A handful of personalities hogged the headlines this year whether through hearings that lasted for hours on end or victories that were decided within minutes. They accounted for a large portion of the news cycles stretching from January to December.
For better or worse, they have come to define the year that is 2024 here in the Philippines. Let’s take a look back at the arcs of these newsmakers:
Alice Guo
Dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo brought national attention to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) following illegal activities related to a gambling hub in her own municipality.
The viral hearings involving Guo had her Filipino identity put into question, leading to further probes concerning POGOs, falsified government documents, and even espionage. She would come to fuel endless memes on social media throughout the year.
Guo was memorable not just for her soundbites about forgetting or growing up on a farm, but for her actions such as escaping to Indonesia before eventually being captured, and then posing for photos in spite of the situation.
The high-profile case of Guo preceded the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July, where he announced a ban on all POGOs ahead of formally issuing Executive Order No. 74 in November to enforce the ban until the end of 2024.
Carlos Yulo
Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo made history in August by winning back-to-back gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Through gold-medal finishes in both the men’s artistic gymnastics vault and floor exercise, he became the first double Olympic gold medalist in the Philippines.
Yulo would be dubbed as the “Golden Boy,” who received millions in cash and other incentives from both the public and private sectors.
Unfortunately, the athlete’s family drama also figured in the spotlight, bringing much unwanted negative attention to Yulo, partner Chloe San Jose, his parents, and his siblings.
Apollo Quiboloy
Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy is now detained at the Pasig City Jail after a two-week search operation in his Davao City compound between August and September led to his surrender.
The controversial police operation saw Quiboloy supporters blocking a highway for a supposed prayer rally for the preacher facing criminal cases.
Detention is not the end of it for Quiboloy as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently junked the petition that sought to disqualify him from running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.
Sara Duterte
Vice President and former education secretary Sara Duterte faces three impeachment complaints so far over alleged misuse of government funds during her leadership of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd).
It’s a particularly controversial year for Duterte, who also had a public falling-out with Marcos, whom she ran with in the 2022 elections as part of the UniTeam electoral alliance.
She even said she had arranged for the killing of the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself is killed.
The political ties between the Dutertes and the Marcoses will come into play in 2025, when their respective allies and supporters will participate in the senatorial elections. For his part, however, Marcos has shown resistance against his running mate’s potential impeachment.
Mary Jane Veloso
Filipina mother Mary Jane Veloso returned to the Philippines in time for Christmas after surviving a death penalty in Indonesia, where she was detained over drug trafficking charges for almost 15 years.
The Marcos administration was able to secure a prison transfer deal for Veloso’s comeback. Her legal battle continues to this day as she and her supporters appeal for presidential pardon.
Veloso narrowly escaped death by firing squad in 2015 when the Philippine government convinced Indonesia that she was a victim of human trafficking, who could testify against a drug syndicate.
