Ah, 2024… where do we even begin?
There’s no denying that 2024 has been an eventful one for all of us. It was extraordinary because as soon as the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2024 (and until now), a plethora of viral moments emerged on the Philippine internet: from Kween Yasmin’s spoken word poetry skit and the rise of Diwata’s Pares Overload, down to discovering newest pet peeves to the Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings controversy. Indeed, there was never a dull moment this year because, in true Filipino fashion, we still found something to poke fun at and laugh at.
That said, let’s take a look back at some of the moments in the Philippine internet that have defined 2024 so far.
Kween Yasmin’s ‘Esophagus’ has become a real earworm
Content creator Yasmin Marie M. Asistido, also known as Kween Yasmin, has never failed to entertain her supporters with her uncanny wit, and earlier this year, she displayed that charm with her spoken word poetry, “Esophagus, Esophagus.”
This masterpiece debuted during Kween Yasmin’s guest appearance on the Spotify podcast, “The Koolpals,” where she was challenged to create an impromptu spoken word poetry with the subject being given by the hosts.
Shortly after its debut, “Esophagus, Esophagus” quickly went viral, becoming a real earworm for all of us.
I mean, who wouldn’t have the lines “Esophagus, esophagus…habang tayo’y kumakain sa hapagkainan, syempre hindi mawawala ang iyong esophagus. Mananatili ‘yan pang habang buhay. Iingatan, papahalagahan mo ‘yan. Dadaloy ‘yan sa iyong sinapupunan [While we are eating at the dining table, of course, your esophagus will always be there. It will stay with you for life. You will take care of it and value it. It will flow down to your innermost being], and I thank you.” stuck in their minds, ‘no?
Bangsamoro pop sensation Shaira’s ‘Selos’ and her legal battle
Shaira Moro, dubbed the “Queen of Bangsamoro Pop,” made waves online when she released her song, “Selos,” in March of this year. Its upbeat tune and witty lyrics captured the attention of many Filipinos and it even amassed millions of views and streams on YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify.
However, the song’s success was only short-lived as it was found out that the song was strikingly similar to Lenka’s 2008 track, “Trouble Is A Friend.” The Australian singer-songwriter and her team were also informed about this and took legal action, which resulted in the removal of the songs from streaming platforms.
Shaira’s label, AHS Productions, addressed this issue and announced that they worked on a settlement with Lenka’s legal representatives to secure a cover license agreement.
But “Selos” wasn’t the only song of Shaira that disappeared from streaming platforms and that sparked plagiarism accusations. In fact, her song “Forever Single (Walang Jowa)” was allegedly similar to “Masih Mencintainya” by the Indonesian band Papinka.
The controversial resort built in Bohol’s Chocolate Hills
One of the most controversial discussions—both offline and online—this year was the construction and operation of the Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in the famed Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
This heated debate began when the resort was featured in a local influencer’s vlog, promoting the said establishment. But instead of being awed at the scenery it offered, many Filipinos, including legislators, were furious and dismayed knowing that Chocolate Hills was declared as a protected landscape and designated as a National Geological Monument.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also stepped in and ordered the temporary closure of the resort. In May of this year, a six-month preventive suspension was also ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman against Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado along with 68 other public officials for the construction of the said establishment.
The rise of Diwata, the Pares Overload Queen
Deo Balbuena, popularly known as Diwata, rose to fame due to his food stall, Diwata’s Pares Overload, which serves pares or beef stew, unlimited rice, soup, and beverage for only. Its affordable price has attracted many visitors and patrons, with content creators even promoting Diwata’s business.
Fast forward to October 2024, Diwata once again made rounds on the internet when he filed his certificate of nomination and acceptance as the fourth nominee of the Vendor’s party list. His intention to run was fueled by his goal to uplift the life of every vendor and become their voice.
“We [vendors] should follow the follow, but we should not make it hard for [them] to follow. We should also help them, especially those in the streets, to make sure that their goods won’t be confiscated without consideration because many of them only borrowed their capital,” the online personality said during his filing speech.
The sensational case of Alice Guo, aka Guo Hang Ping
We’re pretty sure we all got curious and followed the case of the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whose real name is Guo Hang Ping.
It all began when an illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac was raided and Guo’s name came up, which prompted the Senate to investigate the suspended mayor and her link to the Baofu complex—the place where 800 individuals, who turned out to be victims of illegal traffickers, were rescued—and the POGO industry.
In May, she appeared before the Senate panel where she was asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros about her identity and raised her suspicion that she was a Chinese spy, but Guo only managed to answer, “Wala po akong maalala, your honor.” This response along with some of her statements and claims spawn a plethora of memes.
In July, she fled the country with her sister Shiela, and Cassandra Ong. While Shiela and Ong were arrested in August in Indonesia, it was only in September that the suspended Bamban mayor was caught by the Indonesian authorities.
Filipinos air frustrations over the San Juan City’s ‘Wattah Wattah Festival 2024’ and ‘Boy Dila’
Annually, the City of San Juan holds the Wattah Wattah Festival in celebration of the Feast of St. John the Baptist. This annual “basaan” has been a fun tradition for the citizens, but this year, people took to social media to air their frustrations over the chaotic “basaan.”
