ILLUSTRATIONS BY FRANCES ALCARAZ
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
THE YEAR OF THE OX BROUGHT DISASTERS, HOPE, MISHAPS, LUCK, HOAXES, BLUNDERS AND FREAKS OF NATURE. TIM TAYAG SHARES HIS PICKS FOR 2009’S MOST MOMENTOUS HIGHS AND LOWS
OBAMA-MANIA
On January 20, 2009, the United States witnessed the inauguration of the first black president, unless you count former president Bill Clinton who was the first honorary black president. Although technically he’s only half-black, president Obama captured the hearts and minds of the whole world who thought racism would prevent this historical affair from ever happening. Predictably, the local politicians jockeyed to be Asia’s Obama but so far they’ve been surpassed by Ilham Anas, the now-famous Obama lookalike from Jakarta.
PACQUIAO’S WINS
When the Pacman took a break from beating up Mexican boxers, the British boy Hatton stepped up to be his next victim. Living up to his name, the “Hitman” literally became Manny’s human punching bag. Clearly, Pacman had switched from eating burritos to devouring haggis for breakfast. (I know, I know — haggis is Scottish, but it’s close enough.) And much to the country’s delight and to the exhilaration of his fans around the world, our own “National Fist” took yet another belt under his belt in November, when he dismantled Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto after 12 rounds. Let’s hope he resists the call to run for congress and stays in the ring where he belongs.
ALEC BALDWIN’S JOKE
On The David Letterman Show, Alec Baldwin made an offhand comment about ordering a mail-order bride from the Philippines to have more children, making us the nth Hollywood punchline. His words prompted an action star-turned-senator to threaten Baldwin with bodily harm should he set foot on Philippine soil. But most dismissed Baldwin’s remarks, reserving their greater ire for the Hong Kong columnist Chip Tsao, who called the country “a nation of servants” in the South China Morning Post.
HAYDEN KHO’S VIDEOS
If the US had the Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian sex scandal tapes, the Philippines had the Hayden Kho videos. The sordid clips made their rounds online causing such a commotion that the Senate was forced to conduct a formal investigation. It catapulted the relatively unknown Hayden into stardom. It also prompted thousands of “amateur filmmakers” to delete their “home-made movies” on their computers and cell phones for fear of the same notoriety.
GOODBYE TO THE KING OF POP
Michael Jackson’s untimely demise last June 25 caused millions of fans to mourn and moonwalk at the same time. Although his popularity was on the wane, he was preparing for his comeback concert when he suffered a controversial cardiac arrest, which was later declared a homicide, a result of the fatal effects of different drugs. His premature death revived his career with several of his previous hits making it back to the top of the charts.
MJ, who inspired all of us to sport one white glove and a perm, regardless of ridicule, left the world a much better place. His passing — although a sad thing — renewed our appreciation for his genius despite reports of his weird behavior. Millions mourned and his death was so celebrated people barely noticed that the former Charlie’s Angels star, 1970s babe Farrah Fawcett, whose poster still adorns my boxing gym’s wall, passed away around the same time MJ did.
FAREWELL, TITA CORY
The first Philippine woman president inspired people’s power in 1986 that brought democracy back into our country. The magic of Tita Cory, who died on August 1, was still evident at her funeral when millions flocked to her wake to catch a glimpse of the heroine of our generation. The people fueled the following for her son, Senator Noynoy Aquino, who runs for president in 2010. While Noynoy is proving a promising candidate for the country’s top spot, his hairdo (or lack thereof) is not, which may explain the absence of a future First Lady.
TYPHOON ONDOY
Although technically just a tropical storm, Ondoy — which wreaked havoc on September 26 — submerged most of Metro Manila, dumping more rain on the city than Hurricane Katrina. But it was no match for the outpour of support from Pinoys all over the world. Ondoy may have exposed the ills of the city — ie the trash problem, faulty sewage systems, government unpreparedness, informal settlers and the effects of climate change — but it also brought to light one reality: the true Filipino spirit.
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