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2014 was definitely something else — we were introduced to people like Deniece Cornejo and Alyzza Augustin, shocked by exposés such as Jejomar Binay’s alleged property in Batangas and tragedies like Enzo Pastor’s murder. The MRT derailing and the hullabaloo surrounding the Torre de Manila made life in Metro Manila, well, exciting, to say the least. And things like Princess Sarah’s unlikely comeback, Paolo Ballesteros’ makeup transformations, and Nancy Binay’s SONA outfit appealed to our escapist selves. 2015, you’ve got big shoes to fill.
METRO HORRORS
1. BEST ACTION SEQUENCE:
MRT Derailment in Pasay
Nobody saw it coming; good thing nobody died. On a slow August afternoon, a southbound MRT derailed at the Taft station, injuring at least 38 passengers and causing yet another traffic jam. While human error might be the reason that the DOTC is citing for the crash, the subsequent MRT troubles soon after — repetitive stalling, long queues — only show that’s only the tip of the MRT iceberg.
2. LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN:
Car falls off Greenhills carpark
Remember when a car fell off the third floor of a Greenhills parking building nose down one afternoon? It was just the 73-year-old driver’s luck that he dove straight down onto two cars parked on Annapolis Street, damaging nine vehicles in total. It was strange and freaky — exactly the kind of stuff that social media goes nuts for. Turns out, the driver had suffered chest pains and blacked out. Apparently, he had a pacemaker and should not have been driving in the first place.
3. ISKUL BUKOL:
Bomb hoax in several schools
Fake bomb threats have long been a joke among newsroom people. Every year, there’s at least one report about a fake bomb threat, and usually, it’s during school exam week. This year that joke fast became unfunny. As early as three months into the year, there’d been 21 fake bomb threats in Metro Manila. From UP Baguio and De La Salle-College of St Benilde in Manila, to the universities that line Katipunan, students, it seems, all had the same punchline. We want to holler: How about some creativity, guys? But we’re too tired rearranging our schedules just to plow through the traffic to pick these brats up.
4. ON THE FLY:
Cabbie crimes
Cabbie crimes certainly took over crazy bus drivers in 2014. Especially in the second half of the year, Metro Manila residents heard too many horror stories about cab drivers robbing, raping, and sometimes even shooting passengers that the lot of us opted to pay more for services like Uber, if only to get to our destinations safe, sound, and alive. Of course LTFRB reprimanded Uber for operating without license, but that’s another story altogether.
5. SCAM OF THE EARTH:
ATM scams
For the love of God, that’s hard-earned money! Robbers have gone hi-tech with their evil ways this year. Metro Manila was haunted with stories about tampered ATM machines and robbers equipped with scanners to copy data from these machines. Instead of direct hold-ups like we’re used to and equipped for, these robbers are working smart, going for the least amount of work to yield the most amount of cash. Unfortunately, it seems like nobody has heard from the PNP regarding this matter.
6. SICKEST MONSTER IN METRO MANILA:
Man rapes and kills 11-month-old baby
Ugh. The thought of it makes us cringe and wish really nasty things happen to him. In August, a one-year-old girl was found dead and naked from the waist down in San Juan. Quickly, more details were revealed: It wasn’t a one-year-old, it was actually an 11-month-old baby. And she wasn’t just murdered — she was also raped. CCTV footage helped authorities identify Arnel Tumbali as the prime suspect. Rewards were offered and then raised to anyone who could provide information or help find Tumbali. Finally, after four long months, Tumbali was caught having lunch in a Mandaluyong carinderia.
CONTROVERSIAL SPOTS
7. WELCOME TO HELL:
NAIA AC breaks down
It’s been named the worst airport in the world more than once, so it was high time that NAIA authorities decided to upgrade. The first phase, which started in August, was overhauling its airconditioning system. This quickly turned the building into a Bikram Yoga studio. Passengers were advised to bring towels, fans, cold beverage, and patience because it was just too hot inside the airport. The situation is not expected to normalize until March 2015.
8. WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR:
Balesin Island
Controversial couple Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero got engaged in early September, announcing that they plan to tie the knot on Feb 14, 2015, at Balesin island in Quezon. Soon after, a blind item about how a “celebrity-politician” couple bumped off another wedding in Balesin crawled up on Facebook. Everybody figured out who the celebrity-politician couple was. The other couple was Cheska Litton and fiance Tyke Kalaw. It got rather heated that the owner of Balesin had to issue a statement, saying he was the one who invited Heart and Chiz to get married there. The end result? Heart and Chiz will still wed at Balesin island but a day later than reported: Feb 15.
9. COCKBLOCK OF THE YEAR:
Torre de Manila
In 2014, DMCI’s Torre de Manila continued to irk and anger heritage advocates. As construction continued, what they feared became obvious: The condominium is obviously ruining Rizal’s monument. DMCI makes a desperate case saying photos showing the obstructed sightline of Rizal were Photoshopped but we don’t know anyone who actually believes that. In fact, it’s almost become a joke — a really unfunny one. In December the Supreme Court ordered the inclusion of the Manila city government, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, the National Museum, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in the lawsuit filed by the Knights of Rizal.
