 – Chinese New Year
• February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution
• April 1 – Maundy Thursday
• April 2 – Good Friday
• April 3 – Black Saturday
• April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
• May 1 – Labor Day
• June 12 – Independence Day
• August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
• August 30 – National Heroes Day
• November 1 – All Saints Day
• November 2 – Special non-working holiday
• November 30 – Bonifacio Day
• December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• December 24 – Special non-working holiday
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 30 – Rizal Day
• December 31 – Last day of the year (in observance of New Year's celebrations)
• TBA – Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan)
• TBA – Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)

Business and economy

• January 7 – The Security and Exchange Commission announces that it allows Investree to commence commercial operations. The firm becomes the first crowdfunding portal to be allowed to operate from the Philippines.[10]

Entertainment and culture

Sports

Scheduled events

• January 25 – Volleyball: An election will be held to determine the set of officials to head a new national sports association (NSA) for volleyball potentially ending the dispute between the Philippine Volleyball Federation and the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas over which organization is the legitimate NSA for volleyball in the country.[11]
• February 18–22 – Basketball: The Philippines as one of the host for the third window of 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification at Clark, Pampanga[12]
• November 7–17 – Swimming: The Philippines to host the Asian Swimming Championships at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac

Deaths

Danilo Lim

Pag-asa

January

• January 1:
  • Christine Dacera (b. 1997), flight attendant[13][14]
• January 2:
  • Nonoy Chuatico (b. 1965), former basketball player[15]
  • Rogelio Casurao (b. 1954), vice chairman and executive officer of National Police Commission[16]
• January 6:
  • Danilo Lim (b. 1955), chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority[17]
  • Pag-asa (b. 1992), first Philippine eagle to be bred and hatched in captivity[18]
• January 7 – Reynaldo Umali (b. 1957), former representative of the 2nd District of Oriental Mindoro[19]
• January 9 – Royette Padilla (b. 1962), former actor[20]
• January 10:
  • Joji Aragon, Undersecretary of Department of Labor and Employment[21]
  • Alberto "Bert" Ortiz, former basketball player[22]
  • Moe Chulani, co-founder and project director of Ronda Pilipinas[23]
• January 11 – Christopher Cuan, mayor of Libungan, Cotabato[24]
• January 23 – Tony Ferrer (b. 1934), former actor[25]
• January 26 – Yabing Masalon Dulo (b. 1914), weaver and Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee[26]
• January 29 – Dante Jimenez (b. 1952), chairman of Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission[27]
• January 31 – Victor Ziga (b. 1945), former senator, Albay assemblyman and cabinet minister[28]

February

• February 1 – Naty Crame-Rogers (b. 1922), actress[29]
• February 2 – John Henry Osmeña (b. 1935), former senator[30]

See also

Country overviews

• Philippines
• History of Philippines
• History of modern Philippines
• Outline of Philippines
• Government of Philippines
• Politics of Philippines
• Years in the Philippines
• Timeline of Philippine history

Related timelines for current period

• 2021
• 2021 in politics and government
• 2020s

References

1. Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (January 6, 2021). "Here's why 2021 is a special year for the Philippines". GMA News. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
2. Magsambol, Bonz (January 19, 2021). "What you need to know about the 1989 UP-DND accord". Rappler. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
3. De Vera, Ben O. (January 28, 2021). "PH posts worst recession in 2020". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
4. Laforga, Beatrice M. (January 29, 2021). "Philippine GDP shrinks by record 9.5% in 2020". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
5. "Comelec sets plebiscite in Palawan May 11, 2020". Philippine News Agency. November 15, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
6. Miranda, Romar (December 24, 2020). "Comelec sets Palawan split plebiscite on March 13, 2021". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
7. Mangosing, Frances (November 17, 2020). "PH, US execs meet after VFA gets extended lease on life". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
8. Staff, Reuters (November 11, 2020). "Philippines extends termination process of U.S. troop deal, eyes long-term defence pact". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
9. "LIST: 2021 Philippine Holidays". Rappler. August 3, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
10. "SEC OKs Philippines' first crowdfunding portal". GMA News. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
11. Reyes, Marc Anthony (January 18, 2021). "New volley NSA formed with Suzara looming as president". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
12. Leongson, Randolph (December 11, 2020). "Clark set to host February window of Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers". Spin. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
13. "Sharon Dacera: 'Para sa akin, ni-rape po ang anak ko' | NXT". ABS-CBN News – via YouTube. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
14. Marquez, Consuelo (January 7, 2021). "New Year's Day tragedy: What really happened to Christine Dacera?". Retrieved January 7, 2021.
15. "Former Ginebra, Ateneo star Nonoy Chuatico dies". Rappler. January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
16. "NAPOLCOM vice-chair Casurao dies". GMA News Online. January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
17. Aguilar, Krissy (January 6, 2021). "MMDA chair Danilo Lim dies at 65". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
18. Tocmo, Hernel (January 8, 2021). "Iconic Philippine Eagle 'Pag-asa' dies at 28". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
19. Colcol, Erwin (January 7, 2021). "Ex-Rep. Reynaldo Umali passes away at 63". GMA News Online.
20. "Royette Padilla dies at 58". Rappler. January 9, 2021.
21. "DOLE Usec. Joji Aragon has died due to COVID-19, Bello says". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
22. Ramos, Gerry (January 12, 2021). "PH sports suffers more losses in new year as ex-PBA player, cycling official pass away". Sports Interactive Network. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
23. Satumbaga-Villar, Kristel (January 10, 2021). "Ronda Pilipinas co-founder Moe Chulani passes away". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
24. "Cotabato town mayor, driver shot dead". ABS-CBN News. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
25. Alpad, Christina (January 23, 2021). "Tony Ferrer, Philippines' James Bond, dies at 86". The Manila Times.
26. "PH master weaver Fu Yabing Masalon Dulo dies at 107". ABS-CBN News. January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
27. "PACC chair Dante Jimenez dies". ABS-CBN News. January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
28. Arguelles, M.S. (February 1, 2021). "Ex-senator Ziga dies at 75". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
29. Dumaual, Mario (February 2, 2021). "Naty Crame-Rogers, pioneering theater stalwart, dies at 98". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
30. Erram, Morexette Marie (February 2, 2021). "Sonny O passes away". CDN Digital. Retrieved February 3, 2021.