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Top 10 Everything of 2010

At the turn of the New Year, it is but proper to come up with a review of the events that transpired over the past 12 months. Check out my Top 10 hodgepodge events of 2010. 10 – You probably had the Last Song Syndrome with Manny Villar’s TV Ad, “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?” last May. I believe because of its media overkill, it should have been voted in the Billboard Charts and if be mass-produced, would surely be a radio hit.

9 - Last year’s election brought us the first ever automated election. Smartmatic’s PCOS (Precint Count Optical Scan) is the name; automated election was the game. And did I mention that Joseph Estrada allegedly junked his runningmate, the first black president Jejomar Binay? Photos and TV footage were there to prove it; Erap admitted skipping the VP slot but “returned” and then corrected it.

8 - A pathetic milestone in lawmaking was made by Lito Lapid. His proposed bill: seeking to limit the weight of bags of schoolchildren to three kilos. LOL (for old-timers, this means “Laugh Out Loud”)

7 - The seemingly-never ending debate between the RH bill proponents and the pro-life advocates also made the headlines. The president was warned with excommunication, Carlos Celdran was jailed, and there was a scuffle between the two groups outside the Manila Cathedral. And then suddenly, Report: Pope approves use of condom to prevent diseases”. I can’t help but smile. (Click here, here, and here for my articles about Sex Ed and RH Bill).

6 - Words such as Taamah and major, major were everyone’s catchphrases for the year. Thanks to Maria Venus Raj’s major, major blunder at the Miss Universe Q & A. Taamah!

5 - The Bar blast that injured 44 people also made the headlines which brought us the question of whether to discontinue the long-standing tradition of Bar Exam Salubong or not. Raissa Laurel, the law student who lost her two legs after the blast, is modern-day picture of resiliency and optimism.

4 – In the world of sports, Manny’s eighth world title in eight different divisions made us proud in world sports. His opponent Antonio Margarito looked so awful after the twelve-round pugilism; he had cuts all over his face and a broken facial bone. On the other news, Philippine football team shocked defending champion Vietnam, 2 goals to nil in ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup tournament; finally reaching the semis against the powerhouse Indonesia. Will soccer be our next basketball?

3 - The biggest bonus in the history of Philippine lotto lured thousands of Pinoys to various lottery outlets all over. People from all walks of life flocked to try their luck for the windfall (which is, 1 in 28 million). in the end, the 741.1 million-peso pot money was won by a New York-based balikbayan.

2 - Who would forget the August 23 Manila hostage crisis? Nine innocent tourists were wasted due to a botched attempt of the Manila Police District. I am keeping my mouth shut.

1 – And instead of PNoy’s administration that should be frequently looked into, strange enough, his love life was always brought in the limelight. The bachelor’s affairs were always highlighted whether it’s with Liz Uy, Shalani Soledad, Korina, Barbara Milano, Bernadette Sembrano and 14 others girls. Let’s see who will be the new girls in the stellar president’s love life this year.

A Word of Thanks from JR Lopez Gonzales (Part III)

2010 has been a fruitful year for this weblog. The blog started in April at the height of the General Elections and never did I imagine that I would still continue to blog up until this point.

With a schedule so jam-packed with studying law, working as a college teacher, being a member of an international organization, and having a very beautiful girlfriend, I am pleased to have sustained my writing passion.

At the turn of this year, this humble blog had already surpassed its 10,000 view-mark. For the past months, this blog never left the 20^th Spot in Philippine Top Blogs under the Politics Category. Last year, the blog entry, Supremely Surprising South Cotabato! Won the 1^st SCT Blog-Writing: The South Cotabato Experience.

On this third installment of my thanks, shoutouts to the Admin Nanard Navarro of the SCT website. To the judges, Book author Corie Laraya-Coutts, and to the men & women of South Cotabato Tambayan under South Cotabato Gov. Dodo Pingoy, madamo gid nga salamat sa inyo nga pagsalig.

A fellow blogger even included my blog on his Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog for 2010! Some entries are also featured in some magazines; I’ve also received messages asking for my permission for my post to be cited in their academic papers. Thank you for not plagiarizing. Lol.

