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The Filipino meme guide to everything that happened in 2015
And another year is coming to an end! If 2015 zoomed past you like two small-time criminals riding a motorcycle, don’t worry! We’re here to refresh your memory. From the Pope’s papal visit to Grace Poe’s disqualification case, look back on the best and worst moments of 2015 with a laugh or two. Here are the highlights of 2015 in the Philippines, as told by memes.
JANUARY
Pope Francis visits PH
Pope Francis visited Manila and Tacloban from January 15-19, spreading non-nega vibes throughout the country. In the spirit of non-neganess, the DSWD sent homeless families to a Batangas resort for “skills training.” We LYSM, Pope!
Mamasapano clash
Ten days later, we learn about the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, where 44 members of the PNP-Special Action force, as well as civilians, were killed in an anti-terrorist mission gone wrong. President Aquino failed to attend the arrival honors for the slain SAF members, maybe because he doesn’t attend the wakes of strangers. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
FEBRUARY
‘50 Shades of Gray’ happened
As one of the most awaited movies of the year, 50 Shades of Gray predictably did well on its opening week in the Philippines. While the movie failed to titillate titas everywhere, Filipinos launched #MNL50ShadesofGrey on Twitter to tell their own saucy stories.
MARCH
Ampatuan gets out of jail
Charged with 58 counts of murder for the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, Sajid Ampatuan was temporarily freed after posting bail worth PHP 11.6 million (PHP 200,000 for each victim). He enjoyed a hero’s welcome when he was released from jail.
Jam of JaMich dies
Jam Sebastian, ½ of your favorite Youtube-based jeje love team, passed away from lung cancer. The other half of the love team was criticized for filling in her eyebrows while she was in mourning.
APRIL
PDAF Scam mastermind Janet Napoles gets life sentence
Napoles was found guilty for illegally detaining PDAF scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. She was sentenced to lifetime imprisonment and was ordered to pay Luy PHP 50,000 in moral damages.
Mary Jane Veloso’s execution is postponed
Sentence to be executed in April, accused drug mule Mary Jane Veloso received a temporary reprieve from Indonesian president Joko Widodo. Veloso remains in death row, but she has recently gotten another reprieve from execution. Internet trolls criticized both PNoy and Veloso’s mother during the height of the issue.
Couple, shop owner die from drinking poisoned milk tea
You may remember this as that confusing time when you fought the urge to buy milk tea and to sing the Ariel jingle out loud.
MAY
72 people die in Kentex fire
Seventy-two people died when a fire broke out in Kentex, a slipper factory in Valenzuela. Apart from being the third worst fire incident in Philippine history, the Kentex fire also ignited discussions about the poor state of labor in the country.
Binay’s assets get frozen
The Court of Appeals freezed 242 bank accounts belonging to the Binays, who remain balls-deep in money-laundering allegations.
Mayweather vs Pacquiao
Mayweather won the Fight of the Century, but Pacquiao won the memes.
JUNE
Binay resigns from Aquino’s cabinet
He wrote the president a one-sentence resignation letter.
SC suspends construction of Torre de Manila
The Supreme Court issued a TRO against the construction of “the national photobomber.”
Filipino divers become subject of LOLs at SEA Games
The internet ridiculed Filipino divers John Elmerson Fabriga and John David Pahoyo for receiving a whooping string of zeros at the SEA Games in Singapore.
JULY
The Beep Card is launched
Riding Manila’s trains became 0.043% better as Beep Cards were rolled out to masses of fed-up commuters. $@*&#! Pu%@*^ *$@! (Is this why they call it a Beep Card?)
Chris Brown is stuck in PH
Chris Brown was barred from leaving the Philippines over fraud complaints filed against him by Iglesia ni Cristo. Brown ditched his 2014 Manila concert which was supposed to be held at the Philippine Arena. He posted a video rant while stuck in the Philippines.
AUGUST
SC grants Enrile bail
The Supreme Court granted JPE’s petition to post bail for a non-bailable offense. In a predictable turn of events, he’s now under hospital arrest.
The curious case of missing balikbayan box items
OFWs voiced their outrage over the Bureau of Customs’ shady “inspection” of balikbayan boxes.
INC vs De Lima
Iglesia ni Cristo members held a traffic jam protest rally outside the Department of Justice late August. INC cried for De Lima’s resignation for meddling into the church’s private affairs.
SEPTEMBER
#StopLumadKillings
Human rights violations against the Lumad of Mindanao, allegedly done by paramilitary and military groups, caught public attention online.
NAIA draws flak for shameful ‘laglag bala’ scam
American missionary Lane Michael White was accused of smuggling a bullet in his luggage. The incident put a spotlight on the bullet-planting scheme at NAIA, which has allegedly been going on for 20 years.
OCTOBER
Bye bye JunJun
Following the overpriced Makati City Hall controversy, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Makati Mayor JunJun Binay. He has been perpetually barred from holding any public government position.
‘Heneral Luna’ blazes at the box office
Jerrold Tarog’s biopic about General Antonio Luna grossed more than PHP 200 million at the box office. The film is the Philippines’ official entry at the Oscars’ Best Foreign Film category.
Metro Manila has worst traffic on earth
Waze named the Philippines as the country with the worst traffic on earth. No surprise here.
Playgirls twerk with LP titos
The Liberal Party revealed its wiiiild side at Laguna Representative Benjie Agarao’s 58th birthday celebration. Apparently, the dancers are MMDA chair Francis Tolentino’s “gift” for Agarao.
‘Tamang Panahon’ has arrived
The phenomenal AlDub loveteam of Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye caused millions of fans to weep tears of kilig at the Philippine Arena.
NOVEMBER
PH hosts the APEC Summit
APEC week was horrible for commuters in Manila, but hot damn was it great to see them #APECHotties on primetime news every night!
Alma Moreno urges Pinoys to sleep with the lights on
Karen Davila’s interview with senatorial candidate Alma Moreno trended on social media for all the wrong reasons.
Duterte files COC for president
The iron-fisted mayor neatly concluded the first chapter of #DuterteSerye.
DECEMBER
Comelec cancels Grace Poe’s COC
Two Comelec divisions cancelled Grace Poe’s COC, citing her failure to meet the citizenship and residency requirements for presidency.
The Philippines takes home the Miss Universe 2015 title
After an misannouncement of winners, i.e. a terribly honest human mistake, the Philippines’ Pia Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the Philippines had a field day over its third Miss Universe crown, the internet was filled with heartbreaking #Colombiazoned (Akala mo ikaw na, ‘yun pala iba!) memes.
