They seemingly destined to create a bombastic blast and indelibly stamp their unprecedented marks in the annals of the field they’re known for in 2012. The year saw a long roster of remarkable achievers, disheartening catastrophes, untimely demises, and significant triumphs that made up a list of news makers and headliners.
Topping the list is the horrendous Newtown, CT -based Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting rampage by 20-year-old Adam Lanza last Dec. 14. This resulted in the killing of 12 young girls and 8 boys aged six to seven plus six school staff members that drew international mourning and left the community in fear.
In a related event, Canadian teen-age killer, adult movie actor and model Luka Rocco Magnotta (born Eric Clinton Kirk Newman in July 24, 1982) finally landed in police custody after a massive international manhunt. He grabbed the spotlight once more when he was named Canada’s “Newsmaker of the Year.” The unlikely choice sparked public disgust and dissatisfaction with the Canadian press. But Prof. Romayne Smith Fullerton of the University of Western Ontario defended the title saying, “It had sex, it had murder, it had an ostensibly good-looking villain, it had intrigue, it had social media and international elements!”
Who could face Mother Nature’s wrath when she unleashed her rage via super Hurricane Sandy? The Oct .28 devastation brought powerful wind and rain and left behind massive destruction to life and property. The unimaginable magnitude was even made worse by the Nov. 5 nor’easter that blustered and walloped the East coast’s geographical landscape especially in the tri-state area.
The Philippines was not spared from the same pitiful situation after mega-typhoon Pablo (international code name Bopha) hit Davao Oriental and the Compostela Valley. It literally erased an entire piece of geographical mass from the Southern Philippine map. The displaced victims haven’t recovered yet and there came typhoon Quinta on Christmas Day that extensively damaged Cebu, Leyte, and other neighboring Visayan regions.
Amid the wide occurrence of rain and cold winds, another devastating element, fire wrought devastation in Manila and some parts of the Philippines during the height of the Christmas celebration. Eight people were confirmed dead in Quezon City, San Juan, Metro Manila, and earlier, in Divisoria. Thousands of residents were left homeless and under the care of the government.
Celebrated celebrity deaths in the Philippines
Based on the number of times their deaths were published and searched Philippine Comedy King Dolphy and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo both made it to the top list of the Philippine 2012 newsmakers.Other celebrities who passed away with fanfare were actor-director Mario O’Hara (June 26 at 66), former Miss Philippines-World 1967 Maita Gomez (July 12 at 64) veteran actor-director-and producer Celso Ad Castillo (November 26 at 69), and multi-awarded movie director Marilou Diaz-Abaya (October 8 at 57).
International celebrity deaths: Even in their passing, celebrities were given the utmost measure of respect and idolatry. This year, a bevy of big name stars and popular figures finally lost their luster following their deaths. Still, they maintain the proverbial “once a star, always a star” status: Topnotch singer Whitney Houston (Aug. 9, 1963 – Feb. 11, 2012) from accidental drowning due to drug overdose; singer-songwriter Donna Summer (Dec. 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012) from cancer; Bee Gees member Robin Gibb (Dec. 22, 1949 – May 20, 2012) from cancer; astronaut-explorer-pilot Neil Armstrong (Aug. 5, 1930 – Aug. 25, 2012) died of complications resulting from a cardiovascular procedure; TV host Dick Clark (1929 – April 18, 2012) of massive heart attack, singer Etta James (Jan. 25, 1938 – Jan. 20, 2012) of leukemia; beauty salon entrepreneur Vidal Sassoon (Jan. 17, 1928 – May 9, 2012) of leukemia, singer Andy Williams (Dec. 3, 1927 – Sept. 25, 2012) of bladder cancer, and football player-coach Joe Paterno (Dec. 21, 1926-Jan. 22, 2012) of lung cancer.
Philippine Celebrity scandals
The scandalous trial of former Supreme Court judge Renato C. Corona last May, the unending feud between former actress-talent manager Annabelle Rama and former starlet Nadia Montenegro, Annabelle against former movie actress Amalia Fuentes, and Annabelle (again?) against movie columnist-producer Chito Alcid created wide media mileage that consistently landed on the front pages of newspapers and television exposures.
International political scene
The death of Japanese-American and US Senator from Hawaii Daniel Ken “Dan” Inouye last Dec. 17 due to respiratory complications was deeply mourned by his political colleagues and the Filipino community. A WW II veteran welfare advocate, Inouye was the second longest serving senator in the US history, (the first being Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia), and have served his office for five decades. He was 88.
The reelection of Democrat candidate Barack Obama reaffirmed his destined leadership as the 44th President of the United States of America when he defeated Republican bet Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts.
Local Fil-Am newsmakers
Jersey City, NJ has had its own share of attention-grabbing headliners when WW II veteran Sir Fred T. Diaz passed away last Nov. 3 due to colon cancer. The following day, 38 year-old and father of five Tristan Michael Mananghaya met a freak accident on the job that ended his life. Last Sept. 29, well-known community leader and entertainment impresario Milagros Beltran Mendez succumbed to colon cancer a couple of weeks after blowing her 61st candle.