To the politicians, government officials, actors, actresses, musicians, and journalists who, in any way, mentioned on this blog, thank you for your understanding.

To the thousands of readers, visitors, friends and fans (are there?) of this blog in the Philippines and other parts of the globe, thank you for reading and supporting my little space here in the net. Thank you for those enlightening critiques on my critiques, too.

I also would want to dedicate the blog’s achievement to my kababayans in South Cotabato, and in my beloved hometown of Tupi. This is humbly dedicated to my alma mater, my glorious Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology which served as my haven for six years now.

Ultimately, to all the Filipino journalists who, because of their dedication and determination, were able to bring about the news to the public. Even if it means threat to life for the sake of work and social responsibility. Maguindanao Massacre victims, you will never be forgotten.

I may be a college teacher. A law student. Yet my heart will always bleed with ink.

Kita kits sa Facebook!

Fliptop Battles: The Return of Filipino Hip Hop

FlipTop Emcee Profiles

Here are the some profiles of your favorite FlipTop emcees on YouTube.

Abra

Real Name: Reymond Abracosa

Age: 21

Hometown: Pasig City

Reppin: Lyrically Deranged Poets, FlipMusic, Team Sunday

Anygma

Real Name: Alaric Riam Yuson

Age: ?

Hometown: ?

Reppin: AMPON, Talksic Ways

Apeks

Age: 17

Hometown: Valenzuela City

Reppin: Rhym Minister, Deepflowmahgik, Hustlin Records

Batas

Real Name: Mark Rodriguez

Age: 29

Hometown: Tahanan Paranaque

Reppin: Wild Ones Tatttoo, Kampo Teroritmo, Barangay Tibay, Sultan of Snap, Tha TVC Black

Cameltoe

Age: 22

Hometown: Paranaque

Reppin: Ampon

Daddy Joe D

Age: 24

Hometown: San Pedro, Laguna

Reppin: Elegante / P3TRecords, RS Production, Bigkasang San Pedro

Datu

Age: ?

Hometown: ?

Reppin: ?

Dello

Real Name: Wendell de Jesus Gatmaitan

Age: 28

Hometown: Tondo

Reppin: Skwaterhaws, Mongol Unit

Dhictah

Age: 22

Hometown: Ciudad Grande

Reppin: Kampo Terroritmo / Heavenly Host

Fuego

Age: 19

Hometown: Paco, Manila

Reppin: Mack-Town, Taft-Love

Gap

Age: 21

Hometown: Vito Cruz

Reppin: Vito Crew, TL, LD, People’s Future, Yo Momma

Harlem

Age: 22

Hometown: Pasig City

Reppin: Team Watawat, Schizophrenia, Street Team

Josh G.

Age: 18

Hometown: ?

Reppin: SNL Crew, Edub

Juan Lazy

Loonie

Real Name: Marlon Peroramas

Age: 24

Hometown: Cebu City, Pasig City

Representing: Stickfiggas, 6000 Goonz, Team Watawat, Batangay Tibay, Konektado

NothingElse

Age: 25

Reppin: Ampon

Hometown: Santa Mesa, Manila

Plazma

Age: 24

Hometown: Quezon City

Reppin: Ampon / Murderdeathkill

Protégé

Age: 23

Hometown: Quezon City

Reppin: Audible MC’s, Talksic Ways

Shehyee

Age: 18

Hometown: Mandaluyong

Reppin: BMG

Silencer

Real Name: Ric Laurino

Age: 29

Hometown: Paranaque City

Reppin: Familia de Calibre, DC Clan Music, The Real South Pride Production

Skarm

Real Name: Philip Pacheco

Hometown: Pasig

Tropa / Label / Crew / Grupo:

Ampon, Talksic Ways

Contact Info: www.skarm.bandcamp.com

Target

Real Name: Rene Boy Palma

Age: ?

Hometown: Las Pinas City

Reppin: Double Cross, DC Clan Music, The Real South Pride Production

Tim

Age: 22

Hometown: SouthSide Las Pinas

Reppin: Himself

Zaito

Age: 26

Hometown: Las Pinas City / Cavite

Reppin: Vigilante Family, South Radical Production

Contact Info: www.youtube.com/User/SouthradicalProd