2002 in the Philippines

← 2001 2000 1999 2002 in the Philippines → 2003 2004 2005
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	List of years in the Philippines films

2002 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2002.

Incumbents

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

Events

• March 5 – The sixth most powerful earthquake of the year, the Mindanao earthquake struck near the Cotabato Trench and registered a magnitude of 7.5.^[1]
• May 31 – Hostage crisis in Philtranco Bus Terminal in Malibay, Pasay City at dawn, lasted for two hours and ended with the death of both the 4-year-old boy, Dexter Balala, and the drugged knife-wielder, Diomedes Talbo. The young victim was stabbed 13 times by the suspect while the police tried to conduct a rescue attempt, which then failed. The policemen shot the suspect, however, they also hit the boy five times including one bullet which pierced his heart.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}
• June 21 – Leader of the extrimist Abu Sayyaf, Abu Sabaya, was killed by soldiers of the Philippine Army.^[7]
• July 15 – Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections were held for the first time in the Philippines upon effect of Republic Act No. 9164 which was approved on March 19, 2002 by the 12th Congress of the Philippines.
• October 2 – A bomb blast in front of a Malagutay district karaoke bar near a military arms depot^[8] in Zamboanga City killed an American Green Beret commando and three Filipino civilians. At least 25 other people, one of them another American trooper, were wounded in the blast.^[9]
• October 17 – Two TNT bombs exploded around noon inside a shopping centre in the commercial district of Zamboanga City, when the mall was most busy, killing at least seven and wounding about 150 people.^[10] Two department stores were destroyed in the attack.
• October 21 – A Philippine Marine guarding the church was killed and 18 others were wounded after a bomb, placed in bag left at a candle store, exploded at Fort Pilar, a Catholic shrine in Zamboanga City.^[11]

Television

Sports

• September 29-October 14 – The Philippines participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. It ranked 18th with 3 gold medals, 7 silver medals and 16 bronze medals with a total of 26 over-all medals.^[12]
• October 5 – University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's division finals: The Ateneo Blue Eagles defeat the De La Salle Green Archers to end their 4-year title streak and win the school their first title in 15 years Back in 1987.

Births

• February 15 - Norlan Brequillo
• February 28 - Ylona Garcia
• April 21 – Carl and Clarence Aguirre, conjoined twins
• June 10 - Belinda Mariano, actress
• July 18 - Ogie Escanilla, actor and dancer
• August 23 – Miko Eala, tennis player
• September 3 – Bugoy Carino, actor
• September 3 – Kyline Alcantara, actress
• October 6 - Dale Baldillo, Filipino child actor and model
• December 9 – Timothy Chan, actor

Deaths

• March 29 – Rico Yan, Filipino matinee idol, model and actor (b. 1975)
• March 31 - Lucio D. San Pedro, Filipino composer and teacher. (b. 1913)
• April 2 - Levi Celerio, Filipino composer and lyricist. (b. 1910)
• April 4 - Jack Tanuan, basketball player (b. 1965)
• May 31 – Dexter Balala, hostage victim
• June 21 – Abu Sabaya, Abu Sayyaf leader (b. 1962)
• August 1 - Francisco Arcellana, Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher (b. 1916)
• September 1 - Martin Urra, Filipino basketball player (b. 1931)
• September 22 - Paco Gorospe, Filipino painter (b. 1939)
• October 22 - Nonoy Marcelo, Filipino cartoonist (b. 1939)
• November 1 - Eduardo Decena, Filipino basketball player (b. 1926)
• November 18 - Zaldy Zshornack, Filipino actor. (b. 1937)
• December 3 - Santiago Bose, mixed-media artist (b. 1949)

Deaths Unknowned

• Rafael Barretto, Filipino basketball player (b. 1931)
• Fely Franquelli, Filipino dancer, choreographer, and actress (b. 1916)

References

1. "Magnitude 7 and Greater Earthquakes in 2002". United States Geological Survey. December 1, 2003. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
2. Alquitran, Non; Dizon, Nikko (June 3, 2002). "Cops who fired guns in bungled hostage drama face dismissal". Philstar Global. Philstar. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
3. Dizon, Nikko (June 1, 2002). "Cops bungle hostage crisis". Philstar Global. Philstar. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
4. Dizon, Nikko (May 31, 2003). "Lessons from a hostage tragedy". Philstar Global. Philstar. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
5. Vanzi, Sol Jose (2002). "GMA DEFENDS PNP'S INVOLVEMENT IN PASAY HOSTAGE TRAGEDY". www.newsflash.org. PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
6. "Knifeman kills four-year-old hostage on live TV". www.freerepublic.com. Free Republic. June 1, 2002. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
7. World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007. 2007.
8. "Abu Sayyaf kidnappings, bombings and other attacks". GMA News. August 23, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
9. "ABUS, AL-QAEDA TAGGED IN WEDNESDAY NIGHT ZAMBOANGA BOMBING". newsflash. October 4, 2002. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
10. "Church attacked in Philippines city". BBC News. October 20, 2002. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
11. "Abu bomb expert captured". philstar.com. November 15, 2002. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
12. 2002 Asian Games medal tally