2018 will come to a close in just a couple of days but before we usher in 2019, let’s take a look back at the year we’ve had here in the Philippines.
We’ve shown you our top 10 Coconuts Manila Originals, the top displays of Pinoy humor online, our picks for the top viral stories, and some unforgettable restaurants we tried this year.
Now here’s a list of some of the most memorable news stories from 2018.
Ready to take a trip down memory lane?
Boracay by the numbers: 6 months, 30,000 jobs, 1 very uncertain future
The Philippine government decided earlier this year that Boracay, one of the most popular destinations in the country, would be closed to tourists for six months starting April 26.
This came after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called the island a “cesspool” due to its sewage problem.
Some liked the idea of a rehabilitation but many of the island’s residents were worried about losing their sources of income.
Read more here.
Too much PDA: Duterte kisses married OFW on stage in South Korea
In June, Duterte made headlines after kissing a married OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) on stage in South Korea.
The woman later said that she was completely ok with it and believed the kiss had no “malice,” but many pointed out that that still doesn’t make Duterte’s actions acceptable.
Definitely one of the most cringe-worthy Duterte-related story this year.
Read more here.
Basketbrawl: PH and Australia basketball players scuffle during game
Who could forget that infamous basketbrawl between the Philippine and Australian national team members at the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier game in July?
It started when an Australian team member intentionally elbowed the head of one of the members from the Philippine team after seeing the latter shove the former’s teammate.
It was intense.
Read more here.
Xiamen Air to pay at least PHP15 million for runway fiasco at Ninoy Aquino Int’l
Filipinos will now always remember the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) fiasco in August that left thousands of passengers stranded after a Xiamen Airplane overshot the Manila airport’s runway.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) asked the China-based airline to pay PHP15 million (more than US$280,925) as the agency’s initial compensation for removing the plane from the main runway.
However, senators also questioned the NAIA management about why the situation was handled poorly as it took two days for operations to resume at the airport.
Read more here.
After 24 hours of non-stop torrential rains, Metro Manila is drowning in flood and garbage
The annual monsoon season is dreaded in Manila. In August, Metro Manila received almost the same amount of rain as the notorious Typhoon Ondoy (International name: Ketsana) in 2009.
Thousands of residents were displaced and social media was filled with photos and videos of flooded areas, some of which used to be busy roads, streets, and even homes.
One of these posts includes a video of high winds and heavy rains that created huge waves in Manila Bay. This brought garbage and flood through Roxas Boulevard, one of the main thoroughfares in the capital city
Read more here.
Opposition senator Trillanes’ amnesty declared void by Duterte
In September, Duterte revoked the amnesty of Senator Antonio Trillanes, one of his toughest critics.
Trillanes, a former Navy lieutenant, led a band of soldiers in two uprisings, one in 2003, and another in 2007. They were protests against the alleged widespread corruption during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal.
Trillanes was detained for seven years until he received his amnesty in 2010 from then-President Benigno Aquino III in 2010.
However, Duterte took this back due to his alleged failure to file an Official Amnesty Application Form and admit guilt.
Read more here.
Mocha Uson resigns as PH Communications Assistant Secretary
Controversial Duterte supporter and blogger Mocha Uson officially resigned from her post in October as an assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
This came as shock to bother supporters and critics.
Uson has long been infamous for spreading fake news online ever since she started campaigning for Duterte in 2016.
A month before resigning, she along with fellow Duterte supporter Drew Olivar received flak for making fun of sign language.
Read more here.
Give no f*cks: Baguio City now has an anti-profanity ordinance
No potty mouths in Baguio City.
Thanks to an ordinance ratified in October, people will now be called out if they’re caught cursing in some public spaces in “The Summer Capital of the Philippines.”
The Anti-Profanity Ordinance declares that people inside schools and business establishments frequented by students — like computer shops — are prohibited from cursing.
What the f*ck?
Read more here.
PH court finds Imelda Marcos guilty on 7 counts of graft
Former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos was found guilty on seven counts of graft in November.
The 89-year-old is the wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972 and remained in power until he was overthrown by the People Power Revolution in 1981. During this time, thousands of human rights violations were committed.
Imelda reportedly used her cabinet position to maintain Swiss bank accounts that contained over US$863 million.
She, however, posted bail worth PHP150,000 (US$2,847.23) and is still free.
The Philippine justice system, everyone.
Read more here.
Martial law in Mindanao extended until end of 2019
Was this necessary?
Earlier this month, lawmakers from both the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives approved the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019.
This is the third extension of martial law after Duterte declared it in May 2017 when the Marawi siege happened. More than a thousand were killed in the battle, most of whom were terrorists.
Read more here.
Maria Ressa chosen by Time magazine as one of 2018’s Persons of the Year
Journalist Maria Ressa, the founder of news website Rappler who is battling legal woes lodged against her by the Philippine government, was chosen by Time magazine as one of its Persons of the Year for 2018.
Ressa is just the second Filipino to be chosen as the Person of the Year. Former president Corazon Aquino was the first Filipino chosen by Time and appeared on the magazine’s cover in 1986.
Read more here.
Duterte says he uses marijuana to stay awake
Another one of Duterte’s unfunny jokes, sadly.
Duterte has built his entire presidency on his deadly war against illegal drugs but he may have been making an exemption for himself.
During a speech earlier this month, Duterte said that he uses marijuana to stay awake and keep up with his busy schedule.
He said of the ASEAN Summit: “It’s a killing activity and I think the — my age, me not so much because I take marijuana to stay awake, for others, they can’t take it,” the 73-year-old said.
Ugh.
Read more here.
Balangiga Bells finally return to the PH after 117 years
After more than a century of being away, the Balangiga Bells finally found their way home to the Philippines this month.
The bells were taken as war booties by American soldiers from the town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar in 1901. They stole it after Filipino troops killed 48 American soldiers as revenge for forcing the locals to work in their camps.
A Filipino official stated that the bells were returned to the country thanks to the efforts of two American veteran organizations, and not through the work of the Duterte administration.
Sorry not sorry, Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS).
Read more here.
PH’s Catriona Gray is Miss Universe 2018
Filipinos around the globe couldn’t help but show their Pinoy Pride when Catriona Gray took home the Miss Universe 2018 crown.
The 24-year-old Filipino-Australian bested 93 other women in the 67th beauty pageant earlier this month.
Gray is the fourth Filipina to win the crown after Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, Margie Moran in 1973, and Gloria Diaz in 1969.
Read more here.
Late US President George H.W. Bush secretly sponsored a Filipino kid for 10 years
Most people knew the late George H.W. Bush as the 41st president of the United States, but for one Filipino kid, he was just a regular man named George Walker.
It was discovered this month that Bush, who died last month at the age of 94, used the pseudonym when he sponsored a Filipino boy identified only as “Timothy” from 2002 to 2012.
He did this as part of the US-based sponsorship program run by non-profit organization Compassion International.
Read more here.
Viral Ateneo junior high video sparks online conversation on bullying
The Ateneo de Manila Junior Highschool was under fire last week after a video showing one of its students bullying a schoolmate went viral on social media.
In the video, the erring student can be seen provoking a schoolmate to fight him while inside a restroom before beating him up.
The incident sparked a conversation about bullying on social media and became a national issue.
Read more here.