On the sports front
Maintaining supremacy demands a highly strategized scheme to defy the gravitational force pulling one’s status down. “Even the best has to fall sometimes!” so hashtagged in YouTube videos of People’s Champ and Pound-for-Pound boxer Manny Pacquiao following his defeat from the killer punch of Mexican’s “El Dinamita” Antonio Marquez during their Dec. 8 bout in Las Vegas, NV. It was Pacquiao’s second loss after his controversial June ring match against Timothy Bradley.
Fortunately, another Filipino, Nonito “the Hawaiian Punch” Donaire, victoriously hoisted the Philippine flag and made a justified repatriation via his third-round-knock-out victory over Mexican brawler Jorge Arce during their Dec. 15 Texas clash for the WBO Super Bantamweight crown.
Highest paid athletes
Based on Forbes Magazine survey, the top five athletes who received the highest salary and winnings plus endorsements this year are: Floyd Mayweather (35, boxing) $85 million in winnings alone, Manny Pacquiao (34, boxing) $62 million from winnings and endorsements, Tiger Woods (36, golf) $59.4 million from winnings and endorsements, LeBron James (27, basketball) $53 million from salary and endorsements, and Roger Federer (30, tennis) $52.7 million from winnings and endorsements.
Entertainment arena
Despite the advent of hi-tech entertainment gadgets, the wide screen remains to be a favorite pastime. The top five biggest money makers of 2012 are: The Avengers with $673, 357, 910; The Dark Knight Rises with $448,139,099; The Hunger Games with $408, 010, 692; The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn with $281,993,000; and Skyfall with $279,972,000.
Highest paid movie actors and TV actresses
Tom Cruise-$75 million, Leonardo Di Caprio – $37 million, Adam Sandler – $36 million, Dwayne Johnson – $36 million, and Ben Stiller – $33 million.
Highest paid actresses: Kristen Stewart – $34.5 million, Cameron Diaz – $34 million, Sandra Bullock – $25 million, Angelina Jolie – $20 million, and Charlize Theron – $18 million.
Highest paid TV actors: Ashton Kutcher of “Two and a half Man” – $24 million, and Hugh Laurie of “House” – $18 million. Columbian actress Sofia Vergara of “Modern Family” – $19 million, and Kim Kardashian of “Keeping it up with the Kardashians” – $18 million.
On the Beauty Pageant side
Filipino women have been known to possess such distinct appeal and peculiar aura that was once again proven by the Philippines’ bet to the Miss Universe 2012 contest, statuesque Janine Mari Raymundo Tugonon of Balanga, Bataan. She almost snatched the most coveted title from Miss USA Olivia Culpo during the 61st annual pageant. She finished 1st Runner-up last Dec. 19 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. But the5’9” beauty-and-brains olive-skinned stunner impressed Filipinos and foreign observers alike for her witty response during the Q & A portion.
On accumulated wealth and fortune
For 2012, the richest people in the world are: Carlos Slim Helu (72, Mexico) – $69 billion, Bill Gates (56, USA) – $66 billion, Warren Buffett (82, USA) – $46 billion, Larry Ellison (68, USA) – $41 billion, and Bernard Arnault (63, France) – 37.5 billion.
Pop Culture
Who could argue with success? The viral trending and infectious beat of Korean popstar Psy has totally conquered the music scene and also upstaged current releases in all genres. After its release last July 15, the three-minute-thirty-nine-seconder “Gangnam Style” instantly topped local charts and received mixed to positive reactions around the world. Last September, just two months in YouTube, it was recognized by Guinness World Record as the most “liked” video and by December 25, it has reached a total viewership of 1.05 billion times surpassing Justin Bieber’s “Baby.”
Psy, born Park Jae-Sang on Dec. 31, 1977, is a graduate of Boston University and Berkley College of Music. A singer, actor, rapper, dancer, and record producer, Psy earned the title Viral Star of 2012 and his song’s refrain “Oppa Gangnam Style” was considered as one of the famous quotes of 2012 and was entered into the Yale Book of Quotations.
By the end of 2012, Gangnam Style, a Korean neologism that refers to a lifestyle associated with the Gangnam District of Seoul, has topped the music charts in more than thirty countries and well-liked by even notable political leaders, dignitaries, showbiz people, and by everybody regardless of sexual orientation, creed, economic and social status, or lifestyle.
2012 has indeed been another colorful and rewarding year to some but for the majority, it will be one of the most trying years of their lifetime. For whatever there was and whatever there will be in the coming year, it always depends on how we translate our past experiences into worth-learning trials and how to combat the challenges ahead. For life is how we make it and we only live on borrowed time, so we might as well make the most of what we could do. Here’s wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year! For comments and suggestions, please email: [email protected]
