1973 in the Philippines

Incumbents

• President: Ferdinand Marcos
• Chief Justice: Roberto Concepcion, Querube Makalintal

  Events

• January 10–15 – A national plebiscite referendum is held among the citizens' assemblies to ratify the new Constitution.
• January 15 – Chinese Lim Seng, upon order from Pres. Marcos on January 3, is publicly executed by firing squad in a firing range in Fort Bonifacio, Rizal for drug trafficking; the country's first execution by that method after 27 years, and only drug convict executed in the martial law era. He was charged in connection to a case wherein illegal drugs were seized in an operation in parts of Metro Manila in 1972.
• January 17 – The 1973 Constitution is declared ratified, which provides the incumbent President the right to continue exercising his powers under the 1935 Constitution and the powers vested in the President and the Prime Minister under the new Constitution.
• January 31 – Supreme Court decides in a case filed against Commission of Elections, that the "incumbent president of the Philippines" is Pres. Marcos, as stated in the Transitory Provisions of the 1973 Constitution.
• April 24 – National Democratic Front is founded as the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
• May – Masagana 99 program is launched by Pres. Marcos.
• July 21 – Miss Philippines Margarita Moran was crowned Miss Universe 1973.
• July 27–28 – National referendum is held wherein 90.77% of the Citizen Assemblies voted for the ratification of the 1973 Constitution and the continuation of Martial Law, as well as continuation of Pres. Marcos' term beyond 1973.
• August 27 – Benigno Aquino Jr. refuses to recognize the military court that will try him on various charges.
• September 27 – Eight municipalities of Sulu are removed from its jurisdiction to create the new province of Tawi-Tawi, with Bato-Bato, Balimbing as its capital.
• November 4 – Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation began radio-television operations.
• November 18-23 – The inaugural Asian Athletics Championships was held in Marikina.
• November 22 – Old Cotabato province is divided into three new provinces: North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.
• December 1-15 – The 1973 Asian Basketball Confederation Championship were held in Manila.
• December 27 – Part of Zamboanga del Sur is removed from its jurisdiction to create the new province of Basilan, with Isabela as its capital.

  Births

• January 8 - Keempee de Leon, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and TV host
• January 31 - Jay Manalo, actor and model
• February 7 – Angel Aquino, film and television actress
• March 2 – Asi Taulava, Filipino-Tongan basketball player
• March 13 - Bojo Molina
• May 11 - Cesar Apolinario, broadcast journalist
• May 25 - Gelli de Belen, actress
• July 19 - Diether Ocampo, actor, singer, model, and military officer
• July 20 - Raymart Santiago, TV host, actor, and comedian.
• September 12 – Kara David, broadcast journalist
• December 13 – Adeline Dumapong, Paralympic weightlifter.