2024 has been an extreme rollercoaster ride for most Filipinos, who flipped their calendars to issues that impacted them at every level—events and people that shocked them down to their core. Most issues emerged along the way and somehow added to the bunch of stress everybody had to endure this year. And in all honesty, things just went way too contradicting to how most households welcomed the year of the wood dragon: hopeful in prayers and charms.
Although every month unwrapped new experiences, some only revealed the results of actions and decisions made in the past. Filipinos had to deal with issues every day that led them to realizations and some even had a change of heart. On the other hand, not all issues equate to problematic circumstances that leave many struggling. This year also unfolded iconic events that are worth remembering and celebrating. Take a walk down memory lane and tap 2024 in a nutshell!
‘Save Jeepney’ January
As Filipinos welcomed 2024, they surely aimed for better productivity and positive energy going to schools and workplaces. To start it off, booming sounds of fireworks filled the metro in the belief that such admonish negativities left from 2023. On the other hand, the banging noises of firecrackers seemed just hushes in the air as calls to save traditional Filipino jeepneys from being phased out to give way to imported modern and eco-friendly jeepneys.
Several groups of jeepney drivers held strikes, paralyzing public transport across the metro and affecting the everyday lives of many Filipino commuters, who for sure hoped to start the year off with boosted productivity. Aside from pushing forward their calls to save their livelihood and support their causes, it also highlighted the significance of the Filipino traditional jeepneys in the lives of the masses whose mode of transportation relies on these vehicles. It was never a battle between preserving the culture and aiming for development. After all, everybody hopes for progress—without leaving anyone behind.
A Not-So-Happy-Heart’s February
Known as the month of love, establishments usually begin to decorate their premises with hearts, cupids, and flowers—literally anything romantic, red, and pink. But things turned a bit bluer and colder when the break-up rumor of then-engaged celebrity couple Bea Alozon and Dominique Roque sparked conversations online. A week later and just three days away from Valentine’s Day, they confirmed their split in an Instagram post, officially announcing the end of their three-year relationship. It may have ended with not-so-happy hearts, even for some of their fans but love also means freedom.
It’s March, your Honor!
Filipinos leaped onto the last month of the first quarter with many controversies that revealed issues on security from the national level down to the most vulnerable members of communities. Things got into complexities when former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo entered the frame and was revealed as Guo Hua Ping—a Chinese national, who does not possess the right to hold any governmental office in the Philippines; a person who cannot recall anything from her childhood; and the voice behind the line “I don’t remember, your Honor.”
Aside from Guo ha Ping, clergy leader Apollo Quibuloy also created a buzz in many conversations after the Philippine Senate summoned the pastor, following the narratives of Filipino individuals, including minors who identified themselves as victims of abuse by the same man who once proclaimed himself the ‘Son of God.’ With Guo Hua Ping and Apollo Quibuloy among others involved in threats to security and safety getting exposed, it was indeed a long March, your honor!
No Fooling Around April
Years ago, the thought of seeing an ABS-CBN show aired on GMA would be the wildest imagination and probably even the most foolish thought one could have. But possibilities transcend even the walls of two of the biggest media companies in the country. ‘It’s Showtime’ debuted on GMA on April 6th, giving one of the historic and grandest opening acts of a noontime show. This initiative opened doors for some of the biggest collaborations in contemporary entertainment and several unexpected appearances of Kapuso celebrities in the iconic show, including Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, and Gabbi Garcia. They did not fool around and surprised the Madlang People!
May in Islang Pantropiko
Beating the heat of 2024, Filipinos hopped on the trendy dance craze to BINI’s Pantropiko, which hit the top spot in Spotify Charts’ Daily Top Songs for the Philippines. It literally swayed the Pinoy pop culture, making not only Filipinos of all ages and genders vibe to its music but even making the international audience dance to its beat as well. The nation’s girl group earned the hearts of many individuals, who eventually became part of their fandom, with their charisma, talent, and humor that gives every Bloom the complete Filipino BINI experience. Meanwhile, their hit song Pantropiko drove everyone’s energy with its words and melodies just perfect to listen to while beating the heat of May.
Pride in June, Rights Overdue
As Filipinos celebrate Pride month in June, the LGBTQIA+ community, which remains in the long fight for tolerance and acceptance, raised stronger voices to demand long-overdue healthcare rights, where couples from the rainbow community may make medical decisions for each other. Such a right has already been recognized by the local government of Quezon City, leaving the community hopeful for a national implementation. Moreover, the Commission on Human Rights also joined this year’s march, calling for the same cause by supporting the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) and Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bills in the legislative houses. This has been long overdue. Pride lies in rights.
Say Yellow to July!