10. DISCO INFERNO:
Ozone Disco case reaches verdict after 18 years
After 18 long years, the owners of Ozone Disco as well as Quezon City officials were found guilty of graft. Apparently, the disco became a fire trap because of several code violations that these officials let go in exchange of bribes. They were sentenced to six to 10 years’ of imprisonment for the 1996 fire that killed 162 people. As an aside: Did you know that the biggest amount that families of the victims received was a measly PHP20,000?
OH NO, THEY DIDN’T!
11. UNCOOLEST GIMMICK:
Jun Abaya riding the MRT
DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya couldn’t fool anyone when he rode the MRT. Netizens noticed his entourage, his umbrella, the fact that he rode at a very slow hour (1pm), and in the section reserved for women, senior citizens, and PWDs, too. And then he called the experience “pleasant.” Oh, how many eyes rolled on that one.
12. BALIKBAYAN OF THE YEAR:
SG Straits Times editor feels left out in Manila
Earlier in the year, Raul Dancel became the Philippine correspondent for The Straits Times. This meant coming back to his hometown after having been a resident of the Lion City for seven years. One of his career-defining pieces was “Back Home in Manila and feeling out of place” where he wondered out loud why a KFC waitress could not — would not — understand what he meant by “take away” (a British-ism that means take out), among other things. So we told him, dear reporter, it’s time to get over your culture shock.
13. POWER TRIPPIEST:
Immigration employee who told a teacher to shut up
In March, teacher Roselle Carreon wrote a note on Facebook in which she recounted such a terrible experience at the Bureau of Immigration where an officer named Carlo Salazar screamed at her, “Shut up!” She did the opposite. She took to social media, spoke up and earned the support and respect of netizens.
14. CRINGE WORTHIEST:
Government officials serenading Obama
Some call it a mighty display of our hospitality but others, like us, cringed in our seats. When US President Barack Obama came to Manila for a state visit last April, Cabinet secretaries Florencio Abad, Rene Almendras, and Rogelio Singson thought it was a good idea to serenade Barack during the state dinner. And so they did. Song pick? The aptly titled “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. Maybe it was just all for a good time, but we found it rather unbecoming.
15. THERE SHE GOES AGAIN:
Korina Sanchez’s Ruby faux pas
Oh, Korina. For the second straight year, ABS-CBN’s prized broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez earned the ire of netizens for wishing that typhoon Hagupit should just hit Japan. While she said it during a post-broadcast banter on TV Patrol, her “insights” were caught by her microphone, and on video. Ayayay.
16. KING OF WIKIPEDIA 2014:
Manuel Mejorada admits to using Wikipedia as “evidence”
Even college kids know Wikipedia ain’t a legit source. Manual Mejorada, the man who filed a plunder complaint against Senator Franklin Drilon, admitted to using Wikipedia to find out if the Iloilo Convention Center was overpriced. During a Senate hearing, too, for crying out loud! It was all a bit too, we dunno, embarrassing.
17. FASHION FAUX PAS:
Nancy Binay’s at SONA
What was Nancy thinking? For the State of the Nation Address this year, the senator, in collaboration with Randy Ortiz, wore a barong tagalog with sleeves that poofed out like a balloon on her wrist, and then tucked it in a high-waisted lurid green and yellow balloon skirt. Not quite avant garde, Nancy and her outfit were soon turned into a meme, comparing her to (1) a hot air balloon and (2) to Princess Fiona from Shrek.
GIGS AND OPENINGS
18. MOST TALKED ABOUT GIG:
The ‘Eraserheads’ at Esquire’s party
We know — it’s not fair to name an invite-only event as the best gig of the year, but it’s true. It wasn’t even supposed to happen. For their reunion concert in 2008, Ely, Raymond, Marcus and Buddy signed a contract that prevents them from performing again (as a group) in the Philippines for an unbelievable number of years. In September, Esquire Philippines put them on the cover and threw an exclusive launch party at Dusit Thani. No one — not even the organizers — knew that the rock stars would perform. So when four guys came on stage and told the crowd that they were “not the Eraserheads,” we believed them, we jumped, screamed at the top of our lungs and danced the night away. It was epic.
19. CURIOUS TREND ALERT:
Lining up for store openings
We should’ve seen it coming when people lined up at Uniqlo’s and Forever 21’s opening two years ago. It happened three more times this year: At Tim Ho Wan (June), Ippudo Ramen (September) and H&M (October). At H&M, the first in line was a lady who was there at 9am the previous day, armed with a broken heart and a PHP10,000 budget to fix it.
20. MOST EXPENSIVE CONCERT TICKET:
7107 Festival
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kendrik Lamar, Empire of the Sun, and Kaskade were the headliners at this controversial two-day music festival held in February at Clark, Pampanga. The price to see them and the 51 other acts? PHP25,000 for a tw0-day VIP ticket and PHP10,000 for general admission.
