A is for Aleppo
The #SaveAleppo tweets humanize the disaster in the besieged neigborhoods of the Syrian city, where there is no food or water, only cellular signal.
Since 2011, when the civil war began between pro-government forces and rebels, Syrians have used the web to beseech the global community help out.
Even a 7-year-old, Bana Alabed, sent out tweets days ago saying she might just die soon. Good thing Turkey successfully brokered a ceasefire, a much-needed albeit temporary relief.
“There are no more vulnerable people probably on Earth than the civilian population in Aleppo,” the UN said. It added the crisis was a “complete meltdown of humanity.”
The refugee crisis went viral with the now iconic photo of the drowned Syrian boy Alan Kurdi in late-2015. Over 2016, people have provided us with more heart-shattering accounts. Super looks back at some of these to remind everyone that it is best to prefer peace.
[1] The silence. Omran Daqnish, 5, was bloodied and covered in dust when he was rushed to an ambulance one evening in August, taken from ruins of an apartment building bombed by an airstrike.
[2] “My brother!” In a widely circulated video, just after Omran went viral, two kids cry their hearts out as they process the death of their brother in a bombing. He was among 11 children that perished in that attack.
[3] “Will I die, Miss?” Syria Charity in November posted a video of a kid that survived a gas attack, asking that question repeatedly while he weeps. The rebels and pro-government sides accuse one another of using chemical weapons.
[4] “Yes, it is a holocaust.” Arab-Israeli newscaster Lucy Aharish shifted from Hebrew to English in an evening newscast to describe the Aleppo crisis as a “holocaust.”
[5] “The support is overwhelming 28,000 donors from 76 countries.” Allepo Fund on Facebook, which supports the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation (SAMS), was the first-ever fundraising effort on the social media platform to hit $1 million.
If you want to donate to other groups, look for the Red Cross and
Red Crescent, the White Helmets, Doctors Without Borders, Preemptive Love Coalition, Syria Relief, Hand in Hand for Syria and the Karam Foundation.—Vaughn Alviar
B is for Brexit and other breakups
The world watched with mouths agape as British citizens voted to exit the European union. But Brexit wasn’t the only breakup that had us riveted. There was the Taylor Swift/Calvin Harris mess, the Brangelina drama and, perhaps the one that affected us the most, the Cheating Penguin Scandal. (You suck, Homewrecker Penguin.)
C is for “Closer” by the Chainsmokers (Feat. Halsey)
The Chainsmokers were the Philippines’ most streamed artist on Spotify in 2016 with the American DJ duo’s song “Closer” also topping multiple lists including Most Streamed Workout Songs in the Philippines, Most Streamed Party Songs in The Philippines and Most Streamed Breakup Songs in the Philippines.
D is for Duterte
Love him or hate him, there’s no doubt about it, President Duterte was 2016’s most talked about man.
E is for Eleven
“I was scared of myself. Like, wow, Eleven’s evil. But yeah, the boys were laughing at me.”—Millie Bobby Brown
There’s no doubt about it—Millie Bobby Brown was “Stranger Things’” breakout star. And the adorable 12-year-old, who plays the psychokinetically gifted Eleven on the show, made her Filipino fans very happy when she made an appearance as one of the headliners of Asiapop Comicon.
F is for fake news
G is for ‘Game of Thrones’
Season 6 turned out to be a delicious—as in finger-lickin’ good (pun intended, see final episode)—game of vengeance that viewers have been craving since Ned Stark’s death in the first season. The wheels have turned; the oppressed and weather-beaten have painstakingly (re)claimed the power to fight back.
Yet, while we loved seeing Cersei gloat as she fashioned herself Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and Daenerys seal a pact with Yara Greyjoy to combine their strengths—the former her armies of freed slaves and Dothraki plus three full-grown dragons, the latter her naval fleet and expertise—in conquering King’s Landing, we couldn’t help but look to the Women in The North.
We salute Arya and Sansa Stark for being the exact opposite of the Lannister and Targaryen “queens.” The sisters executed their hearts desires with a lot less noise and bravado, which made their victories seem all the more powerful. We just had to clutch our fists to our chests as we watched the Stark daughters exact revenge on two of the most despised TV/fiction villains ever.
And who could ever forget Lady Lyanna Mormont, she whose wisdom and strength of character made us forget her youth and, um, lack of height?
“The North remembers,” said the diminutive Lady of Bear Island whose beady eyes expressed conviction as she declared allegiance to the new King in the North.
We do, too, as we wait with bated breath for the penultimate season of “Game of Thrones.” —Fran Katigbak
H is for Harry Potter
It turned out that 2016 was the biggest year for fans of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise since the last film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” came out in 2011.
