Just like stories in films and television, real lives of local and international celebrities are filled with twists and turns; unsurprisingly, these interesting aspects of their lives were the overpowering elements in the top entertainment news in 2013.
Scandals, deaths, breakups, marriages, winning beauties and even advocacies.
These were the stories that invaded the headlines of the entertainment columns of local and international newspapers and websites in the year that is about to close.
And because people always crave for juicy tidbits from their favorite stars, these stories easily became trending topics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other networking sites, making the news and personalities even more popular.
Scandals
Just when we thought celebrities have already learned their lessons from Hayden Kho’s sex video scandals which revoked the latter’s medical license and placed the ladies involved in very uncomfortable life-situations, we found out that those warnings signs (and bells and whistles), were, well, still not enough.
Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda and his starlet-girlfriend Neri Naig’s lives were rocked upon learning that their 7:17-minute intimate video made its debut on YouTube in September.
The video showed the couple making love through different sexual positions. Though the original video was removed immediately, it had already been reposted on various networking sites enabling it to reach a wider audience.
Through his Instagram account, the 37-year-old Miranda apologized to their families, friends and fans about the unfortunate incident.
Despite the deep scandal he and his girlfriend are facing, Chito chose to show the public that their relationship has become even stronger by posting his photo along with the 27-year-old Naig on a beach, with a caption “Di n’yo kami matitinag.” (You can’t bring us down!)
The second video of the two resurfaced barely a month after the first came out. Miranda also announced that he will marry Naig soon.
If Miranda and Naig faced the scandal together, Wally Bayola and dancer Yosh had chosen to keep mum about their alleged scandal. Netizens were shocked upon knowing that the comedian-host and noontime show dancer also have a sex video.
While having a sex video released online is already a complicated matter, it has been more complicated because Bayola is married and has five kids. Since the release of the video sometime in September, the two had stopped hosting the noontime show “Eat Bulaga”.
Deaths
The entertainment industry also mourned in 2013 with the untimely deaths of some of the Hollywood and Manila’s respected movie and TV personalities.
The Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker died in a tragic car accident in November. Because of his advocacy to raise funds for the survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), Filipinos showed greater love and appreciation to the late actor.
Glee’s lead actor Cory Monteith also died in 2013 at the age of 31because of alleged overuse of heroin and alcohol.
After battling breast cancer for years, June Keithley-Castro, the voice of Radyo Bandido during the 1986 EDSA Revolution rested in peace on November 24 at 66 years old.
Breakups and Separations
In 2013, many celebrities had chosen to call it quits for various or unknown reasons.
On October 24, news had it that Luis Manzano and Jennylyn Mercado, after being together for almost two years, decided to end their relationship due to unknown reasons. Luis, however clarified that there’s no third party involved and it was a mutual decision.
Manzano’s ex-girlifriend Angel Locsin and her former beau Azkals player Phil Younghusband also joined the splitters club. The news was confirmed by Locsin via her Twitter account on Oct. 25. Younghusband, meanwhile cleared that he is not dating KC Concepcion just like what was previously reported on some news websites.
There appears to be no bad blood between the two as they continue to say good things about each other. Angel even said that she’s grateful to have been in the relationship as she learned a lot from it. Their romance started when Younghusband asked Locsin to go on a Valentine’s date via Twitter.
If the first two breakups rooted from a mutual decision, Billy Crawford and Nikki Gil’s wasn’t. When Crawford first commented on the issue on September 9, he was in tears, saying that he was confused and that he needed space and time. He went to the U.S. and stayed there for less than two weeks and when he came back, everything seemed to be back to normal again.
Gil, meanwhile, managed to get herself together after news broke out that she became so emotional after the breakup. Though she admitted that she’s not ready to be friends with her ex-boyfriend again, she cleared that she can be civil with him. Right now, the two are busy with their respective careers; Crawford, hosting “It’s Showtime and Gil, playing a villain role on “Maria Mercedes”.
Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes’ one-month romance ended on October 1; the two explained that they had chosen to remain friends.
