LAST year, this column started recognizing the top 10 newsmakers – women and men who have made a significant impact in our national life. So for my last two columns for the year, I shall once more share my choices for 2005. But this time, I shall split the list between the political and the non-political, starting with the latter in random order.
1. The Pinoy Athletes. Despite allegations of cheating, the Filipino athletes pleasantly surprised the entire country when it hauled over a hundred gold medals to garner the over-all championship in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. This was a tremendous boost to the morale of Filipinos who, for the longest time, seemed to have imbibed the image of losers, in or out of the sports arena. Our sports officials should likewise be commended for a job well done – having pulled off the hosting of the 23rd SEA Games, despite the lack of funds, the never-ending bickering of our sports officials and the fragile political and peace and order situation in the country.
2. Miss International and Pacman. Another breath of fresh air amidst the polluted political environment was the surprised victory of Precious Lara Quigaman as 2005 Miss International. Lara is the 5th Filipina to join the elite list of world beauty title holders, after 25 long years. The last was Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979.
On the other hand, The Destroyer, Manny Pacquiao, gave Pinoy boxing aficionados an emotional roller coaster ride this year when he lost to Mexican Erik Morales in a bloody fight last March, while handily winning over another Mexican Hector Velasquez by technical knock out in September to snatch the WBC Super Featherweight belt. Surely, the rematch between Morales and Pacquiao in January 2006 will be a must-see event as Manny will give his all to redeem himself.
But more than their triumphs, Lara and Manny epitomized the resiliency of the Filipino spirit. Lara lost the first time she joined the Binibining Pilipinas, but this did not discourage her from joining again. Manny may have lost his bout with Erik but he showed the world that the Filipino will fight up to the very end when he continued fighting with just one eye from the 5th to the last round.
3. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. The entire world, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, Christians and non-Christians alike, mourned the demise of the well-loved Polish Pope, Karol Wojtyla, in April. His funeral, which saw the biggest conglomeration of world leaders, and the outpouring of emotions, especially from the young, was unprecedented. He has truly left an indelible mark, not only in the history of the church, but in world history as well. This early, people have already referred to him as St. John Paul II.
Distinctly more low-key than his enormously popular predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger, a German and a trusted confidante of John Paul II, gained worldwide attention when he assumed the papacy, also in April, after 4 rounds of balloting.
4. Jaime Cardinal Sin. His radical yet stabilizing presence was sorely missed during the height of the Garci scandal. The ever-outspoken Cardinal Sin would not have towed the conservative line of the CBCP to remain neutral and indifferent. But the good cardinal died at the age of 76 in June 2005, just a few weeks before the scandal erupted. Jaime Sin would have joined the call of Mrs. Aquino for the president to resign as he did in EDSA I and II when he was a key player in the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos and Erap Estrada, respectively. Was it perhaps a blessing in disguise for Gloria?
5. Pinoy Big Brother. Some may consider it blasphemous for me to include this, right after the royalties of the Church, but for better or for worse, whether we like it or not, ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother has captured the country by storm since its launch in August. The popularity of this reality program was unprecedented in Philippine television history. The 13 ordinary housemates became instant celebrities as their respective lives mirrored the hopes and aspirations, the struggles and challenges, the frustrations and defeats, and the triumphs and joys of every Filipino.
Truly, the program’s theme song proudly says what is in the hearts and minds of Filipinos, who continue to strive against all odds and refuse to say die: “Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo!” To be continued. /For comments and reactions, email at [email protected].
