It’s that time of the year again—friends tweeting their new year’s resolutions, the old “365/365” cliche, and fireworks that light the upcoming chapter of our lives. With 2022 nearly approaching its end, we take a look at the prismatic twists and turns of events in the past twelve months.
Philippine Politics Hues of red loomed over the nation as Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator, took the seat as president of the Philippines after the national elections held last May. Filipinos were divided as the pattern manifested itself in a loop. The same last name overthrown by the People Power Revolution in 1986 has been placed right back in position, this time armed with disinformation manifesting through the abundance of online trolls and click baiting tactics.
Alongside his victory is his running mate, Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was also appointed as DEPED Secretary. In her first few months in office, Duterte pushed for the National Citizens Service Training Program (NCTSP) Act. The proposed law mandates undergraduates to undergo a two-year NCST program, or what critics have claimed to be a mere renaming of ROTC.
It was a gray year for the media as the Philippines’ rank plummeted to 147th out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI), 9 places down from 2021. The killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, was a huge blow for the state of press freedom in the country. Lapid is the second journalist killed under the Marcos administration. In the same month, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler, had also been denied her motion for reconsideration by the Court of Appeals following its decision on her conviction for cyber libel in 2020.
In contrast to the declining situation of the press, prices of commodities have been at an all-time high with a staggering 8% interest rate. This is the highest recorded since 2008. Despite this, salary rates stay stagnant, leaving Filipino consumers with a lingering burden as the holiday season approaches.
On another note, the state of the ongoing health crisis in the Philippines has seen light in the past year. Government restrictions were lifted, more vaccines against the virus continue to be administered, and the wearing of masks was made voluntary. While the Omicron variant has spread There has been no significant resurgence of COVID-19 cases recently. This shift to the ‘new normal’ has also brought back face-to-face classes in most schools. Global Events
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military forces to invade Ukraine. The war stemmed from Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union and Russia’s dismay over Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Worry filled the minds of people around the world as the year was not off to a good start. The consequences were felt globally, with oil price hikes and concerns for a possible third world war.
The United Kingdom grieved over the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. She is the longest-reigning monarch in the country. This had sparked divided discourse over the Queen’s influence over the years, bringing up her involvement in slave trades in 1596. Following her passing, heir to the throne King Charles III will be crowned in May next year.
Argentina bagged the win in this year’s World Cup held in Qatar, beating France. Soccer fans around the world were on edge during a thrilling game. Ben Morse from CNN says it is "the greatest World Cup final ever." Pop Culture
The world of pop culture had its fair share of hits and misses this year. Speaking of hits, who has not heard of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars? Debates and thoughts about the meltdown erupted all over social media. Memes were made, commentary videos were published, and Will Smith has earned himself a 10-year ban from the awards show.
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter was also an unprecedented catastrophe. Users have been unsatisfied with witnessing a 51-year-old throw tantrums online. Musk laid off more than 3,700 employees. He also made the verification badge available for purchase, which is a big risk for fact-checking online. His position is now in danger as the users’ express their frustration in his recent poll asking whether he should step down as Twitter’s CEO, with 57.5% voting yes.
Luckily, the OG pop star girlies came to save us with a vibrant array of records. Beyonce stuns with Renaissance, coming back to remind us of her legacy in the music industry. Taylor Swift broke records simultaneously with "Midnights," topping charts and becoming an "instant classic." SZA’s SOS, Carly Rae Jepsen’s The Loneliest Time, and Mitski’s Laurel Hell are also worthy of honorable mentions.
BLACKPINK’s most-awaited comeback, Born Pink, was released after a two-year hiatus. Along with the album, they announced an upcoming tour with dates to be held at the Philippine Arena in 2023. Several groups have also announced concerts in the country, like Red Velvet, Seventeen, TXT, Stray Kids, and G-Idle.
2022 was not a solemn stroll in the park. Like a kaleidoscope, it was made of complex patterns that varied at the slightest turn. For some, it was a year of growth and flourishing. It may be the complete opposite for others. Some days were filled with uncertainty. No matter what it brought us, we made it out alive. We can only look back at it from this point. The only thing left to do is move forward with hope and a yearning for a better year.
References:
[1] Cruz, R. House approves National Citizens Service Training Program bill. (December 15, 2022). Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/15/22/house-oks-national-citizens-service-training-program-bill
[2] Davis, E., Jr. EXPLAINER: Why did Russia invade Ukraine?. (February 24, 2022). Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2022-02-24/explainer-why-did-russia-invade-ukraine
[3] Ortuoste, J. PH rank plummets in 2022 World Press Freedom Index. (November 9, 2022). Retrieved from https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/pop-goes-the-world-by-jenny-ortuoste/314276571/ph-rank-plummets-in-2022-world-press-freedom-index.html
[4] Salvana, E. A brief history of Covid-19 in the Philippines. (December 13, 2022). Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/13/a-brief-history-of-covid-19-in-the-philippines/
[5] Strangio, S. Philippines’ Maria Ressa to appeal cyberlibel case at Supreme Court. (October 12, 2022). Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2022/10/philippines-maria-ressa-to-appeal-cyberlibel-case-at-supreme-court
Article: Felicity Anne Castor
Graphics: Cathlyn De Raya
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