VIRAL
21. PHOTO OF THE YEAR:
Hulidap on EDSA
A Twitter user posted a photo of four armed men on EDSA assaulting the driver of an SUV on broad daylight, and then all hell broke loose. The Twitter user didn’t know what happened or why, save that that’s not normal. An MMDA officer requested anonymity calling what happened “a road rage incident.” While the Twitter user quickly requested all media who picked up the story to delete the photo, or at least take out her user details, it was too late. Of course we all know how that ended: about a dozen cops were unfortunately behind the kidnapping.
22. ADULT SUPERVISION AWARDEE:
#Fyolanda party is cancelled thanks to social media
We’ll blame the follies of youth on this one. For the first anniversary of Yolanda, a group of young folks in Tacloban organized a rave, called it #Fyolanda, and gave it a slogan that read “party like it never happened, remember because it did.” As if that weren’t enough, they made a few shirts that had tasteless statements: Eat Pray Loot, Akala ko Tsunami, Storm Surge Pala.” Needless to say people reacted online, saying it was insensitive and inappropriate given the tragic nature of what happened. All that social media talk drove organizers to cancel the event.
23. BEST SLIP-UP:
Mar Roxas falls off motorcycle
A photo of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Roxas falling from his motorcycle as he inspected areas affected by Typhoon Ruby in Eastern Samar went viral — but for the wrong reasons. Netizens chastised Roxas for not wearing a helmet, while others mocked him for “trying too hard.” Roxas reportedly just shrugged off the criticism, but Malacañang found it necessary to come to his defense. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte told reporters, “Let’s not put malice into what happened. We’re just thankful Secretary Roxas didn’t get seriously hurt.” Roxas, on the other hand, explained that he neglected to out on a helmet because he “was in a hurry to check the situation of people in the town of Dolores.” He then added in Filipino, “I’m not trying to get attention.”
24. TRENDING TOPIC OF THE YEAR:
Titas of Manila
She isn’t your flamboyant male tita — she’s the complete opposite. She’s your caring ultra-conservative female aunt who reminds you to sleep early because it’s Simbang Gabi tomorrow, or asks for your shoe size so she can buy you a pair in the US. And it’s about time her voice was heard…on Twitter. Tita (and her fictional daughter Belinda) have become such a flash-in-the-pan success that it’s inspired other “extended family” accounts, become a favorite hashtag, and put “tita” back in the cool vernacular.
25. COMEBACK OF THE YEAR:
Princess Sarah
So that’s why she was peeling potatoes! Whoever’s behind these memes slapping hilarious beki phrases on screengrabs of what we know to be drab affairs that included peeling potatoes, Miss Minchin, Lottie’s blush and papa, gave everybody’s favorite martyr a strong internet game. So strong, in fact, that ABS-CBN decided to bring back the Tagalized cartoon series. Of course, haters believed the network was behind all this, but that’s reading too much on what’s only supposed to be a hilarious lunchtime read.
26. VANITY MUSIC VIDEO:
Senator Bong Revilla’s “Salamat, Kaibigan”
When he woke up on June 9, Senator Bong Revilla must have gotten confused about the roles he was going to play. That’s the only logical explanation for daring to present his music video before delivering a speech at the Senate to defend himself from pork barrel scam allegations. The video, which showed him with his constituents, featured the original song, “Salamat, Kaibigan.” Of course, he had also sung the song. Later that month, Revilla was ordered detained for the plunder charges filed against him in connection with the pork barrel scam. But we really think the government had him arrested for defiling the Senate with that cheesy music video.
27. SO BAD IT’S GOOD AND THEN WENT BACK TO BAD AGAIN:
The “Gaga Girl, Bobo Boy” video
Now referred to as the “Gaga Girl, Boboy Boy” video, the ad, meant to be used by the Department of Health (DOH) in a campaign against teen pregnancy, was so badly done it became the most talked about social media travesty in no time. With cheerleaders doing stunts, a whole lot of smoke, and music that’s supposed to be the soundtrack for puritan indoctrination, the video looked like it was created by a bunch of out-of-touch individuals trying to be cool. The song’s opening line is this: “Gaga girl.” The next line? “Bobo boy.” And while those lines have become immortal, it turns out that the music accompanying them may not be original. Korean record label SM Entertainment was said to be thinking about suing the people behind the campaign because the song undeniably sounds like the “Rum Pum Pum Pum” song of the label’s girl group f(x).
28. PAPA DON’T PREACH:
Priest berates unwed teen mom at baby’s baptism
Fr. Romeo Obach of the Sacred Heart Chaplaincy in Eversely Child Sanitarium in Mandaue City, Cebu was caught on video berating a 17-year-old unwed mom at her baby’s baptism. Obach announced to all who cared to hear that while the baby had not sinned, the teen mom had sinned because she had slept with a man who was not her husband. At one point, Obach asked the teen mom in Cebuano, “Have you no shame?” Had his tirade not been caught on video by the baby’s grandmother, it would have been hard to make people believe that a priest had actually humiliated an already-remorseful young single mom. Perhaps, shamed by public outrage and chastised for his self-righteous slip by his colleagues, Obach later personally said sorry to the teen mom.