Original Pinoy Music (OPM) artist Maki had a warm and vibrant July as he made history in the music industry both in the local and international scenes with his iconic single ‘Dilaw.’ Maki dominated several music charts and streaming platforms with his masterpieces. Through ‘Dilaw,’ he became the male OPM artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify as statistics showed 6.5 million streamers every month. Maki, with this song, also dominated charts including Billboard Philippines’ Hot 100 and Billboard Top Philippines Songs, where he claimed the top spot. ‘Dilaw’ even became the OPM song with the biggest single-day streams, enough to make it the third OPM song to enter the Spotify Global Charts.
Meanwhile, this song unfolds the artist’s perception of love as warm and genuine passion—relating it to the energy that the color Yellow gives him—far from the usual intense red that represented love for the longest time. Truly, Filipinos shared a warm month with Maki as they said hello to Juy!
August with the Golden Boy
If there would be one word to describe the 8th month of 2024 for many Filipinos, it would be historic! Who could forget the pride that Filipino gymnast and Olympian Carlos Yulo brought to the country with his double gold win in the recent Paris Olympics? His historic win sparked interest in sports among many Filipinos, especially the youth. It brought light to gymnastics, which has been viewed as a sports event for women alone, for the longest time. Aside from his wins, the pile of prizes that waited for Yulo’s homecoming also caught the attention of many as opportunities and benefits seemed like floodgates that opened and poured toward him—a well-deserved recognition of August’s Golden Boy and a treatment that every Filipino athlete deserves.
Hopping onto Hip-Hop September
P-Pop music fans did enjoy an ultimate hip-hop music treat from one of the biggest music collaborations in the Philippine music scene for 2024: the P-Pop Kings SB19 and Pinoy Hip-Hop Giant Gloc-9. These music icons dropped the official music video for ‘Kalakal,’ serving their fans with a grand visual feast all the way from the production design, stunning outfits, and iconic dance moves from the artists. It showed an underground vibe and street style that perfectly matched the hip-hop energy of the song. Moreover, this masterpiece also highlighted the flexibility of SB19 members, especially those whose rap skills surprised and left many fans in awe, while also emphasizing Gloc-9 as an unstoppable force in the Philippine music landscape with his undeniable mastery of words and letters for hip-hop.
Beam of Hope in Dark October Skies
Facing the disastrous impacts of global warming and climate change, Filipinos faced a series of tropical storms that challenged many communities, especially those in the areas where the storms hit. Although the majority of the October skies became dark for many affected Filipinos, a beam of hope glimmered through volunteerism—a spirit ignited once again by the initiatives of the non-government organization Angat Buhay under the leadership of former Vice President Leni Robredo.
Donations from various organizations and other private sectors emerged, sustaining the programs and relief operations of the Angat Buhay for the typhoon victims, which the organization treated with transparency. Moreover, the spirit of volunteerism became visible with even the former vice president herself at the frontline, actively on the ground. Furthermore, this month brought Filipinos to a realization of the importance of immediate response to crises, active volunteerism, and the rejection of the overly romanticized resilience of Filipinos in times of disaster.
Hello, November, Again!
Five years after the huge success of film director Cathy Garcia-Sampana’s ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ in 2019, fans received its most awaited sequel, ‘Hello, Love, Again’ still starring Kathryn Bernardo as Joy and Alden Richards as Ethan. Fans and film enthusiasts seemed to have missed a masterpiece from Direk Cathy so much, featuring the award-winning acting prowess of Kathryn and Alden, that it reached more than one billion mark—coming both from local and international screenings. The story revolves around a journey filled with plots for Ethan and Joy, who in the sequel, are both in Canada after leaving Hongkong where ‘Hello, Love Goodbye’ happened—definitely a new masterpiece that said hello again in November 2024.
December Receipts
Nobody probably expected that one of the issues that most Filipinos will give their take on would emerge in the last blow of 2024. This month made so much noise online with different insights viewed from varying and contradicting perspectives towards the cheating issue involving celebrities Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings, which began when the latter’s ex-girlfriend, Jam Villanueva exposed ‘receipts’ that supported her narratives. Although the conclusion on this matter may still be far from becoming real, cheating, in any sense would never be right.
However, Filipino society’s approach to the topic, especially online, seemed to have revealed yet another underlying issue that has always been there: the burden of patriarchy and misogyny. Several takes on the issues reek of gender biases, only putting the woman involved into the light of shame while leaving the man in the shadows—with little to no criticism and demand for accountability. 2024 almost faces its end and so should a society rooted in patriarchy and misogyny whose perception of men in such an issue remains higher than women when the fact remains that it takes two to Tango.
January feels just like yesterday, but walking down memory lane of 2024 manifests how far everybody has gone this year. Each month revealed issues, problems, and celebrations, that whichever one finds in their journey this year, for sure, offers a moment of realization. Tapping this year’s nutshell cracks opportunities to reflect on the past for a chance to redirect the future.