‘HENERAL LUNA’ - A historical movie with no big name stars predicted to flop turned out to be one of the year’s biggest box office hits, thanks to personal word of mouth endorsement by satisfied viewers who used to shun period and costume flicks. Gen. Antonio Luna is a vital figure in the Phil-American War and this movie finally gives him the importance that he deserves. It opened viewers' eyes with its question: “Bayan o sarili?” This is so significant at this time when our current political leaders think only of themselves and continue with their grandstanding.
PIA WURTZBACH - Pia’s winning the ended the 42-year drought in the MIss Universe Pageant. But it was a controversial win after host Steve Harvey made a mistake in declaring Miss Colombia as the winner, then corrected it on the air. And the controversy didn’t end there but continued on social media with so many people joining the fray.
What else happened in 2015? The visit of Pope Francis, a very popular pope, in January, that was quickly followed by the Mamasapano massacre of 44 Special Action Force PNP cops in Maguindanao. The tragic death of Lumad leaders in the hands of greedy land grabbers. China’s invasion of the West Philippine that no one can seem to stop.
The APEC summit that closed down major arteries and caused monstrous traffic jams, but now only remembered for the so called APEC hotties (Pena and Trudeau). The Tanim-Bala incidents perpetrated by greedy security personnel at the NAIA on unsuspecting passengers. OFW’s raising a howl when the Bureau of Customs threatened to open their balikbayan boxes of pasalubongs to tax them.
The horrible traffic situation got even more horrifying. Manila is just so over congested, choking with people and vehicles, and we don’t have the infrastructure of overhead highways that help other cities abroad ease their lives. Karen Davila’s revealing interview with senatorial candidate Alma Moreno was the toast of social media for weeks.
Abroad, an act of infamy is the violent Paris terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Islamic State killing 130 people. Then there’s Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner transitioning into a woman to become Caitlin Jenner.
What started in 2015 that is sure to spill over to 2016 is the current political circus: Grace Poe being disqualified. Jojo Binay and his mayor son being besieged by charges of corruption, but the VP has also come up with the most outrageous but nevertheless effective political ads. Rodrigo Duterte playing hard to get, threatening to kill petty criminals (not big time political crooks), boasting about his being a womanizer, and threatening to slap Mar Roxas who stooped down to his level and succeeded in remaining in his No. 4 post.
NEXT: THE UPS AND DOWNS IN THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF OUR STARS IN 2015.