29. CALLING CARD GIRL:
Model shows police official’s card to avoid traffic ticket
In her now-infamous Facebook post, a model named Alyzza Agustin had boasted about the tactic she used to avoid getting a traffic ticket. Her post was even accompanied by a photo of the alleged business card of Police Chief Supt. Alexander Ignacio. Agustin had written: “Nahuli nanaman ako dahil coding but because of you, Boss Alex, wala ng huli huli. Thank you so much sa napaka-useful mong card with matching dedication pa #happykid.” A majority of her followers, not to mention the rest of the country, reacted negatively to her audacity. Then again, Ignacio said he denied knowing Agustin. He even pointed out that “the business card used by Agustin was not an official card representing his office.” Ignacio also mulled filing charges against Agustin for the moral damages reportedly caused by her Facebook post.
30. SMACKDOWN OF THE YEAR:
Man in Maserati vs. MMDA traffic constable
In November, Maserati owner Joseph Russell Ingco had a road rage run-in with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer Jorbe Adriatico along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City. Adriatico got hurt in the encounter, suffering a broken nose and perhaps, some aching joints. Ingco, however, claimed that Adriatico had provoked him during their encounter by taking a video of him with a cellphone even when he claimed to have no traffic violations. Ingco even accused of Adriatico of throwing the first punch. But despite other motorists confirming that Adriatico was notorious for provoking drivers, the MMDA took the traffic enforcer’s side. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also revoked Ingco’s license. Even his car dealer is being asked why the vehicle hadn’t been registered yet.
NATIONAL ISSUES
31. BEST NON-EVENT:
Mayon Volcano not erupting
And we’re thankful for this. As early as September, PAGASA hoisted an Alert Level 3 on Mt. Mayon with police and military quickly mounting an evacuation. Continuous ash flow and earthquakes followed, but a month later, the volcano had yet to erupt. Authorities only loosened their grip on the situation in November, when some evacuees were allowed to return home.
32. BEST GOVERNMENT IDEA:
Motel pass for Mayon evacuees
Mt. Mayon’s non-eruption in September allowed the government a rare display of inspired thinking. First, it was quick to act in evacuating residents. Second, it held its ground, closely watching and monitoring the volcano. Finally — and this is the best one yet — the local government of Albay offered to pick up hotel tabs of married evacuees. They were giving away two passes a week, as reports had it some couples would go back to their homes just to do the deed. Two hotel passes a week! How generous!
33. HOUSE OF THE YEAR:
PNP Chief Alan Purisima’s Nueva Ecija home
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima — who is accused of possessing ill-gotten wealth, among other things — admitted that he owned the 4.7-hectare property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. Various media outfits had zeroed in on the property as “proof” that Purisima was doing not-so-ideal things. Purisima responded by saying that the house is “not a mansion. It’s just an ordinary house that we slowly improved throughout the years.” Of course pundits were quick to scoff at this remark — “ordinary houses” certainly didn’t have swimming pools and other posh fixtures. In December, the Office of the Obudsman ordered Purisima suspended from his position for six months without pay due pending the investigation on the alleged “anomalous contract the PNP entered into with a courier service in 2011.”
34. HACIENDA OF THE YEAR:
The alleged ‘Hacienda Binay’ in Batangas
In his Oct 8 testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado claimed that Vice President Jejomar Binay owns a 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas. The place is so vast, it could fit Luneta six times over. Binay’s camp dismissed Mercado’s allegation, but everyone was already referring to the place as “Hacienda Binay.” People were especially incensed to learn that there were, among other things, an airconditioned piggery and a maze inspired by London’s Kew Gardens. Binay’s youngest daughter, Joanna Marie (Instagram user name @jmblicious) had posted photos of the place with the caption, “Our place in Batangas”, but Joey Salgado — head of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Media Affairs — said in a statement that the real owner of the property is Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp., operator of Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park. Businessman Antonio “Tony” Tiu later came forward and said that he owned the property, but he was instead accused of being Binay’s “dummy”. While Binay also claimed that they were only renting a portion of the property, journalist Raissa Robles brought up the fact that in a 2010 interview, Binay had specifically told her that he “had set up a piggery on around 10 hectares of land in Batangas”, which he had reportedly bought for “PHP30 per square meter.” As of Dec 24, the true ownership of the property still hasn’t been determined. That said, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said that the land should just be sequestered and distributed among farmers because as per the Agrarian Reform Law, land ownership is limited to 5 hectares.