In a Reddit post, a user recounted their experience on how some merrymakers allegedly blocked a jeepney from passing to splash water on the driver and the passengers. They revealed that some passengers, who were students and employees going to school and work, were doused in water.
One participant of the festival, Lexter Castro known as “Boy Dila,” caught the ire of many social media users as he was seen dousing a motorcycle rider with a water gun while making faces.
The following month, Castro made his public apology during a media briefing held by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora. Zamora also assured the public that this will not happen again and will designate a “basin zone” for next year’s festivity.
The misgendering incident involving Cebu personality Jude Bacalso vs. a restaurant waiter
Cebu personality Jude Bacalso made waves online after a viral post detailed her alleged rude behavior towards a restaurant waiter.
According to a lengthy post back in July, Bacalso made the waiter stand in front of her for almost two hours after the latter addressed the Cebu personality as “sir.” Her behavior was under scrutiny as most people pointed out how she could have educated the waiter with empathy.
Following the backlash, Bacalso addressed the incident, clarifying that she didn’t demand the waiter to stand in front of her. She then added that she had apologized to the rest of the staff members, acknowledging the fact that she could have educated the waiter “with a little measure of kindness.”
“This is a huge chunk of humble pie that I must ingest, because I have erred. May we start here with, as the supervisor pointed out, an uphill path to reconciliation and we hope you will be able to allow us and yourselves to do so unhampered so we may all learn and heal from this,” wrote Bacalso.
The Carlos Yulo and Chloe San Jose vs. Angelica Yulo feud
Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo brought pride to the Philippines after winning two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But his monumental achievements were overshadowed by a family feud, which made the internet divided and picked sides.
The controversy all began when Carlos’ mother, Angelica, shared a post that seemingly praised a Japanese gymnast, instead of acknowledging her son’s Olympic triumph. In an interview, Angelica also shared that her relationship with her son started to strain because of Carlos’ partner, Chloe San Jose.
Carlos also addressed the issue, detailing how he didn’t know about his incentives being received already by his mother. He also didn’t deny that San Jose played a part in the issue of the mother and son, saying that Angelica didn’t like San Jose from the very beginning.
Following Carlos’ statements, Angelica held a press conference where he apologized to Carlos, adding that that would be the last time she would air out their family issues in public.
IShowSpeed’s epic (yet chaotic) visit to the Philippines
Perhaps one of the highlights this year was the internet sensation IShowSpeed’s visit to the Philippines back in September 2024. His escapade in the country was an eventful one and this has been all documented by Speed.
Speed accidentally shut down the Philippines 😂🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/gpPw3GAwSN
— Speedy Updates (@SpeedUpdates1) September 11, 2024
From trying out Filipino food and hitting the courts for some basketball to dancing with kids on the streets and hanging out with Manny Pacquiao, Speed’s time in the Philippines was a total vibe. But of course, his visit came with challenges as he experienced his hair being pulled and being mobbed as well.
“Chat I love y’all boys, I love the Philippines, I appreciate y’all, I generally love y’all, but when I come back please just chill, just tone it down so I can actually stream,” said Speed at the time.
Jen Barangan and the ‘0.5 self-recording video with flash’ epidemic
One of the hottest debates on the internet this year was the new pet peeve among concertgoers where they would record themselves in a 0.5 mode with flash. Several attendees have been called out for doing this, and that included content creator Jen Barangan.
People on social media called out the lifestyle vlogger for her lack of concert etiquette, with some citing that people around her were visibly upset in the video clips that she posted. Others, on the other hand, poked fun at the Cebuana vlogger and meme-fied the whole situation.
Shortly after the backlash she received, Barangan posted an apology and it read, “To everyone, I’m sorry for my actions. Best, Jen.”
Dare I say, her apology is definitely something…
A woman playing human traffic cone to save a parking spot
Another pet peeve of many people has been unlocked this year: playing human traffic cones just to reserve a spot in the parking space.
Satisfying yung pag-hawi kay ate. 🥲 pic.twitter.com/qHbh23T1Rq
— GA (@garenaguinaldo_) November 2, 2024
Last November 1, a woman wearing a pink shirt went viral on social media platforms after she stood in a parking space to save a spot for their vehicle. In a video circulating at the time, it can be seen that the woman wasn’t budging even though a car driver yelled at her for blocking access. Another woman has also pushed her to the side just for her to get out of the spot.
And in true Filipino fashion, this viral moment garnered mixed reactions from people on social media, debating whether the shoving was necessary or not.
The controversial Maris Racal-Anthony Jennings controversy
Perhaps the most viral moment that shook every Marites’ this year was the revelation by Jamela Villanueva where she exposed the betrayal of her former partner Anthony Jennings and Maris Racal.
Through a series of Instagram stories, Villanueva exposed the alleged intimate conversations and some photos exchanged by the two stars along the timeline of the whole affair.
Villanueva stressed that she chose to share her “truth” to protect her peace, herself, and her family from being attacked by the stars’ fans.
Following the exposure, Racal addressed the public about the alleged affair, admitting that she felt embarrassed. She then apologized and took full responsibility for her mistake, sharing that she also tried to reach out to Villanueva, but to no avail.
Hours after Racal’s statement, Jennings posted a brief video in which he apologized to both Racal and Villanueva.
With that, the “season 2024” comes to an end.
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