By Thea Alberto-Masakayan | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom – Thu, Dec 11, 2014
They made headlines and spurred debates. They were among the most searched news personalities in Yahoo Philippines too. Here are the people, in no particular order, who made big news in the Philippines in 2014. (Photos by NPPA Images)
1. Vice President Jejomar Binay
Given his position as the country’s second-highest ranking official, it’s normal for Binay to be newsworthy. But this year has been extra controversial for the 2016 presidential polls hopeful—from allegations of an overpriced car park to an overpriced high school building in Makati, and facing (but not attending) a series of Senate hearing probing his supposed Batangas estate. Add to that his plummeting ratings in presidential polls. A packed year for the VP, indeed.
2. Janet Lim Napoles
She has not been as visible after her arrest in 2013 but Janet Napoles still makes newsrooms busy. Her profuse menstrual bleeding, or of having sex at the hospital made people cringe—issues that surfaced because she sought hospitalization for ovarian tumor. In June, Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multi-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam was charged with plunder, alongside Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla.
3. Imelda Marcos
The former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Representative began the year with a bang when she visited and brought wine and flowers to former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest and then called President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III unjust and cruel. In November, Sandiganbayan meanwhile seized Marcos's prized paintings by Pablo Picasso, Michaelangelo Buonarotti, Francisco de Goya, among others. One of the paintings was reportedly purchased in 1983 for a whopping $3.5 million.
4. Manny Pacquiao
The most popular Filipino athlete won in two boxing bouts this year (vs Timothy Bradley in April and vs. Chris Algieri in November) and also donned a basketball jersey instead of gloves, when he joined Kia team as a playing coach. However, his biggest achievement must be the birth of his fifth child, whom he and wife Jinkee named Israel.
5. Nora Aunor
Superstardom and countless acting accolades have not been enough to convince Malacanang that Nora Aunor deserves to be called a National Artist. In July, President Aquino thumbed down a nomination for Aunor, citing a previous drug-related case in the U.S.
Earlier in the year Aunor gained a monument in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, the shooting location of her iconic film "Himala.” Aunor may have lost the prestige and perks of being a National Artist but she’ll always have the support of her legions of fans.