35. FAMILY OF THE YEAR:
The Binays
This year, almost every member of this political clan was the subject of one controversy or another. Aside from the alleged “Hacienda Binay,” Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay are being accused of backing overpriced projects such as the Makati City Hall Building II and the Makati Science High School building. And then according to Former Makati City vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, there was the standard 13% cut from every project contract in Makati that the VP allegedly received. The VP’s wife, Dr. Elenita Binay, who was mayor of Makati from 1998 to 2001, was being asked about the alleged overpriced equipment at the Ospital ng Makati. Later on, the graft raps filed against her for “the alleged excessive and overpriced purchase of more than PHP107 million worth of office furnishings that was done without public biddings or through rigged biddings between 1999 to 2000” was somehow revived. Senator Nancy Binay was being associated with allegedly overpriced giveaway cakes, which she denied. Makati 2nd District Rep. Abigail Binay, had people talking when she won a condo unit in a raffle. Joanna Marie Binay (a.k.a. @jmblicious), on the other hand, caused quite a stir after her Instagram posts were presented at “evidence” that her family allegedly owned the now-controversial Batangas hacienda.
36. SURVIVOR OF THE YEAR:
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago
In July, the feisty senator who once boasted about “eating death threats for breakfast,” calmly announced that she had lung cancer. She quipped almost nonchalantly, “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me introduce myself to you as the only senator who has been diagnosed with lung cancer.” Then again, Santiago said that she was going to take a “magic pill” that would wipe out her cancer, which was said to be “not metastatic.” Indeed, several weeks after her announcement, Santiago was back in fighting form. She bounced back with such gusto that her haters said they doubted that she had cancer. Santiago had declared, “I have licked cancer, and I’m actually thinking of several career options. By 2016, I will be disqualified by law to seek another term as senator.” Her supporters also urged her to consider running for president in 2016. While she has not made an official decision about 2016, Santiago continues to be in the news because her one-liners are just downright entertaining. On Dec 3, Santiago charmed her fans during the launch of her book, Stupid Is Forever.
37. LIVING THE GOOD LIFE AWARD:
New Bilibid Prison’s high-profile inmates living like kings
If you’re a criminal with serious cash, it’s more fun to be incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). A raid conducted on Dec 15, led by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima showed several high-profile inmates enjoying luxury accommodations in their private living quarters. The contraband found inside the said cells ranged from a hot tub, shabu, and even a sex doll. Former bank robbery gang leader Herbert Colangco even had a music room built inside his space and he had, in fact, shot music videos within the prison compound. Meanwhile, Colangco’s fellow Bilibid inmate, Peter Co, stashed guns and cash amounting to PHP169,000 and US$2,600 in his living quarters. One of Co’s guns was under the name of Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Nava, who claimed he didn’t know how his gun ended up inside NBP. In light of all this, the Palace has vowed to wipe out all the illegal activities inside national penitentiary.
38. INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT:
The Jennifer Laude case
In October, transgender woman Jennifer Laude was found dead inside the bathroom of one of the rooms at the Celzone Hotel in Olongapo City. The prime suspect? 19-year-old U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton. Laude’s German fiancé, Marc Sueselbeck came home for her funeral then, when Pemberton was brought to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, he and Laude’s sister Marilou climbed over the fence in Camp Aguinaldo in an attempt to see and confront the suspect. The move proved to be a big mistake, especially for Sueselbeck, as this caused him to be blacklisted and subsequently deported. There was no question about the controversial case being tagged as “international” in nature: it involved a member of the U.S. military and affected the recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Pemberton continues to be detained at Camp Aguinaldo. The US won’t surrender their custody over him to the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) won’t protest for it. Under the VFA, Pemberton’s trial should be completed within one year or else he would be freed.
HOT COMMODITIES
39. FASHION STATEMENT OF THE YEAR:
Controversial statement T-shirts
Statement shirts were definitely the item de riguer this year. In September, writer Karen Kunawicz posted a photo of a shirt that had these words printed on it: It’s not rape. It’s a snuggle with a struggle.” Pinoys were outraged when they learned that it was being sold at the boys’ section of SM Department Store, specifically the one at SM Megamall. The SM Group of Companies issued a statement, saying they didn’t know how the offensive shirts got mixed up in their stocks and that were pulling out the shirts from all their stores.
Politicians were quick to join the trend: At the height of the pork scam arrests, senator Bong Revilla wore a shirt that read: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? Psalm 118:6.”
Meanwhile, model Deniece Cornejo’s grandmother, Florencia Cornejo, claimed that actor Vhong Navarro’s lawyer, Atty. Alma Fernandez-Mallonga, confronted her for wearing a shirt that said “Justice for Deniece! Jail the rapist!”
Then, of course, the supporters of Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family, took to wearing a black shirts with two words done in white: “Defend Makati.” Like Binay, they, too, believed he was being singled out by the administration for one reason or another.
40. MOST HANDED-DOWN ITEM OF THE YEAR:
Vinyl records
In 2014, your father’s 30-year-old vinyl collection made sense again. Everyone plus their nephews started buying and digging for vinyl records, resurrecting their players, and setting up beautiful sound systems. Where before enthusiasts were left with digging at second hand shops, mall staples and online stores selling “pre-loved” and brand new records have abound. Perhaps, there’s no stronger testament to vinyl hitting the mainstream than this: Satchmi opened a glorious store at the 4th floor of SM Mega Fashion Hall, where they like to call secondhand records, “vintage”.
