2003 in the Philippines

2003 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2003.

← 2002 2001 2000 2003 in the Philippines → 2004 2005 2006
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	List of years in the Philippines films

Incumbents

• President - Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (NPC)
• Vice President - Teofisto Guingona (NPC)
• Senate President - Franklin Drilon
• House Speaker - Jose de Venecia
• Chief Justice - Hilario Davide, Jr.
• Philippine Congress - 12th Congress of the Philippines

Events

• January 22–26 – 4th World Meeting of Families was held at the Quirino Grandstand Luneta Park, Manila.
• February 13 – The Overseas Absentee Voting Act is passed into law providing a system of voting for overseas Filipinos.
• March 4 – A bomb exploded at an airport in Davao City that killed at least 19 people.[1]
• May 26 – The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 is passed into law. The Philippines becomes one of the first Asian nations to pass anti-trafficking legislation.
• July 27 – A group of soldiers calling themselves the Bagong Katipuneros launched a mutiny in Oakwood against then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo citing alleged corruption of Arroyo's administration and claimed that Arroyo was about to declare martial law.

Concerts

• September 13 – The Event with F4 and Barbie Hsu live at the PhilSports Complex, Pasig City
• November 16 – Mariah Carey live at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field, Taguig City
• December 26 – F4 live at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field, Taguig City

Television

Main article: 2003 in Philippine television

Sports

• July 13 – The Talk 'N Text Phone Pals wins their first-ever PBA title in 13 years, winning four straight over the defending champions Coca Cola Tigers in a 4-2 series victory.
• August 23 – Alaska Aces wins their PBA Invitational Championship title with a 2-1 series victory over the Coca-Cola Tigers
• December 14 – After two runner-up finishes in the first two conferences, the Coca Cola Tigers won their 2nd PBA title with a 4-3 series victory over San Miguel Beermen.
• December 5–13 – The Philippines participated at the 22nd Southeast Asian Games were held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Births

• February 14 – Zephanie Dimaranan, singer
• March 12 – Andrea Brillantes, actress, model, Commercial Endorser
• March 16 – Francheska Salcedo, actress
• March 31 – Carl Alexander Acosta, actor and dancer
• May 13 – Rita Gaviola, actress and internet sensation
• June 1 – Jayda Avanzado, singer
• July 28 – Carlo Jose, Musician, Dota 2 Professional Player, Basketball player
• August 16 – Harvey Bautista, actor
• October 13 – Ar Angel Aviles, actress
• October 22 – Lie Reposposa, singer, actress and housemate
• November 23 – Alyanna Angeles, actress
• December 27 – Louise Abuel, actor/TV commercial model

Deaths

• March 23 – Amado Cortez, former actor and diplomat (b. 1928)
• March 31 – Eddie Arenas, Filipino actor (b. 1935)
• April 9 – Rod Navarro, former TV host, actor, and radio commentator (b. 1936)
• June 2 – Danny Holmsen, former film director (b. 1930)
• June 19 – Rafael Ileto, former Defense secretary (b. 1920)
• June 24 – Rene Cayetano, former Senator and father of Senator Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano (b. 1934)
• July 2 – Antonio Fortich, Catholic bishop and social activist (b. 1913)
• July 4 – Manuel Araneta, Jr., Filipino basketball player (b. 1926)
• July 6 – Jose C. Abriol, Filipino Catholic priest, monsignor, and Bible translator from the Philippines (b. 1918)
• July 18 – César Ramírez, former actor and father of the late Ace Vergel (b. 1929)
• July 19:
  • Oscar Moreno, former actor and father of Boots Anson-Roa (b. 1921)
  • Vic Vargas, former actor (b. 1939)
• July 27 – Emmanuel Pelaez, former Vice-President of the Philippines (b. 1915)
• September 10 – Tata Esteban, 48, former film director (b. 1954)
• September 26 – Inday Badiday, Filipino host and journalist who was known as Philippine television's "queen of showbiz talk shows" and "queen of intrigues" (b. 1944)
• October 7 – Julie Fe Navarro, radio talent and showbiz writer[2] (b. 1941)
• November 14 – Carding Castro, former singer-comedian and singing comic duo Reycard Duet (b. 1935)
• November 16 – Catalino Macaraig, Jr., Filipino politician (b. 1927)
• November 17 – Betty Chua-Sy, former finance executive for the Coca-Cola Export Corp. (b. 1972)
• November 20 – Pedro Yap, former Chief Justice (b. 1918)
• December 5 – Fred Montilla, former actor (b. 1919)
• December 14 – Blas Ople, former Senator and former Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs (b. 1927)
• December 29 – Miko Sotto, former young actor and son of actress and radio host Ali Sotto (b. 1982)

References

1. "Bomb Kills 21, Including an American, at Philippines Airport". FOX News. March 4, 2003. Retrieved March 4, 2003.
2. "Radio talent, showbiz writer Julie Fe is dead". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 9, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2017.