First came the controversial play, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” by Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, which opened on London’s West End in June. Set 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, “Cursed Child” brought audience members up to speed with Harry, Ron and Hermione now that they’re all grown up with children of their own. Wildly popular and sold out almost immediately, “Cursed Child” was divisive but also daring. Good news came near the end of the year when it was announced that “Cursed Child” would soon be opening on Broadway.
The play’s script book, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two—The Special Rehearsal Script” proved to be the year’s biggest seller for Scholastic. Harry Potter books still had publishing magic, even as some fans expressed a desire for Rowling to have written “Cursed Child” as a novel instead of a script. For those who wants their dose of old school Harry Potter, Scholastic released the gorgeous oversized “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition,” with stunning art by Jim Kay.
The year’s final quarter brought the Harry Potter franchise’s return to the big screen with Warner Bros’ “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” based on Rowling’s 2001 companion book, escaping upon movie screens in November. Set in 1926, “Beasts” features Eddie Redmayne as Magizoologist Newt Scamander who arrives in New York and sets out to recapture the magical creatures who have escaped. Directed by veteran Harry Potter director David Yates and featuring Rowling’s first screenplay, “Beasts” proved magical at the box office as well, divining good fortune for the four remaining films in the new “Beasts” franchise, completing the Harry Potter franchise’s successful journey to the future and the past for the year.—Ruel S. De Vera
I is for internet trolls
While all of us were hammering away at our keyboards, quiet minding our business from 9 to 5, a new breed of netizens emerged from the shadows. Trolls, harmless annoyances, “dilawan,” DDS, call them what you will but these not-so-new breed of internet denizens caught the spotlight when they showed up in droves to drive traffic in social media sites during the Philippines’ polarizing presidential elections last May. It was reported that even the President himself employed his own “army” during the campaign trail to spread and ‘control’ the message. Their ilk, not the monster-under-the-bridge dictionary definition, has brought out the worst in us. They’re here to stay, whether we like it or not; it’s up to you if you want to join the ranks or not.—Ramon Royandoyan
J is for JaDine
It’s undeniable: 2016 is the year of JaDine. Stars James Reid and Nadine Lustre, collectively known as “JaDine,” shone brighter than ever this year as we saw how they evolved from practically newbies into household names in Philippine show biz.
The twentysomething stars—one previously reality game show contestant and the other a former child actor—who were only known for their Wattpad movies finally got their big break when they starred in the 2015 hit teleserye “On the Wings Love” (Otwol), which ended in early 2016. Fans went crazy when the two revealed during the show’s finale that their on-screen romance had developed into something more. The two were some of the busiest and most in-demand young stars in 2016.
After “Otwol” ended, they went on a worldwide concert tour, flying off to the Middle East and Europe. They starred in the summer hit “This Time” and were featured in an article in TeenVogue.com. The two also received numerous commercial endorsements both as individual stars and as a tandem, becoming the faces of high-profile brands like Jollibee, Smart Communications, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Bench, among many others.
Aside from starring in small- and big-screen productions, James and Nadine represented the country in the MTV Music Evolution Manila concert this year. They joined American pop-rock band OneRepublic, Korean pop girl group Apink and other international and homegrown musical acts in the concert held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds. Another huge coup for the love team is their book “Team Real: Your All-Access Pass into James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s World,” published by VRJ Publishing. “Team Real,” which reveals the two’s journey in show biz, was the No. 1 best-selling nonfiction book in July at National Book Store.
In August, JaDine’s follow-up series, “Till I Met You” (TIMY) premiered on ABS-CBN. This became their second collaboration with “That Thing Called Tadhana” and “Otwol” director Antoinette Jadaone. The TV network’s publishing arm, ABS-CBN Publishing, has also produced recently a wedding planner book inspired by the show. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, however. The two have also faced their share of criticisms and controversies. In November, TIMY took a lot of heat for a scene depicting JaDine’s characters having premarital sex, which prompted the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board to request a meeting with the show’s production team. For their part, the show’s executives released a statement regarding the scene, saying: “The intent of the episode to show certain sensitive scenes was to make viewers aware not only of the consequences of young and reckless love but also how impulsive acts of this kind of love occur in real life. There are lessons to be learned where decisions are made on impulse.” But even with all this, the two’s popularity is still in an all-time high. Up to now, “Otwol,” the couple’s first show, is still attracting new fans despite ending in February.
