(Note:this is the first of a series about 2009's most fascinating events.)
2009 is a year we saw different emotions. From good to bad, from happy to sad, from the rich to the poor and everything in between. Mula sa pulitika, showbiz, sports at iba pa, naging laman tayo ng mga balita ngayong 2009.
Sino ba naman ang hindi makakalimot kay President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She became "big" for 2009 because of many reasons. (1) She attempts to become the first president to run for a lower position sa Congress. Nag-request ang kanyang mga kabalen sa 2nd district ng Pampanga na siya'y magsilbi sa kanilang distrito. At game na game ang Pangulo!. (2) Naging laman din siya ng balita tungkol sa dinner niya sa Le Cirque at Bobby Van's stakehouse sa Amerika na umabot sa 1 Million Pesos na kinundena ng sambayanan. (3) Dahil sa kanyang mga yaman na dumoble pa ngayong taon, at (4) naging mababa pa rin ang kanyang mga satisfaction ratings para sa kanya.
Bumida rin ang mga krimen ngayong 2009. One of the most serious is the Maguindanano Massacre where 57 civilians(including 30 journalists) where brutally killen and been dumped in the mass graves of Ampatuan, Maguindanao. This incident leads to the arrest of its primary suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr. It also became one of the reasons why Martial Law was declared in the Maguindanao province. Trial is set this 2010.
Natural Calamities go full blast in 2009. In September, naging malaking disaster ang "Ondoy" sa Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Maraming ari-arian ang nasira, maraming buhay ang nawala at maraming lugar ang lubog sa tubig-baha. Nakadagdag perwisyo pa si "Pepeng" noong October sa Northern, Southern at Central Luzon. Pero tayo'y bumangon muli dahil maraming tumulong sa atin pagkatapos ng bagyo. Relief efforts where extensive and now reconstruction of affected areas where underway.
But some notable personalities lave us this year. Former President Cory Aquino ends her almost a year-long fight against Colon Cancer last August 1. Many people were saddened and her death unites the Filipino to paint the color, yellow. Michael Jackson leaves us last June 25,almost days before his July comeback concert in London. The founder of Iglesia ni Cristo, Erano Manalo leaves us last September 1 and millions have flocked to the INC Chapel in Quezon City to have a final glimpse of him.
Scandals and Controversies became big in 2009. Binuksan muli ang Dacer-Corbito murder case matapos umuwi sina Cesar Mancao at Glen Dumlao matapos ang matagal na paghihintay, at idinawit niya sina Fromer President Joseph Estrada at Sen. Ping Lacson sa krimen. Naging laman din ng balita ang isklandalo sa World Bank noong Enero kung saan nagkaroon ng anomalya sa isang proyekto nito at ang "Alabang Boys" kung saan isang judge ang binayaran raw upang mapabilis ang kaso ng tatlong mayayamang nahuli sa Alabang noong 2008 dahil sa iligal na droga.
(Next: the Mindanao this year, the preparation for the elections and more of the year 2009)