41. LET’S DRINK TO THAT AWARD:
Craft beers
This year, the craft beer scene certainly exploded beyond its little, almost-exclusive community. Along with the growing number of crafters and their beer brands, there is also a growing number of bars serving these locally made products. There’s even one — Perfect Pint at BGC — that serves nothing but local-crafted beer. How’s that for a scene?!
SCANDAL
42. THE ONE WITH ALL THE TWISTS AND TURNS:
The murder of Enzo Pastor
Race car driver Enzo Pastor was gunned down in Quezon City by an gunman on a motorcycle on June 12, 2014. At the time of his death, the racer was a passenger in a tow truck that was hauling an Asian V8 car to Clark International Speedway.
Pastor’s murderer was later identified as a police officer with a spotty record named Edgar Angel. Much to everyone’s shock, Angel claimed that he was hired to kill Pastor by businessman Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman III and Pastor’s wife, Dalia.
It didn’t help that Paolo Salazar, Pastor’s assistant who had seen him get killed, revealed that it was Dalia who had suggested their route to Clark.
A woman who had worked as a nanny to the Pastors’ two sons also said that De Guzman had come to the Pastor residence whenever the racer was out of the country. She claimed that Dalia and De Guzman would stay inside a locked room and that she heard them “do something” while they were inside it.
Although Dalia and De Guzman denied the allegations against them and likewise denied that they were having an affair, things definitely don’t look good for either of them now.
De Guzman has posted bail and Dalia is still at large.
43. SENIOR LOVE TRIANGLE:
Cristina Ponce Enrile discusses Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Atty. Gigi Reyes
Aside from being accused of being involved in the pork barrel scam, the senator and his former chief-of-staff were also accused of having an affair — by none other than his wife of over 56 years. To top it all off, the irked Mrs. Enrile also made the revelation in the March 3 episode of GMA News TV’s Bawal ang Pasaway. The show’s host, Winnie Monsod, could only make shocked exclamations, as Mrs. Enrile revealed that she believed her husband (who turned 90 in 2014, by the way) has been having affairs throughout their marriage and that he started fooling around “six months after the birth if their first child.”
Mrs. Enrile said she had counted at least 38 dalliances throughout their marriage. However, she said she was disturbed by the fact that his alleged illicit bond with his chief-of-staff lasted longer than usual. She pointed out: “He has had many girls before Gigi but they did not last too long. Many girls. With Gigi, it lasted long”. The senator, however, later dismissed his wife’s claims as “mere suspicions”, while Reyes slammed Mrs. Enrile for telling “half-truths”.
In the end, the Enriles stayed married and Reyes stayed married to her own husband, too. Then again, the senator and Reyes each got detained for their supposed pork scam involvement later in the year — him at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital in Quezon City and she at at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
44. GONE GIRL, CAMARINES NORTE EDITION:
Governor’s “missing” wife airs dirty laundry on national TV
Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado initially told the public that his wife of 28 years, Josefina, was missing. However, on Oct 22, she turned up on national TV and revealed that she had purposely left their home because her husband had threatened to kill her; he thought she was the one who leaked several photos showing him in intimate poses with his 24-year-old mistress. The governor later said sorry for “being human” but his camp insisted that the so-called “sex photos” had been altered. The governor also supposedly made moves to reconcile with his wife — but she was none of it. Perhaps, the sight of those sordid photos made her finally realize that she was better off without him.
45. SEX VIDEO JUSTICE:
Sandra Cam claims to have sex videos featuring DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima
Sandra Cam, president of the Whistleblowers Association of the Philippines, didn’t seem to want Department of Justice (DOJ) Leila de Lima’s appointment to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA). As such, she said she had something that would prove that De Lima’s character was questionable. Cam claimed that an unknown source had sent her four cuts of De Lima’s sex videos, which she claimed showed the latter in an intimate encounter with her driver and bodyguard. Unfazed by Cam’s claim, De Lima merely said she wasn’t wasting time over it. “I’m sure it’s fake,” De Lima quipped. Meanwhile, as far as we know, Cam hasn’t shown the cuts to the public. And even if she did, we’re not sure the public would want to watch De Lima in a compromising position.
46. WHAT’S IN A NAME? AWARD:
PAGASA drops “Kanor” from list of typhoon names
In September, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) decided to drop “Kanor” from its roster of typhoon monikers. The reason? Well, PAGASA said there was a sex video scandal linked to the name. To be exact, PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said they took out “Kanor” because it causes “negative thoughts.” Thanks (or no thanks) to this move, the old sex video became even more popular — what with more people wondering what the heck the fuss was all about. More knowledgable netizens informed everyone that the sex video “starred” a man going by the name, “Mang Kanor,” and a girl who appeared to be a minor — which made it even more disturbing. Well, now we know that the folks at PAGASA are aware of the questionable content that gets passed around online.