Comedienne Ai-Ai Delas Alas’ supposed fairytale love story ended with a nightmare as barely one month after being married to businessman Jed Salang, she blurted out on national television that her husband was abusing her physically and emotionally.
Couple Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz’ love story started to make the headlines in January when the latter left the former due to an alleged affair with starlet Krista Miller.
In August, the rift between the two was aggravated when Cruz filed several cases against Montano, one of which was sexual abuse.
The separation of couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto has turned into a legal battle. The latest updates were Claudine accusing Raymart of sexual abuse, and Raymart accusing Claudine of drug abuse. The separation also divided the Barretto family, with the patriarch defending Claudine. Gretchen Barretto was reported to be testifying against Claudine.
International celebrities who also decided to end their respective relationships in 2013 included Madonna, and Brahim Zaibat; Tom Welling and Jamie White Welling; and Richard Gere and Carey Lowell, among others.
Marriages
On Nov. 22, Freddie Aguilar’s love story with his 16-year-old girlfriend, though highly tested, ended with a Muslim rights wedding. Some criticized the decision of Aguilar, saying that he is ruining the life of an innocent girl.
Some even tried to file a case against him, but this didn’t stop the veteran singer from pursuing what he called as ‘pure intentions’ to his now wife.
Just like Aguilar’s love story, Jason Francisco and Melai Cantivero’s own romance also led to a union of hearts on Dec. 16. Shortly after admitting that she’s pregnant, Melai, along with Jason announced that they’re tying the knot soon. Some showbiz friends of Melai expressed their worries about the new life that she will enter, but it still turned out that all’s well that ended well.
As of this writing, beauty queen Shamcey Supsup and her fiancé Lloyd Lee are busy preparing for their wedding on December 29.
Director-politician Lino Cayetano, according to the website of entertainment columnist Ogie Diaz, will also marry volleyball star Fille Cainglet this December.
Winning beauties
Amid the disasters the Philippines went through, Filipinos still managed to stand tall and proud—thanks to beautiful Filipinas who showed the world the stuff Filipinos are made of.
For the first time, a Filipina was crowned Miss World 2013 via the beauty and brains Megan Lynne Young who was the proud daughter of Olongapo City.
On September 28, the 23-year-old beauty queen, who is also a host and actress bested 24 other aspirants to give the country its first-ever Miss World crown.
A true beauty with a purpose, Young helped in a lot of relief missions to assist typhoon victims in the Philippines.
Mutya Johanna Datul is another beauty that brought honor to the country. Besting 82 other contestants, she was crowned Miss Supranational on September 7. Her humble beginnings en route to the most coveted crown has also become an inspiration to many.
Ariella Arida’s fourth place finish in the Miss Universe 2013 was enough to somehow boost the morale of Filipinos after several disasters struck the Philippines. After being awarded as 3rd runner-up on Nov. 10, she continued the tradition of Filipina beauties of making it to the top 5 of the prestigious pageant.
Just before the year ended, another Filipina beauty became a beauty titlist in the recently-concluded Miss International 2013 held in Tokyo, Japan on Dec. 17.
Bea Rose-Santiago admitted that it’s really her dream to be a beauty queen; and that the victory is sweeter because she dedicates it to her fellowmen who were victims of the devastating typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Advocacies
Local and international celebrities around the world joined hands to pledge help to the typhoon victims and advocacy became such a big word in the local entertainment scene.
Actress Angel Locsin, apart from leading various relief missions, decided to sell her vintage car to donate the money to the typhoon victims.
Several artists also joined hands to put up a fundraising concert for the benefit of the typhoon victims. Basketball tournaments were also organized by various local stars to help in the relief efforts.
Sarah Geronimo and some rock bands pledged a part of the ticket sales of their concerts for the typhoon victims.
Auctions by celebrities were also held to put up additional funds.
Just recently, Justin Bieber visited the typhoon-hit Philippines to provide financial and emotional support to the victims who are also his fans.