2008 lookback in the Philippines

January 5-Ruben Gonzaga of Davao won PBBCE2
January 26-Jose A.Melo named Chairman of Comelec,replacing Benjamin Abalos,Sr.,Resurreccion Borra and Romeo Brawner
January 31-7.3% GDP growth and 7.8% GNP the highest figures in 31 years in 5 past presidents
February 5-Prospero Nograles named House Speaker
February 5-Philippine Energy Summit
February 8-Rodolfo”Jun”Lozada testifies at the Senate over the NBN-ZTE deal controversy
February 8-Mt.Province solon dies
March 2-Sta.Lucia Realtors,champions,PBA Philippine Cup;Barangay Ginebra,champions,PBA Fiesta Conference held August 20
March 10-Lakas-CMD elects Speaker Nograles as President
March 13-Negros Occidental Gov.Joseph Maranon dies
March 16,June 29,December 7:Manny Pacquiao won over contenders Juan Manuel Marquez,David Diaz,and Oscar dela Hoya
March 17-Labor Sec.Arturo Brion named SC Associate Justice;Marianito Roque,then OWWA Administrator succeed him as acting capacity
March 24-Former Pres.Corazon Aquino suffers from colon cancer
March 29-Tabuan-Lasa,Basilan becomes a municipality
April 6-Pinoy punchers Gerry Penalosa and Rey”Boom-boom”Bautista won over 2 foreign challengers at the Araneta Coliseum
April 8-9 military officers receives prison sentences from a Makati city trial
Court for their role in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny
May 12-Gen.Alexander Yano is the new AFP Chief of Staff
May 16-RCBC bank robbery in Cabuyao,Laguna
May 20-Party-list solon Crispin Beltran dies
May 27-Meralco ASM tension over 13 hours
June 6-Cheaper Medicines Bill becomes a law
June 7-Rudy Fernandez dies;Ejay Falcon of Oriental Mindoro won PBB Teen Edition Plus
June 17-Amendments to the Expanded VAT Law signed
June 18-ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and 2 crew freed in Sulu after 11 days in captivity
June 21-MV Princess of the Stars tragedy in Sibuyan Sea,Romblon
July 1-Ban on tobacco advertisements on mass media took effect
July 4-Tito Sotto named Dangerous Drugs chief;Pacquiao named Special Envoy to the 2008 Beijing Olympics
July 17-Shariff Kabunsuan province in ARMM is declared unconstitutional
July 23-Ralph Recto named NEDA Chief and sworn-in August 12
July 26-AJ Banal lost to a Panamanian challenger in Cebu City
August 5-SC stops MoA-AD signing in Malaysia
August 11-Incumbent ARMM Governor Zaldy Uy Ampatuan reelected for a second four-year term
August 17-Gretchen Espina of Biliran,Eastern Visayas won the first Pinoy Idol,over Ram Chaves and Jay-Ann Bautista
August 23-Willy Wang wins wushu gold medallist in a special Olympic event in Beijing,a day after the 2008 Summer Olympics concludes
August 30-Boomboom once again won over Mexican
September 1-Boxing star Manny Pacquiao rejoins Kampi party
September 14-Laarni Lozada won PDA Season 2
September 25-Ateneo,2008 UAAP basketball championships
September 27-Gen.Jesus Versoza takes over PNP leadership over Avelino Razon,Jr.
September 30-Janina San Miguel,Bb.Pilipinas World 2008,resigns
October 27-29:Global Forum on Migration and Development(GFMD)held in Manila with the presence of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
October 28-Ex-aggie sec.Jocelyn”Joc-joc”Bolante arrives from a US court,testifies in the Senate hearing on Nov.13
October 31-RA 9510 signed into law the Credit Information System Act
November 1-Donaire won over South African challenger
November 8-MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando won Celebrity Duets 2
November 9-Karla Paula Henry won Miss Earth 2008 crown
November 12-Senate ratifies ASEAN Charter,1 month before the ASEAN Charter into force in Jakarta,Indonesia,signed on Dec.15
November 17-Juan Ponce Enrile named Senate President after Manny Villar’s resignation
November 18-16 cities declared unconstitional by the Supreme Court
December 7-Kapuso star Marky Cielo dies
December 12-JC Tiuseco won over Rob Sy as First Pinoy Sole Survivor of Survivor Philippines
December 16-Renewable Energy Bill
December 17-Laguna and Sta.Rosa City solon Dan Fernandez unseated by the HRET
December 18-Iligan blast kills 3 people
December 18-Tacloban is now a highly-urbanized(HUC)status;6 new barangays in Taguig established

Replaced Cabinet officials and new appointments in 2008
Marianito Roque to Arturo Brion,Labor and Employment
Sec.Jesus Dureza to Ignacio Bunye,Press
Luis Chavit Singson,deputy National Security Adviser
Avelino Ignacio Razon,Jr.,deputy National Security Adviser
Dr.Emmanuel Angeles,chairman,CHED

Replaced LGUs
Isidro Zayco,governor of Negros Occidental

World leaders attending this year:
Kuwait:Prime Minister
Palau:Tommy Remengesau
Swaziland:King Mswati III
Switzerland:President Pascal Couchepin
Thailand:Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej(May 22)and Somchai Wongsawat(Nov.10)
Timor-Leste:Jose Ramos Horta
United Nations:Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon


2008 in television(except specials)
January 14-Wheel of Fortune for ABS-CBN
January 21-SineNovela Presents Maging Akin Ka Lamang,GMA-7
January 28-Lobo,Kung Fu Kids,Palos for ABS-CBN
February 4-One Proud Mama for Q-11
February 7-E.S.P.,for GMA-7
February 11-Joaquin Bordado for GMA-7
March 3-SineNovela presents Kaputol ng Isang Awit,GMA-7
March 23-Gaby’s Xtraordinary Files for ABS-CBN
March 24-Matanglawin for ABS-CBN;Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita for GMA-7
March 29-I am KC,ABS-CBN
April 2-Fit n Fab for Q-11
April 5-Pinoy Idol for GMA-7
April 6-Tasya Fantasya for GMA-7
April 14-GoBingo for GMA-7(finalist,Best Game Show,22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV)
April 17-Draw the Line for Q-11
April 21-The Singing Bee for ABS-CBN
April 28-Dyesebel for GMA-7
May 5-Quickfire for Q-11
May 5-Balitang Amianan for GMA-Dagupan
May 26-Ligaw na Bulaklak and My Girl for ABS-CBN
June 23-Harapan:Failon and Sanchez for ABS-CBN;SineNovela presents Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan for GMA-7
June 30-Ako si Kim Sam Soon for GMA-7


July 14-Iisa Pa Lamang for ABS-CBN;Codename Asero,GMA-7
July 20-Dear Friend for GMA-7
August 9-Ka-Blog for GMA-7
August 10-Pulis,Pulis and MVP for TV5
August 11-TEN:The Evening News,Mysmatch(replacing OMG),Midnight DJ,and Juicy for TV5
August 13-Ogags for TV5
August 14-Obra for GMA-7
August 15-Pinoy’s Scariest Challenge and LokoMoKo for TV5
August 16-Lipgloss,Talentadong Pinoy for TV5
August 18-20:Bilib Ka Ba Nights for GMA-7
September 1:SineNovela presents Una Ka Naging Akin for GMA-7
September 15-Kahit Isang Saglit for ABS-CBN;and Survivor Philippines for GMA-7
September 22-Kalye,Kuwento ng Lansangan,ABS-CBN

October 2-Case Unclosed for GMA-7
October 4-True Confections for Q-11
October 13-Family Feud and LaLola for GMA-7
October 20-Gagambino for GMA-7
October 27-Pieta for ABS-CBN
November 10-Pinoy Fear Factor:South America,for ABS-CBN
November 17-Luna Mystica for GMA-7
November 23-You and Me Against the World for TV5
November 25-Iam Ninoy for TV5
December 2-Full Force Nature of Bilib Ka Ba Nights for GMA-7


2008 in film:
February 13:My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend
February 27:My Big Love
March 22:Supapahlicious
April 16:Manay Po 2:Overload
April 30:When Love Begins
May 14:Ikaw Pa Rin,Bongga Ka Day!
May 28:Caregiver for Star Cinema
July 2:My Monster Mom
July 30:A Very Special Love
August 13:Dobol Trobol:Ready 2 Rambol
August 20:Loving You
August 27:For The First Time
October 1:Kulam(Regal Films)
October 29:My Only U
November 19:One True Love for GMA Films and Regal Films
34th Metro Manila Film Festival
Baler
Dayo
Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat
One Night Only
Magkaibigan
Iskul Bukol:20 Years After
Shake,Rattle,and Roll X
Desperadas 2


Deaths
· January 1: Eloisa Mabutas, Manila Times columnist
· January 15: Eduardo Hontiveros, Jesuit composer and musician
· January 28: Crisologo Abines, former Congressman, 2nd District of Cebu
· February 2: Billy Balbastro, entertainment columnist and DZMM anchor
· February 2: Pedro Baban, first Igorot general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
· February 4: Larry Cruz, restaurateur, founder of LJC Restaurant Group
· February 6: Stella Goldenberg Brimo, classical pianist, dean of UST Conservatory of Music
·
· February 29: Tino Reynoso, retired Philippine Basketball Association player
· March 8: Carol Varga, FAMAS-award winning actress
·
· March 17: Rafael Recto, former Batangas Assemblyman and political scion
· March 25: Chito Madrigal-Collantes, socialite and philantrophist
· March 27: Toti Fuentes, jazz pianist
· March 28: Nemesio Prudente, former PUP president and political prisoner
· March 29: Venicio Escolin, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice
· April 14: Olivia Cenizal, film actress
· April 16: Lucia "Aling Lucing" Cunanan, inventor of sisig
· April 19: Lou Salvador, Jr., film actor
· April 23: Loreto Paras-Sulit, writer of short fiction
· May 8: Jose Feria, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice
· May 16: Henry Canoy, founder of RMN
·
· May 25: Dommy Ursua, flyweight boxer
· May 26: Dolly Aglay, journalist with Reuters and Philippine Star
· May 26: Howlin' Dave, radio disc jockey
· May 29: Romeo Brawner, incumbent COMELEC Commissioner
·
· June 7: Danilo Lagbas, incumbent Congressman
· July 22: Abbo de la Cruz, film director also known as "Rico Mambo"
· July 22: Gilbert Perez, fashion designer and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist
· August 14: Jose Blanco, painter
· August 16: Lucrecia Kasilag, National Artist of the Philippines
· August 28: Mang Pandoy, street vendor and media icon
· August 28: Zorayda Sanchez, film and TV comedian
· September 1:Dely Magpayo, radio host best known as "Tia Dely"
· September 12: Pacita Madrigal Warns Gonzalez, former Senator
· September 26: Cirio H. Santiago, film director
· October 13: Khryss Adalia, film and television director
· October 18: Alfredo E. Evangelista, archaeologist, discovered the Laguna Copper Plate
·
· November 27: Armand Fabella, Secretary of Education (1992-1994), president of Jose Rizal University
· December 4: Manuel Yan, former AFP Chief of Staff and diplomat
·
· December 10: Didith Reyes, singer
· December 17: Guillermo Cua, incumbent party-list congressman
· December 23: Narciso Bernardo, basketball player and Olympian
· December 24: Ricardo Manapat, author & director of the National Archives