SPORTS
47. THE KING OF MULTITASKING:
Manny Pacquiao attempts to do it all
When it comes to boxing, it’s been a knock-out year for Pacman. He triumphed over Timothy Bradley in their second face-off and took Chris Algieri to school. Pacquiao was then officially named as the head coach of expansion team KIA Motors and he went on to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft so he could also be part of the team as a player. Though the basketball team and Pacquiao’s performance haven’t reached championship level yet, it doesn’t look like he’s quitting the sport anytime soon. He has likewise bought an undisclosed number of shares in the Asian-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company One Fighting Championship (One FC). To top it all off, Pacman accepted the Chinese government’s offer for him to set up the Manny Pacquiao Boxing Education Institute in several locations in China. Pacman’s various ventures has prompted his colleagues in Congress to question his effectivity as the congressman of Sarangani, as he always seems to be absent. Meanwhile, congressmen continue to flock to Pacquiao’s fights. At this point, most people, including actor Liam Neeson, think that Pacquiao can do no wrong. Heck, even Drake impersonated Pacman and Aaron Eckhart called him “impressive”. Plus, we have to admit the boxing champ made everyone laugh with his Foot Locker ad.
48. HAIL TO THE CHIEF:
Chieffy Caligdong bids goodbye to the Azkals
On Nov 12, the beloved left winger of the Philippine Azkals and Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo native announced that he was retiring from the Philippine Azkals. In a statement, he said, “Even though I will not be playing in the team anymore, my heart, prayers, and support are always with the team. To the present players, future and the next generation of Azkals may you play with all your heart, and wear the flag with honor and pride! Let’s all support the Philippine football as it continues to flourish in our country. God bless Philippine football!”
49. KING OF THE ICE:
Figure skater Michael Christian Martinez makes his mark at Winter Olympics
For someone who learned figure skating at a mall’s skating rink, Michael Christian Martinez has sure come a very long way. He got so good at it that he became the first skater from Southeast Asia to qualify for the Olympics. Not only that, he was the lone athlete representing the Philippines at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He finished 19th overall there, but as far as everyone was concerned, he may as well have won a gold medal. CNN.com picked him to be one of their banner stories. He proved that a world-class ice skating athlete can come even a country that doesn’t experience snow. Take note that the kid, who thanks his mother Maria Teresa for supporting his dream, just turned 18.
50. THE HEART OF CHAMPIONS:
Gilas Pilipinas gets points for #PUSO
It’s been a year of ups-and-downs for this ball club. Team Gilas Pilipinas wowed everyone with their fighting spirit at at the FIBA World Cup in Barcelona, Spain. Sports pundits all over the world marveled at the team’s skills and never-say-die attitude, especially when it went up against rank No. 3 Argentina. Gilas impressed everyone despite their 85-81 defeat. Though the team didn’t snag top honors, its 21st place finish improved its FIBA World Ranking by three spots. It’s now ranked 31st. Coming off their FIBA stint, hopes were high for the team to snag a medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. However, after their opening win against India, Gilas lost three games to Iran, Qatar, and South Korea. The team was then deemed out of the medal race despite a win over Kazakhstan. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Manuel V. Pangilinan offered words of comfort to Gilas coach Chot Reyes after the dismal run. However, the next thing we knew, Reyes was out as Gilas coach and the team was going to be “reformatted”. The latest development: American Tab Baldwin has been tapped to coach the team.
51. SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT:
PH at the Asian Games
Although the Philippines didn’t finish No. 1 overall in the 2014 Asia Games in Incheon, South Korea, our athletes still deserve our admiration. A medal haul of 1 gold, 2 silvers, and 12 bronzes is not bad at all. The gold, by the way, is courtesy of Daniel Caluag for his stellar performance in the BMX cycling event.
52. THE NEW ‘KOBE’:
Kobe Paras makes headway in U.S. basketball career
Kobe Paras — who played for La Salle Greenhills before moving to the U.S. wherer he attends the Los Angeles Cathedral High School — revealed that he had accepted a scholarship offer from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The 6’6″ player, the son of former Pinoy basketball player Benjie Paras, also attracted athletic scholarship offers from other U.S. universities like Arizona State, University of California-Berkley, UC Irvine, Portland State, Fresno State, and Texas Arlington. News about Paras’ acceptance of the UCLA scholarship was also featured in The LA Times, which dubbed him as the “new Kobe,” after the Los Angeles Lakers player he was named. The new Kobe, of course, aims to play for the National Basketball Association (NBA) someday.
SHOWBIZ
53. CRY BABY OF THE YEAR:
Sen. Bong Revilla
Just hours after he was detained at Camp Crame for his involvement in the pork barrel scam that shocked the country, action star-turned-politician Bong Revilla complained of migraine because it was too hot inside his detention cell. Days later, he had another complaint: the cell was infested with rats and cockroaches. But loneliness, it changes things. It didn’t take long for him to make friends with two rodents, naming them Boy Pick Up and Boom Panot.
