Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian ushered in the new year with a verbal fireworks display on his Twitter account, trading insults and calling some netizens “gago” (dumbass) and “ulol” (crazy) over his old tweets praising former President Benigno Aquino III. Some netizens apparently dug up his previous tweets to point out his contradicting remarks on the previous administration. Some called him “trapo” and “balimbing” for his online comment on the Liberal Party’s New Year message that 2018 might be the “fight for the nation’s soul.” Gatchalian had commented: “The nation already lost its soul in the last six years.” The senator also stood his ground and refused to issue an apology. “These are paid individuals, robots that are designed to destroy you and to bring out the worst in you. So why will I apologize to these people who are designed to bring out the worst in you?” he said.
Freddie Aguilar
Folk musician Freddie Aguilar made headlines last week after his house in Quezon City was gutted by fire on Tuesday night, destroying several of his prized guitars, original records, awards and other memorabilia. The blaze, which lasted for around 30 minutes, damaged around P1.5 million worth of property, according to the city’s fire department. The singer was not at home during the incident and his family, including his pregnant wife Jovie, was able to safely escape from the burning house. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which reportedly originated from the ceiling of the music room on the first floor of his house at North Fairview Park Subdivision. Aguilar is best known for his composition “Anak” and for his rendition of “Bayan Ko” that became the anthem for the opposition fighting the Marcos dictatorship.
Oliver Lozano
The Marcos loyalist, notorious for filing impeachment complaints against personalities in the past, is back in the news with a vengeance. He had proposed a compromise deal between the government and heirs of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. In exchange for criminal immunity, the Marcoses would return an unspecified amount of their ill-gotten wealth, he proposed. Before it could fly, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo was quick to say Malacañang has not acted on it since July last year. Even the camp of Marcos’ son and namesake, Ferdinand Jr., said Oliver Lozano was not their lawyer. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reminded the public that President Duterte favored such a settlement, but Congress has to craft a law authorizing it. Lozano could be the wrong messenger.
Liza Soberano
She’s no Helen of Troy, but her face has turned a thousand hearts—even more—a-fluttering even among foreign critics. The rising young actress and model has topped “The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2017” released by the British Independent Movie Critics, besting 90,000 celebrities—including Emma Watson, Gal Gadot, Alicia Vikander, Natalie Portman, Marion Cotillard, Keira Knightley, singer Selena Gomez and models. She’s the first Filipina to achieve the feat since British film critic TC Candler’s annual list began in 1990, and it was only her third appearance yet. She has climbed her way to the top from second in 2016 and fourth in 2015. The critics group searches for “grace, elegance, originality, daring passion, class, poise, joy, promise, hope” from among the most beautiful in nearly 40 countries.
Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang
Dropping the names of President Duterte and his aide, Bong Go, known gambling lord and businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang said he was sent by the President to the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) in September 2016 to “give advice” and help fine-tune the Small Town Lottery (STL) operations nationwide given his extensive gaming background. In the middle of an ongoing feud with former whistleblower, now PCSO Director Sandra Cam, General Manager Alexander Balutan also dragged Ang into the controversy accusing him of asking Chair Jose Jorge Corpuz to grant him the authority to operate the Small Town Lottery nationwide in exchange for P200 million in monthly remittances. The visit was requested by Cam, said Balutan who “promptly rejected the offer.” Balutan also accused Cam of eyeing the top PCSO post so Ang could operate the STL.
Isaiah Thomas
Looking sharp as ever, Isaiah Thomas didn’t disappoint in his long-awaited debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The dynamic point guard, who was sidelined by a hip injury, dropped 17 points in 19 minutes in his first game in seven months. “Once I took that first shot, it felt normal again,” said Thomas as the Cavs snapped a three-game losing skid with a 127-110 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite his impressive return, the two-time All-Star had to sit out the next game against his former team, the Boston Celtics, as he continued to play with restricted minutes. Thomas said, though, there were no hard feelings against the Celtics, the squad that traded him away for Kyrie Irving. And even if the Cavs bowed to the Celtics, 102-88, Thomas still got a lot of love from Boston fans who showered him with loud cheers and a standing ovation.