January 22 – A Philippine Navy gunboat engages in a battle with three Chinese naval vessels near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, marking the first violent military confrontation involving the two countries and further triggering an ongoing diplomatic crisis.^[1]

February 14 – Violent clashes erupt between Filipino soldiers and Vietnamese boat people, as the Philippines government attempts to forcibly repatriate hundreds of Vietnamese asylum seekers.
February 18 – Overcrowded ferry ML Gretchen I, traveling from Cebu, overturns and sinks at the entrance to the port of Cadiz, Negros Occidental; by the end of the month, fifty-one people are reported killed. It happens when passengers shifted to one side to avoid high waves.^[2]^[3]

March 18 – Fire razes Ozone Disco in Quezon City, killing 162 guests including college graduating students and 95 more injured. The incident was officially acknowledged as the worst fire in Philippine history, and among the 10 worst nightclub fires in the world.^[4]^[5]^[6]^{[verification needed]}
March 24 – A mining disaster occurs on the island province of Marinduque when the leftover mine tailings from the drainage of the Marcopper Mining Corporation are leaked into the river and spilled into the sea.^[4]^{[verification needed]}

June 13 – Retired P/Col. Rolando Abadilla, intelligence officer during the Marcos administration, is assassinated in Quezon City. Communist Alex Boncayao Brigade claims responsibility. Five of the seven accused would be convicted in 1999.^[7]^[8]

July 24–25 – Typhoon Gloria looses rains and flooding that killed nearly 60 people on Luzon and Mindoro Islands.^[2]
July 31 – Sarah Balabagan, a migrant worker sentenced and imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for almost two years for killing her employer in self-defense, is freed; She returns to the country the next day.^[4]^[9]

November 24–25 – 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit is held in Subic, Zambales; the first time the country hosted the event.^[4]^{[verification needed]}

December 7 – Marikina becomes a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila through ratification of Republic Act 8223 which was approved on November 6.^[14]

Incumbents

Events