54. EPIC OF THE YEAR
Deniece vs Vhong vs Cedric
In January comedian Vhong Navarro appeared on TV bruised and lying on a hospital bed, speechless and crying, with two black eyes that made him look like a panda. The country stood riveted as details of the attack trickled in. Navarro, who has a girlfriend, was visiting a lady friend named Deniece Cornejo at her BGC condo (to bring some “foods”) when her friend Cedric Lee and his posse burst in and allegedly witnessed Navarro trying to rape Cornejo, so they beat him up. The case took 10 months to be resolved — rape charges against Navarro were dismissed, while Cornejo, Lee and his cohort Zimmer Raz were thrown in jail and later allowed to each post PHP500,000 bail.
55. POST-SEX VIDEO SALVATION:
Hayden Kho finds God, gets back medical license
Everyone thought it was to be the end of Hayden Kho’s career when his medical license was revoked after figuring in a sex video scandal in 2009. In June the physician healed himself — aided by Bible studies at the star-studded ABS-CBN Christian Fellowship — and was reinstated as a doctor by the Professional Regulation Commission. He’s also back with his main cougar, Vicki Belo, and there are rumors flying that they are talking about getting married soon.
56. MAKEUP MAGIC:
Paolo Ballesteros
The #MakeupTransformation hashtag campaign, wherein people post before and after shots of themselves trying to look like a popular celebrity, proved to be a big hit in 2014 and turned TV host Paolo Ballesteros into a global viral sensation via media coverage from Cosmopolitan US, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Huffington Post, NBC’s The Today Show and TMZ Live. Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, Tyra Banks, Ellen DeGeneres, Tyra Banks — is there anyone this grandson of artist Fernando Amorsolo could not look like with a few strokes of expensive cosmetics?
57. DEATH OF THE SEX VIDEO:
Paolo Bediones’ sex videos didn’t really get ‘hot’
In July the world woke up to a leaked sex video starring Paolo Bediones. He was blackmailed three months after he brought his laptop to a repair shop. The TV5 talent had no choice but to lie low. Philippine National Police’s anti-cybercrime group made a formal request to Facebook to track who leaked the video. The scandal died a natural death, and while no one has been caught yet, Bediones is busy being productive. He just finished training for the Philippine Air Force, and is focusing on his three restaurants.
58. DOMESTIC DYSFUNCTION AWARD:
Freddie vs. Maegan vs. Marlene
Who needs the Gutierrezes when you’ve got the Aguilars? In Nov 2013, 60-year-old singer Freddie Aguilar converted to Islam so he could marry his 16-year-old inamorata — but that was just a precursor to what would turn out to be a highly entertaining 2014 for the family. In May, he evicted his daughter Maegan, her live-in partner and children because of an argument involving rotten vegetables. To spite her father, Maegan went on national TV to say that she never supported her father’s decision to marry a minor, and that Ka Freddie once told her she’s the pinakamasamang anak. Freddie’s cray cray sister Marlene sided with Maegan but also ended up posting an open letter to Facebook where she advised Maegan to stop bashing her dad. The drama didn’t stop there. In November, Maegan claimed that her live-in partner, Ali Sanchez, was an alcoholic and that he beat her up.
59. SHRIMP FESTIVAL:
Ramon Bautista and the hipon joke in Davao
At the Kadayawan Festival in Davao in August, comedian Ramon Bautista made a joke comparing the province’s female population to shrimps: sexy body, ugly face. Former mayor Sara Duterte didn’t find it funny and demanded an apology, while the city council filed a resolution declaring him persona non grata. Days later, RockEd founder Gang Badoy saw Sara’s father, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, at the airport and put on her peacemaker hat. The two men talked on speakerphone and made up. No word if the persona non grata charge has been dropped.
60. MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARDEE:
Dionisia Pacquiao
The joke is that Manny Pacquiao’s secret weapon is his mother, Dionisia, who puts a hex on his opponents. Exhibit A: A meme showing the 65-year-old with her middle finger raised and pointed at Timothy Bradley at the July boxing match. A celebrity in her own right, Mommy D also made news after executing burlesque dance moves to the sound of Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love” in a TV show. In August, she shocked the nation by admitting to dating a 38-year-old Ilonggo seaman, who her son would later confirm was her boyfriend.
61. VICIOUS UNCOUPLING:
Derek Ramsay and Mary Christine Jolly
In June, actor Derek Ramsay — heretofore thought to be single and available — was slapped with a violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act . Not only did he apparently have a wife, they also have a son together. Mary Christine Jolly demanded PHP42 million for child and spouse support. She withdrew the complaint in October but later announced, through her lawyer, that she was going to file concubinage charges against Ramsay and his former girlfriend Angelica Panganiban. They eventually entered into a compromise agreement in Oct for the sake of their 11-year old son, Austin.
