Sex, lies and videotapes: What a year that was!

MANILA, Philippines - It was a good year, it was a bad year. It was a happy year, it was a sad year. 2009 will go down in showbiz history as the year that ran like a local movie, complete with all the ingredients: Action, drama, tragedy, excitement, suspense, fantasy, surprises and — you’re right — sex, lies and videotapes.

Unless something earth-shaking (as in Intensity 10) rocks the entertainment industry between now and Thursday, Dec. 31, when we bid The Year of the Ox goodbye and good riddance and usher in the Year of the Tiger with great hope, here are the stories that made the past 12 months feel like a roller-coaster ride:

• The Hayden-Vicki-Katrina Rocky Horror Show

The sizzling videotapes “starring” Dr. Hayden Kho and, among others, Katrina Halili and Maricar Reyes turned all of us into insatiable voyeurs. Dr. Vicki Belo accused Katrina of “stealing” her boyfriend Hayden and Katrina in turn accused Hayden of having filmed their bedroom mazurka with neither her knowledge nor permission; while Maricar wisely opted to remain tight-lipped up to now. Charges were filed against Hayden whose license was revoked by the PRB (Professional Regulatory Board). Toward the end of the year, Hayden was reported to have tried (again!) to commit suicide but Hayden, through his lawyer, denied it.

• The suspension of Wowowee host Willie Revillame

A film clip of the remains of former Pres. Cory Aquino being transferred from La Salle (Greenhills) to the Manila Cathedral was inserted into the telecast of Wowowee, catching host Willie Revillame unaware and startled. He protested on air for the “rude intrusion,” and he was right in saying that it didn’t look good for such a solemn “insert” while the studio audience was cheering the contestants of the Willie of Fortune segment. Poor Willie became the object of public outrage. ABS-CBN didn’t have a choice but to suspend him.

• Stars in 2010 political arena

Led by former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada who is running for (again) president, several other showbiz guys (and those “showbiz-related”) are throwing their hats into the 2010 political ring. Among those who have also filed their CoCs (Certificates of Candidacy) were: Sen. Manny Villar (whose grandmother is former LVN actress Evelyn Villar) for president; Noynoy Aquino for president; Edu Manzano for vice president (as Gibo Teodoro’s running mate); Sen. Loren Legarda (as Manny Villar’s running mate); newscaster Jay Sonza for vice president; Sen. Mar Roxas for vice president (Noynoy’s running mate); Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for reelection; Sen. Bong Revilla for reelection; Sen. Lito Lapid for reelection; former Sen. Tito Sotto again for senator; former Sen. Ralph Recto again for senator; Imelda Papin for senator; Amay Bisaya for senator; newscaster Alex Tinsay for senator; newscaster Rey Langit for senator; Anthony Castelo for senator; Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte for congressman (fourth district of Quezon City); Laguna Congressman Dan Fernandez for reelection; Congressman Anton Lagdameo (husband of Dawn Zulueta) of the second district of Davao del Norte for reelection; Gina Vera-Perez de Venecia for congresswoman (fourth district of Pangasinan); Lani Mercado for congresswoman (of the lone district of Bacoor, Cavite); San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito for congressman; Makati City Councilor Rico J. Puno for congressman; Richard Gomez for congressman (in Leyte); Manny Pacquiao for congressman (in Sarangani); newscaster Maki Pulido for congresswoman (first district of Pangasinan); Jestoni Alarcon for congressman (second district of Antipolo); Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos for reelection; Rizal Gov. Junjun Ynares (husband of Andeng Bautista of the Revilla clan) for reelection; Cesar Montano for governor of Bohol; Rommel Padilla for vice governor of Nueva Ecija; Bacoor (Cavite) Mayor Stryke Revilla for reelection; former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez again for mayor of the same city; Guia Gomez for mayor of San Juan City; Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista for Q.C. Mayor; Joy Belmonte for Vice Mayor of Quezon City; Anjo Yllana for vice mayor of Parañaque City; former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo for vice mayor of the same city; Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno for reelection; Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez for vice mayor of Q.C.; Ara Mina, Ricky Davao, Roderick Paulate, Alfred Vargas, Ogie Diaz, Jigo Garcia and Arnell Ignacio for councilor of Q.C.; Caloocan City Councilor Marjorie Barretto for reelection; and Manila Councilor Edward Maceda (son of Marichu and Ernie Maceda) for reelection.

(Note: This list is not complete. Some of those on the list might have been disqualified by the COMELEC.)

• Francis Magalona ‘Raps In Peace’

The country mourned the passing of Rap Icon Francis Magalona after a year-long brave battle with leukemia. Instead of saying “Rest In Peace,” the priest in a homily gently reminded FrancisM to “Rap In Peace.” Others who have “crossed the bar” included the well-loved Douglas Quijano, Sampaguita legendary actress Paraluman (Sigrid von Giese in real life), Berting Labra (Mickey Rooney of the Philippines), Espiridion Laxa (a haligi ng industriya), Johnny Delgado (the versatile bida-kontrabida), Bernard Bonnin (of Alyas Palos fame), Tita Muñoz and Yaya Luring (the Mega-Babysitter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta).

• Mabuhay ang mga bagong kasal!

Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo exchanged “I do’s” at a “very private wedding” at a church in a Batangas town, the same place where Ryan’s parents got married. Was it the Wedding of the Year? Wait a minute, but didn’t Sen./Vice Presidentiable Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez steal the thunder from Juday and Ryan with their well-publicized, twice-postponed Sto. Domingo Church wedding which they, unlike Juday and Ryan, gladly shared with the media and the public? Other marchers down the aisle: Klaudia Koronel and her non-showbiz boyfriend, Angelika dela Cruz and her non-showbiz boyfriend (the couple already has a months-old child), Michelle van Eimeren and Mark Murro (in Australia), and Alma Moreno and a mayor of a Mindanao city. And, sigh, if there were “unions,” there were split-ups, too: Pops Fernandez and Jomari Yllana, Janice de Belen and her non-showbiz boyfriend, Paolo Bediones and Bb. Pilipinas runner-up Abby Cruz, Jolo Revilla and Lovi Poe, Bebong Muñoz and Jolina Magdangal (now dating Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta), Angel Locsin and Luis Manzano, Mart Escudero and Jennica Garcia, Eula Valdez and her non-showbiz husband, and Robin Padilla and Liezl Sicangco (who got remarried after their divorce two years ago).

• Ondoy spares no one, not even showbiz folks

Stranded, shivering and hungry with her mom and a little nephew at the roof of their house in Provident Village in Marikina City, Cristine Reyes unwittingly became the Poster Girl for Ondoy victims that also left virtually homeless K Brosas, Jean Garcia and daughter Jennica, Gladys Reyes and a dozen others whose beautiful houses were submerged in floodwaters, including Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi, Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto, Lindsay Custodio, Chokoleit, Edgar Mortiz and wife Millette Santos, Willie Nepomuceno and Pilita Corrales.

• Right on, Dante Mendoza!

And finally, nearly three decades after the likes of Lino Brocka and Mike de Leon paved the way for Filipino movies to Cannes, a Filipino director bagged the coveted but elusive Best Director Award — put your hands together for Brillante “Dante” Mendoza who did it with Kinatay, the second film (after Serbis) he entered in the world’s most prestigious film festival. Kinatay also won Best Picture at the Sitges Filmfest in Spain while Dante’s other film, Lola, won Best Film in the recent Dubai International Film Festival. Other international winners: Pepe Diokno whose first film Engkwentro won the Orizzonti & Lion of the Future Award at the Venice International Film Festival; Alvin Yapan, Best Digital Film at the Cairo International Film Festival for Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe; Ralston Jover, Special Mention at the Thessaloniki & Vancouver Filmfest for Bakal Boys; Raya Martin, the Grand Prize and NETPAC for Independencia at the Bangkok Filmfest; Sherad Anthony Sanchez, Special Mention for Imburnal at the Bangkok Filmfest; Milo Sogueco, Silver Prize New Cinema and Bronze Grand Prix du Public Audience Award for Sanglaan at the Lyon Filmfest in France; Gina Pareño, Best Supporting Actress for Serbis at the Asian Film Awards; Francis Xavier Pasion, Best Feature Film at Asian Hot Shot Berlin Film Festival for Jay; Lou Veloso, Best Actor for Sanglaan at the Brussels Independent International Film Festival; and Mike Sandejas, Grand Prix Special Competition at the International Deaf Cinema Section for Dinig Sana Kita. (Report filed by Funfare’s Toronto-based “International Correspondent” Ferdinand Lapuz)

• How Rustom Padilla ‘killed’ Rustom Padilla and gave birth to Bebe Gandanghari

Whatever happened to Rustom Padilla? “He’s dead!” confirmed, with a big laugh, Bebe Gandanghari, the female “reincarnation” of “the late Rustom Padilla.” We blinked and when we looked again, Bebe burst onto the showbiz scene with an entirely new persona. “I’m happy this way,” added Bebe G. And so be it.

• How country girl Dionisia Pacquiao metamorphosed into, voila, a Dancing Queen known as Mommy D.

So what if she’s basking in her son Pacman’s glory? Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s Supermom, a.k.a. Pacmom, sashayed her way into commercials...and television...and movies! Easy does it! Need we say more? Dance, dance on, Mommy D!

• The Jinkee-Manny-Krista love triangle

In the end, the wife won. Did the rumored romance between Manny Pacquiao and Krista Ranillo start on the set of Wapakman, their 2009 Metro Filmfest starrer? Widely smiling, Manny denied it, saying it’s all “for reel,” while his wife Jinkee Pacquiao admitted the contrary. Through it all, Krista, vilified by bloggers, kept mum. “Basta,” said Jinkee, “lalabanan ko ang sinumang magtatangkang sumira ng pamilya namin.” Siya, legal wife, panalo! Have we seen the ending of this real-life teleserye? Abangan. And what about the “mysterious” romance between Ruffa Gutierrez and John Lloyd Cruz? They denied it looking at you straight in the eye, even if their action spoke louder than their words.

• The biggest winner of them all is...Carlo J. Caparas!

His selection as National Artist, so to speak, stirred a hornet’s nest. Amidst protests and rallies, Carlo J. Caparas, Komiks King and awarded for championing the Filipino Language (in, among other venues, the Komiks Caravan he and his wife Donna Villa conducted in key cities nationwide), insisted that he deserved the honor. Malacañang Palace, which approves the recommendations of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), stood by him. The newest feather remains safe and secure in Carlo J’s already well-decorated cap.

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