It’s 6 months till Christmas!
And just like that, it’s six months to December 2024 and six-and-a-half-months to New Year’s Eve. It may be too early to take out the Christmas décor from storage — but six months before Christmas mean the next six months are going to fly as swiftly by as the first six months of the year did.
Where have all the months, days and hours gone? They have gone into our lives as moments that we have strung into an hour, a day, a month.
Time waits for no one. Yesterday is already part of the past, Wikipedia and our IG accounts.
As it is in school, time for a mid-term report. To take stock, to give ourselves a pat on the back, to chart a new direction, or to simply stay the course.
In January, Japan became the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
Buckingham Palace announced in a statement on Feb. 5 that King Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer.
In March, scientists successfully transplanted a pig’s kidney into a human. If the organ works, it could be a game-changer for those waiting in vain on the kidney transplant list according to The Week.
Also in March, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa addressed the Class of 2024 of Harvard University. In unveiling the news, Alan M. Garber, interim president, said: “Maria Ressa embodies Veritas,” which is Harvard’s motto.
Across the globe, Catherine, Princess of Wales, popularly known as Kate Middleton, also announced she has cancer, but did not give further details, expressing sympathy and understanding for those in the same boat. In early June, Kate released a photo of her looking pensive in the woods, and a statement that said she was “not out of the woods yet,” and that she had “been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”
In April, former lawmaker and real estate magnate Manuel “Manny” Villar emerged as the only Filipino in the top 200 billionaires in 2024 listed by Forbes magazine.
In late the same month, Gary Valenciano mounted what he called the “season finale” of his 40th year as a performer with his “Pure Energy: One Last Time” concert. His team did say, however, that Gary would still be performing — though no longer on a scale similar to his “One Last Time” concert. The two-night concert (April 26 and 27) was touted as Gary’s last time at such a big venue like the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena. Gary, who turns 60 in August, has diabetes and is a cancer and heart-bypass survivor.
In May, US President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts in his hush money trial, the first time any American president (sitting or former) has been found guilty of a crime.
In the Philippines, there was an abrupt change of leadership in the Senate, also in May. Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero took over from a “heartbroken” Sen. Miguel Zubiri. No one objected on the Senate floor when Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano nominated Escudero to be the next Senate president. President Marcos praised both Escudero and Zubiri for their service to the nation.
In late May, Pope Francis recognized a second miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis, a gamer and computer programmer who died from leukemia in 2006 at age 15. He is the first “millennial saint.”
On May 22, Chelsea Manalo, also called the “Bulacan Barbie,” became the first black Filipino-American beauty queen to win Miss Philippines Universe. She will represent the country at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico to be held later this year.
In June, Forbes announced Elon Musk was again the richest man in the world.
Last Sunday, June 16, the Meralco Bolts became PBA champions for the first time in franchise history, beating the San Miguel Beermen to win the Philippine Cup title. With the victory at the Big Dome, the Bolts scored their first championship since joining the league in the 2010-11 season.
What a win it was! After trailing by as much as 13 points, the Beermen tied the game up at 78-all with 3.3 seconds remaining after an “improbable” three-pointer by June Mar Fajardo.
Another basketball team ended a title drought this week. For the 18th time in NBA history and only the second in 38 years, the Boston Celtics are champions after vanquishing the Dallas Mavericks, 106-88. Sixteen years ago to the date from winning their 17th NBA championship, the Boston Celtics won their 18th, reported USA Today. Even former US President Barack Obama congratulated the Celtics.
Vice President Sara Duterte resigns as education secretary.
And that’s what happened in the world, at ultra-broadband speed, since 12:01 a.m. of January 2024.
June is already packed like a fruitcake with events and parties. Hopefully, the next six months will also see more medical breakthroughs, more peace summits, more rains but not floods, more victories both personal and national, more love and kindness till it is time to take out the Christmas tree again. And for some, that would mean in three, not six, months. *
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