According to a December report by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the show has “captured the hearts” of audiences in other parts of Southeast Asia. Indonesian viewers fell in love with the show after it debuted this year on Indonesian television station MNCTV, with “Otwol” getting high ratings. With its light romantic-comedy story, the teleserye is especially popular among teens.—Cake Evangelista
K is for Kardashians+Kanye
A lot of things happened in Kardashian/Kanye Land this year. There was the whole craziness with Taylor Swift and Kanye’s “Famous” song lyrics, Kim’s naked selfie and the resulting word war with Bette Midler, Piers Morgan and Chloe Grace Moretz, Khloe’s divorce from Lamar Odom, Kendall’s September Vogue cover, Kim being robbed of over $10 million worth of jewelry in Paris—and that’s just scratching the surface.
L is for Leni
In the context of the supermajority, Vice President Leni Robredo has become the default queen mother of the anti-Duterte and, thus, a punching bag of the other side. Supporters have come up with the #LabanLeni campaign on social media to help her out. We compile some of the moments in 2016 she has been taking the laban seriously.
[1] Sa amin pong anim, may the best woman win.
[2] Sa panahon ng matinding hidwaan, ang pagkakaisa ng bansa ang tanging pag-asa.
[3] Tasteless remarks and inappropriate advances against women should have no place in our society. We should expect that most of all from our leaders.
[4] There have been a few voices already out there against extrajudicial killings, but I think the public outcry is just not there yet. I think all of us should do our share in making sure… this has to stop.
[5] Our nation’s healing begins with the acknowledgement of the truth and resolution of the past. To bury Marcos in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani would keep the wounds of the past unhealed.
[6] …I will not allow the Vice Presidency to be stolen. I will not allow the will of the people to be thwarted. —Vaughn Alviar
M is for Mocha Uson
Those who hate her would share a clip from “Four Sisters and a Wedding” (Star Cinema, 2013), where an enraged Angel Locsin pulls her hair and drags her out of a bar. For others, including the 4.6 million who follow her Facebook page, Mocha Uson is more than a cameo role. In the Du30 world, in fact, she seems to have become the muse, the leading lady of the pro-Duterte masses.
She has come at odds several times with the opposition’s leading lady. Check out the Esquire December 2016 cover featuring the VP, which Mocha said was supposed to be her space. Remember Robredo saying she hasn’t and does not intend to read her blog? Whoever the protagonist is now seems like a matter of which party you are with. But doesn’t that make 2017 and the rest of the administration—given the VP post doesn’t get “stolen”—exciting? —Vaughn Alviar
N is for Netflix
Netflix’s global launch isn’t even a year old, but we’ve already binge-watched over a year’s worth of shows and movies: Our top picks:
“Stranger Things”
The coolest ’80s throwback show that made Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) an overnight sensation.
“Narcos”
This addictive (heh) show about drugs starts with the rise and fall of the notorious Pablo Escobar but will continue to tell the story of cartels and cocaine.
“Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life”
A look into the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore 10 years later.
“The Crown”
Another addictive show about a young queen, here we see Queen Elizabeth as she juggles life with her new husband as she rises to power.
“The Get Down”
Baz Luhrmann’s first serial format that tells his own version of how hip-hop was born in the disco era.
“Black Mirror”
Speculative sci-fi episodes that range from weird to scary to sad, this show is this generation’s “Twilight Zone.”
“Luke Cage”
Jessica Jones’ beau gets his own show in the continuously expanding Marvel universe.
“Easy”
An anthology about modern romance and hookups that’ll get you hooked.
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
According to Netflix Chief Communication Officer Jonathan Friedland, “Kimmy” was one of the top shows streamed by Filipino users.
“Designated Survivor”
Kiefer Sutherland is back with another nail-biter. —Tatin Yang
O is for Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro became extramemorable for Filipinos after Hidilyn Diaz ended our 20-year Olympic win drought by bagging the silver medal in the women’s 53-kilogram weight division in weightlifting.
P is for ‘Pokemon Go’ in Tokyo
The week “Pokemon Go” was launched in the country, I was all geared up to chase Pikachus during the annual Pokemon summer festival in Yokohama, Japan. The idea of “authentic” Pokemon hunting in the bustling city of Tokyo was a thrill, and the virtual reality game was the best travel buddy you could ask for. We easily caught a Pikachu in Shibuya on our first day, saw a Squirtle while we were trying to claw Eevee stuffed toys out of a machine in Ikebukuro, lured a Magnemite as we crazed over gachapons, and finally hatched a 10-kilometer Vulpix egg when we reached the Tower. —Vinz Lamorena
Q is for Queens
Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa—the viral photos featuring these queens got the nation crazy insane (and creative, given the many related memes that surfaced). More and more, the country seems to be a pageant powerhouse.
It’s become harder to keep track of the pageant scene because so, so many pageants have cropped up.
