Just like the name of our site, this year has truly been (coco)nuts.
While there’s no doubt that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the daily circus that is Philippine politics dominated mainstream headlines, you guys, our readers, showed us that there’s more to this country than fighting about the president and covering political noise all day.
Our top five stories touch on everything from a bit of showbiz and fashion, to viral photos and videos that touched our hearts, and inspired us to be ‘woke.’
Below we present to you Coconuts Manila’s top five most read stories of 2017:
5. Maine Mendoza gets ‘woke’ on Eat Bulaga
Maine Mendoza stands up to Joey de Leon for belittling depression, and the internet loves her for it
It was a very spontaneous, but very ‘woke’ moment for Maine Mendoza last October 5.
Her Eat Bulaga co-host and veteran comedian Joey de Leon belittled the diagnosed depression of the mother of a contestant on the Juan for All, All for Juan segment on the show.
He called it “made up.”
But Maine wasn’t having it. She replied back, “Depression is not a laughing matter. It’s not a joke. Because many people go through it, especially today’s youth. That if you’re going through it, give them the support.”
Thank goodness a woke millennial was there to check the misinformed TV host.
We hope you stay woke for many years to come.
4. Filipino fashionistas
Black & White Night: Our favorite looks from Star Magic Ball 2017
Filipinos love their celebrities, and the annual Star Magic Ball is probably the biggest gathering of the nation’s stars in one place. It’s also one of the events where everyone brings their fashion A game.
You guys liked our story on the best looks at the Star Magic Ball so much, you kept on sharing and reading it weeks after the ball happened last October.
What were your favorite looks?
3. Gone too soon
Hashtags member Franco Hernandez’ girlfriend’s last words to him before he died
It’s always heartbreaking to see a young person, especially one full of potential, die too young.
Fans of Hashtags member Franco Hernandez, 26, died in a boating accident last November.
His girlfriend Janica Floresca survived the accident.
We wish her the best and hope for less of these tragedies next year.
2. Ride-hailing is only for the living
Grab driver in Manila requested to pick up dead body
We’ve heard about strange requests for drivers of ride-hailing services Grab and Uber but this one is the most ridiculous.
One driver received a request to pick up a dead body in Cainta, Rizal, and drive it all the way to Batangas.
Uhmm, no, not a reasonable request. And we hope to not see any stories like this again next year.
1. When Senator Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito got some serious shade
Int’l law expert just schooled two Filipino senators in one woke tweet
This is our most-read story of the year.
Most Filipino politicians have probably realized by now how important it is to have social media. But here’s a tip: don’t get carried away or get too arrogant with those tweets if you can’t handle the shade.
In May, Senators JV Ejercito and Sonny Angara made comments back and forth on Twitter about the number of “armchair experts” chiming in on the constitutionality of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
That didn’t sit well with Ruben Carranza, a lawyer who heads the Reparative Justice program of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ).
He said, “from my armchair & expertise in fighting plunderers & dictators, I see sons who’re sitting where they are thanks to plunder & dictatorship,” referring to both senators who come from political dynasties.
His tweet was re-tweeted almost a thousand times. Check em’, Ruben.
