The year 2015, indeed, has had no dull moments, what with the nail-biting plot twist of the recent Miss Universe 2015 win, to the AlDub mania that has taken over Twitterverse and beyond. On both the local stage and the international arena, Filipinos have found numerous reasons to unite in shared pride and glory.
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back on the exceptional people and incredible moments that have shaped not only our current history, but which have taken us on an unforgettable ride – complete with ups and downs and loop-the-loops.
1. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach:
Crowning Glory
After more than 40 years, and a series of almost wins for the country (starting with Venus Raj in 2010 when she won Fourth Runner Up), 26-year-old Pia Wurtzbach finally took home the Miss Universe crown, bringing the entire country to its feet. But her victory can literally be called a “controversial win.”
In an awkward/horrifying gaffe, host Steve Harvey mistakenly proclaimed Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner after misreading his cue card. A regretful Harvey admitted his mistake on live television, after which 2014 Miss Universe Paulina Vega had to “de-crown” a catatonic Miss Colombia, while Pia accepted her win with admirable grace and humility.
2. Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza:
Aldub Mania
When Maine Mendoza, who plays Yaya Dub on Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye, blushed at the sight of her showbiz crush Alden Richards on the July 16 episode, the match for TV romance was lit – paving the way for showbiz success. No one could have foreseen the meteoric rise of this novelty, split-screen romantic duo.
Supported by the comedy-improv genius of Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros and Jose Manalo (who play the larger-than-life lolas of Yaya Dub), Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards rose to become the biggest showbiz successes of 2015.
Though not a couple in real life, the two have convincingly played the parts of star-crossed lovers. Viewers tuned in every afternoon to witness the unfolding of their innocent love story. Millions tweeted their support, and soon enough the AlDub phenomenon was taking over Twitterverse, gaining the attention of BBC, CNN, and other international networks.
At the highly anticipated event, Tamang Panahon, where the two fictional characters were to finally meet, AlDub broke Twitter records with a reported 41 million tweets.
3. Pope Francis I:
The People’s Pope
Kicking off the year on a high note, Filipinos welcomed Pope Francis I with open arms during his Papal Visit from January 15-19. The pontiff visited at least 11 different venues in the province of Leyte and Metro Manila.
In Tacloban, the town most devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, Pope Francis offered Mass and shared a meal with the poor and survivors at the residence of the Archbishop of Palo. Upon returning to Manila, he also received an audience at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, where millions gathered to listen to his wisdom. His short but significant visit brought together Filipinos, and reminded us of his message of “mercy and compassion.”
4. Heneral Luna:
History Inspires
Heneral Luna, an inspired biopic about a heretofore uncelebrated Gen. Antonio Luna, broke box-office records and raised the bar for Philippine filmmaking thanks to its concise screenplay, beautiful cinematography, and superb acting by its all-star cast led by John Arcilla. Thanks to the movie’s dramatic tagline “Bayan o Sarili?” delivered by Arcilla’s character, Filipinos have found new fervor and passion for the country.
Directed by Jerrold Tarog, the film received critical acclaim from both movie critics and audiences. Produced with a considerate budget of P80 million, the movie became the highest grossing Filipino historical film of all time, with a reported P240 million in gross sales. Encouraged by the film’s reception, the producers of Heneral Luna have pushed forward with the production of the next movie, which tackles the life of General Gregorio del Pilar.
Heneral Luna was later selected as the official Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
5. Manny Pacquiao:
The Fight of the Century
The country’s pride Manny Pacquiao and his arch enemy Floyd Mayweather Jr. set a date (May 2) for the milestone fight that would finally put to close the years of waiting and trash talking. Billed as the “Fight of the Century,” the match between Mayweather, a five-division world champion, and Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, was held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Celebrities flew to fill the arena, while other fans tuned in on pay-per-view to watch the boxing showdown. After a fierce battle, Mayweather was declared the winner by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring 116-112 and the other 118-110. The fight scored impressive sales with a reported $410 million in revenue in the US, while Kantar ratings shared that an estimated 46.9 percent of Filipino households tuned in to watch the fight.
Though Manny did not win, he earned the respect of Mayweather and further endeared himself to fans, proving that he is still the People’s Champ.
6. Aisa Mijeno:
Worth Her Salt
During the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) CEO Summit which the Philippines hosted, US President Barack Obama trained the spotlight on Aisa Mijeno, a bright, talented young Filipina engineer (who is also one of the Young Visionaries recognized during The Standard 2015 Visionary awards) who invented a sustainable and cost effective lamp that’s powered by salt water.
During the forum, Aisa shared with President Obama and Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, how she was inspired to create the lamp after having lived with a native tribe in Kalinga. With no access to electricity, the people instead used kerosene-fueled lamps, which we were not only fire hazards but were more costly to use.
Aisa humbly tried to downplay the significance of her contribution, saying, “The technology used is not rocket science. I just applied what was taught in high school chemistry classes.” Today, Aisa is trying to gather more support for her invention through her company, SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting), which she founded with her brother Raphael.
7. APEC:
Among the Greats
All eyes were on the Philippines when it hosted the APEC CEO Summit last November 16-18, the second time since the 1996 APEC Summit under President Fidel V. Ramos. The Philippines rolled out the red carpet as 21 of the world’s most notable leaders including US President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Mexican President Enrique Nieto came in attendance to address economic issues in the Asia Pacific region. In addition to the leaders, an estimated 10,000 people including 3,000 media delegates participated in the APEC CEO Summit.
As expected, the Philippines delivered – displaying its famed hospitality and generosity. Renowned designer Paul Cabral designed the barong Tagalogs for the heads of state, while Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue served as APEC creative director, taking on the task of decorating the interiors of the SM Mall of Asia Arena for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Welcome Dinner on Nov. 18. His unique design, which drew praise, took inspiration from the Banaue Rice Terraces.
A reported P10 billion was allotted to for the yearlong hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. But despite the criticism and inconvenience placed on the Metro Manila population, the government assured that this was all necessary as this was a long-term investment and it will all bear fruit especially in terms of foreign support for the economy.
“Just hosting an APEC is an achievement enough: it’s a collective endorsement by APEC members of the stellar performance of the Philippines… Hosting it successfully as the Aquino administration just did further raises the stature of the country before the global development arena,” shared Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
We’re equally hopeful that 2016 will bring more promise with more notable personalities who are sure to create news and who knows – change the course of Philippine history for the better. Filipinos are looking forward to May 2016 when they will exercise their right to vote and determine the next leader of this nation. For sure, the turnout will be colorful – and we wouldn’t be surprised if everyone thinks it worthy of another Kalyeserye marathon.