We’ve missed the cut in a few of them, the biggest of which is Miss Earth (all the drama around it definitely grabbed headlines). Elsewhere among the “Big Four” (let’s stick to four this year), we won Miss International and a third runner-up spot (we still haven’t moved on) at Miss World with Catriona Gray.
In the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 court, Joanna Eden made the Top 20 at Miss Supranational, Jennifer Hammond Top 15 at Miss Intercontinental, Nichole Manolo got fourth place at Miss Globe and Nicole Cordoves was first runner-up at Miss Grand International.
Miss Universe happens in the country in January, and we hope Pia can pass on the crown to another Filipina, Maxine Medina. Tiis-ganda to afford the tickets, right? —Vaughn Alviar
R is for ‘Rogue One’
The Force is alive and very well with the Star Wars franchise. A year after the much-anticipated “Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens,” Lucasfilm zigged and zagged like an attacking X-Wing Fighter with the release of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the first of the stand-alone but in-continuity anthology films. Set immediately before the events of 1977’s “Stars Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope,” “Rogue One” explains how the Rebel Alliance acquired the plans for blowing up the Galactic Empire’s powerful Death Star space station. “Rogue One” featured a ragtag bunch of soldiers led by the headstrong Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), whose father Galen (Mads Mikkelsen) had helped design the Death Star.
“Rogue One” proved itself to be distinct from the Star Wars trilogy films being dark, violent and propulsively watchable. There were more onscreen deaths in it than in any other Star Wars film. At the same point, the desperation and the daring in it made it compelling. It slotted in nicely into continuity and many audience members went home and started watching “A New Hope” right after coming home from watching “Rogue One.”
The second best Star Wars film after “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” “Rogue One” is directed by Gareth Edwards. It’s a great first film in the anthology series, paving the way for 2018’s Han Solo film, and enabling Lucasfilm to do films all over the saga timeline with confidence. It also makes for a great lead-in into 2017’s “Star Wars: Episode VIII” from director Rian Johnson, a saga film that arrives in the same year as the Star Wars franchise’s 40th anniversary. In the meantime, repeat after me: “I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.” —Ruel S. De Vera
S is for salted egg
We were right in declaring salted egg as the new salted caramel. This is the year of the Salted Egg Everything. Some of our favorites? Salted Egg Pasta by Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza, Salted Egg Chicken Skin and Salted Egg Chicken Skin Garlic Flat Bread by Backyard Kitchen and Brew, and Salted Egg Pork Ribs by Wee Nam Kee. And the potato chips, of course. We ate way too much of Blue Kitchen’s version this year. And we have zero regrets.
T is for Trump
We kept waiting for someone to tell us it was all a joke (or that we were trapped in a “Saturday Night Live” episode) but Donald Trump won this year’s US presidential elections.
U is for UAAP
De La Salle Green Archers triumphed over arch rival Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball finals dubbed as the fairytale matchup. This season was also memorable for the UP Fighting Maroons as the previous cellar dweller finished fifth.
However, the UP Pep Squad did not participate in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC), in protest against last year’s results. National University, meanwhile, claimed its fourth consecutive CDC crown. —Nikka Valenzuela
V is for video games
“Final Fantasy XV,” “Call of Duty: Black Ops III,” “Battlefield 1”—there were a lot of exciting releases in 2016. But can you blame us for being most excited about the video game throwback to our childhood? NES Classic Edition, Mini Famicom—you are the stuff of our ’80s dreams.
W is for war on drugs
I had seen death many times in my work as a photographer, but the daily sight of suffering— even by alleged criminals—robs one’s senses of any feeling. You shoot, but every click of the shutter chips away at your humanity.
There was a body dumped on a dimly lit street corner in Sampaloc, Manila, on July 17, 2016. The man’s head was wrapped in packaging tape, his hands bound with rope and his chest bore multiple stab wounds.
As the coroners slowly removed the packaging tape from the corpse’s head, I saw the nameless man’s dying expression. He was gasping for air, struggling to fight for life in his last moments.
It was the most undignified way to die, I thought to myself. To be reduced to a faceless human, judged only by a cardboard proclaiming your supposed crime. “Pusher ako, ’wag tularan.” He is but one of the thousands of unresolved murders in this bloody drug war.
Duterte had promised that the war will be messy, that it would be bloody, but I had not expected it to be this inhumane. —Raffy Lerma
X is for X
Collabs we loved in 2016:
Happy Skin X Disney
Dr. Martens X Adventure Time
H&M X Kenzo
Vans X Nintendo
Mac and Caitlyn Jenner
Uniqlo X Liberty of London
Y is for youth involvement
Z is for zombies
2016 was also a year for zombies and not just for fans of “The Walking Dead.” The Korean film “Train to Busan” was a surprise hit, breaking records and grossing over $99 million around the world.