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The past year proved to be a challenge. While some were able to overcome what life threw at them, others dove headfirst into trouble—whether they knew they were doing it or not.
Taking the high road or not
Anomalies scrambled up in 2009 to allegedly topple Sen. Manuel Villar’s presidential bid in 2010. Villar, who frequented the top of surveys before Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III finalized his own presidential pursuit, was accused of a P200-million insertion in the General Appropriations Act for the construction of the C-5 road extension from South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) to Sucat Road. Sen. Jamby Madrigal filed complaints against Villar for supposedly utilizing his position to realign the project for the benefit of the properties owned by his family corporation. “Kangaroo court,” Villar retorted when the Senate investigated the ethics complaint against him. But this was challenged by Sen. Panfilo Lacson as he urged the Philippines’ wealthiest senator (2008) to resign since Villar “defies and does not recognize the institution.” In November, the cases were dismissed by 12 senators under Resolution 1472.
Alec Baldwin and his not-so amusing antic
At first it was funny—at least to Alec Baldwin and those who laughed with him. But the mail-order bride “joke” he made when he guested at the Late Night Show with David Letterman left a nasty taste in the Filipinos’ mouth, particularly Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Sen. Bong Revilla Jr., even prompting the latter to promise to give the American actor a good beating should he set foot in the country.
Alec Baldwin on the Late Night Show with David Letterman.
Falsity and denials
Could it be that “any publicity is good publicity”? The year 2009 saw actor Richard Gutierrez in a full house of hot potatoes: An alleged gun-toting argument with actor Michael Flores that led to a P25-million libel suit against Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), a car accident that resulted in the death of his personal assistant, and his much publicized speedboat stunt to rescue actress Cristine Reyes amidst the floods of Ondoy. Whether these purported tarnishes on his squeaky-clean image sold like hot pancakes or otherwise, the year is yet to draw to a close.
Hayden cams and scams
As if his Celebrity Duet stint was not enough, ex-licensed cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho Jr. has made several independent productions showcasing his "acting skills" (not that he is known for that) to ensure that he becomes a household name for 2009. An estiamted 40-volume documentation of his private affairs with various women, and two December attempts at suicide (real or staged) for claims of psychological instability and/or remorse—quite a feat for a neophyte celebrity. But please, just until 2009.
Estela Sales and her two cents (not) worth of the great book blockade
Pacta sund servanda. Perhaps the Bureau of Customs (BOC) did not catch that phrase. Since it was in Latin, could they possibly have done away with the comprehension of the dead language? Had they exercised (the habit of) taking advantage of the Google search engine, the translation is clear that "agreements must be kept" and they could not have relentlessly charged duties and tax on incoming books protected by the Florence Agreement of 1952. Reports had it that Stephenie Meyer's Twilight hype instigated the sudden levy but it seems there were "vampires" in BOC that sucked in the first imposition. In a further act of defiance, Estela Sales put upon herself the responsibility to "correct" the seemingly years of "misinterpretation" of the Republic Act (RA) 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act that specifically provides for the “tax and duty-free importation of books or raw materials to be used in book publishing.”
Enjoying the good life
Being in the country's highest seat for nearly a decade can somehow get into one's system, say by indulging in “amenities befitting his/her position as head of State” in short sight of the starving people's plight. Like dining at a French restaurant in New York and a steakhouse in Washington D.C. with people who could shell out US$20,000 (PhP 960,000) and US$15,000 (P700,000), respectively. Or maybe, shopping for a new presidential executive jet worth P1.2 billion, purportedly for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's successors' benefit as well—but a little taste of it until she steps down would not hurt, no?
National Artist Award tainted by dagdag-bawas
The country's artists gathered at a “necrological service” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on August 6 to “mourn for the death” of the dignity of the National Artist award. The 2009 choices for conferment of the Order of National Artist was said to have been tampered with by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she allegedly added four names not listed in the nominees of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the CCP, and subtracting one from the final list without consulting them.
Maguindanao political carnage
The biggest news of the year caught the nation by surprise, even overshadowing the homecoming of CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida. On November 23, a convoy of the Mangudadatus (in behalf of Buluan vice mayor Ismael 'Toto' Mangudadatu), on its way to submitting the vice mayor's certificate of candidacy for his gubernatorial bid, was ambushed by about 200 fully armed men. The carnage spared no woman, no elderly, no mediaman nor lawyer, amounting to at least 57 people brutally butchered. Days later, Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., subsequently the other members of the Ampatuan clan, was arrested on charges of masterminding the massacre. Soon, more skeletons in the Ampatuan closet were revealed: large caches of heavy firearms and ammunitions marked as properties of the military and the police, and about 200 more victims of live burial and chainsaw slaying which were said to be found in the “killing fields.”
Courtside kick-boxing bout
Burger King cager Wynne Arboleda was suspended for the rest of the 2009-2010 season for beating Alain Katigbak, a fan who was allegedly cursing Arboleda. Losing his cool, the Whopper gave Katigbak a kick and four punches. The day after the game, he apologized for crossing the line but Katigbak's charges still stood and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) forfeited his salary, amounting to P2.73 million for the season.
DSWD relief operation confusion
A blog by an alleged Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) typhoon relief operation volunteer claimed that goods donated by the United Nations (UN) and other countries “were not moving” to the intended recipients, but were. The DSWD denied the allegations of hoarding and “rotting” goods. But the blogger said that the term “rotting” was taken out of context.
DSWD denies allegations of relief good hoarding.
Way too soon
Prior to the massive media killing in a day in the November Maguindanao slay, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in July had already branded the Philippines as a “[leader] in the world league of infamy in media workers death this year.” This was in reference to the killing of radio broadcaster Godofredo Linao, the fourth reported incident for the year. They thought they had seen the worst.
Mikey Arroyo's "media suicide"
Remember the Filipino idiom "nahuli ang isda sa bibig"? Presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo committed a "media suicide" when he doused oil upon himself as he seemingly let slip, on national television, questionable statements about how his personal wealth amassed to P99 million in just three years. Senators and state workers raised their eyebrows on his claim that a large portion of this was from wedding gifts and campaign contributions, and subsequently called for investigation and filing of charges before the Ombudsman. This interview with journalist Arnold Clavio on Unang Hirit made its way to YouTube, collecting nasty comments from viewers.
Photos:
“My Shame” by Rob, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.
National artist award death photo composed of screencaptures from a video uploaded to YouTube by user kodaophil.
Videos:
"Alec Baldwin's Filipino mail-order-bride JOKE!" uploaded by CANONBERG to YouTube.com.
"DSWD hoarding relief goods? DSWD denies blog on rotting relief goods" uploaded by PINASWATCHER1 to YouTube.com.
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