APRIL: APOLOGY, LAWSUITS AND VERIFICATION. The Annabelle Rama vs. Wilma Galvante battle continues.
After Wilma Galvante filed a P7M damage suit against Annabelle Rama (CLICK HERE to read article), the feisty talent manager counter-charged with a P25M slander suit (CLICK HERE to read article)
"Itong kasong ipinayl ko ngayon, ito yung kasong slander. Ibig sabihin ng slander, hindi ako papayag na kung sinu-sinong tao, sisiraan ako, 'saka mga talent ko," Annabelle told the press during her filing.
Earlier this month, her son and talent Richard Gutierrez filed a 25-million pesos libel suit against PEP (CLICK HERE to read article).
Grabbing attention also this month were GMA-7's announcement of Marian Rivera as the new Darna (CLICK HERE to read article) the death of broadcaster Ted Failon's wife (CLICK HERE to read article), and the surprise wedding of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo (CLICK HERE to read article).
MAY: VICTORIES AND VIDEOS. The whole country celebrated as Manny Pacquiao knocked out British boxing champ Ricky Hatton in round 2 (CLICK HERE to read article) of their fight. Martin Nievera, who sang the Philippine National Anthem "Lupang Hinirang" right before Manny's fight got some flak. The National Historical Institute (NHI) asked him to apologize for "Martin's incorrect way of singing the National Anthem." (CLICK HERE to read article).
Martin refused, at first, to issue an apology. But he apologized days later to "people who are afraid of progress and change." On the other hand, the Concert King thanked "everyone else," and told them, "God bless your open mind and open heart." (CLICK HERE to read article)
Another reason for the country to be proud was Brillante Mendoza's triumph in the highly-prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Mendoza won the Best Director Award despite the lack of government support. (CLICK HERE to read article)
Video scandals usually bring shame, but when the Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho "sexy dance video" first came out via YouTube, Katrina admitted she was even proud of her sexy dancing while she and Hayden were singing George Michael's "Careless Whisper." Katrina admired her sexiness in the video, "Ang sexy-sexy ko nga doon, ang ganda ng katawan ko!" she exclaimed. (CLICK HERE to read article)
Not anymore when the different, more private videos of Hayden having sex with Katrina, and with three other women, came out via pornsites and pirated DVDs. Katrina felt the whole world caving in on her. Those videos were later dubbed the "Hayden Cam Sex Scandal Videos."
Sen. Bong Revilla Jr.'s privilege speech, where he attacked Hayden and called him "pervert of the highest kind," (CLICK HERE to read article) stamped the Hayden Cam Sex Scandals as a national issue. A Senate inquiry was even called (CLICK HERE to read article) where Hayden received a welcome "shower" from former mayor and police officer Abner Afuang before the inquiry began.
While the whole country had its attention on the Hayden Cam Sex Scandal and its characters (Katrina, Hayden, Mrs. Irene Kho, Eric Johnson Chua, Dra. Vicki Belo, Lolit Solis), an accident happened in Imus, Cavite.
Richard Gutierrez's Nissan Skyline sports car hit a light post, fell off an embankment, and then hit three coconut trees. The actor and his bodyguard George Mustura got bruises and were rushed to a hospital. The impact threw his personal assistant Nomar Pardo out of the car, resulting in his death. (CLICK HERE to read article).
With an acts of lasciviousness case still ongoing (CLICK HERE to read article), Baron Geisler was once again the subject of a similar complaint by young actress Yasmien Kurdi (CLICK HERE to read story). She also accused Baron of unjust vexation. The issue was settled through Director Maryo J. delos Reyes's mediation. Heeding the words of the respected director, Yasmien was convinced not to push through with her charges against Baron.
JUNE: SAYING GOODBYE TO ICONS. The whole world was shocked and saddened by the passing of an icon. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died at the age of 50 on June 25. Initial reports said the cause of death was cardiac arrest. But it was later found out that Jackson at the time of his death had been given different pain relievers and relaxation drugs. His personal physician came under under investigation.
Local celebrities, like Gary Valenciano, Charice Pempengco and Aga Muhlach, expressed sadness over the death of their idol.
But earlier this month, the entire local showbiz felt the shock and sorrow of losing talent manager Douglas Quijano.
The talent manager was found lifeless on the floor of his bedroom at his house in Lucban, Quezon, on the morning of June 13 (CLICK HERE to read article). Cause of death was determined as a heart attack. He was 64. His talents, friends, family and co-workers grieved over his death. Joey Marquez, Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, John Estrada, Jomari Yllana, Nadia Montenegro, Gelli de Belen and other talents of Tito Dougs, as he was fondly called, were devastated.
Joey, said to be Tito Dougs's favorite, felt like he lost parts of himself with Douglas's death. "He's the one who's just there pag may problema ako. At this point, parang natanggalan ako ng braso, paa, kumpiyansa...I really don't know how to get it back..." (CLICK HERE to read article)
Tito Dougs was also known as a peacemaker in showbiz. During his wake, showbiz personalities who were at odds with each other set aside their differences to be with him for the last time. "Tito Dougs is the kind of character who brings people together. So, even in death, parang ganoon ang nangyayari," said Ms. Jo-Ann Maglipon who was greeted by PEP-hater Annabelle Rama before the cremation service for Tito Dougs (CLICK HERE to read article)
Speaking of Annabelle Rama, she and daughter Ruffa Gutierrez reportedly had a fight over Ruffa's new boyfriend, which prompted the former beauty queen to leave Rama's house together with daughters Venice and Loren (CLICK HERE to read article). It was said that the cause of their fight was Ruffa's rumored boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz.
Both Ruffa and John Lloyd denied being an item but sightings strongly hinted otherwise. Ruffa and Annabelle kissed and made up during Tito Dougs's wake (CLICK HERE to read article).
Joining stars involved in legal issues early this year, was StarStruck Ultimate Hunk Aljur Abrenica (CLICK HERE to read article). The Kapampangan hunk was charged with acts of lasciviousness by a 15-year-old girl from Puerto Galera. Aljur denied getting physical with the girl. His lawyer released a statement saying the case was just a misunderstanding between two teenagers (CLICK HERE to read article)
Also in this month, former actress Rochelle Barrameda and her family finally found her missing sister, Ruby Rose, who was reported missing since 2007. Unfortunately, they found her in a gruesome scene—her corpse had been stuck into a steel drum, which was raised from the sea floor of a fishing port in Navotas. Suspects in the killing of Ruby Rose were her former husband, ex-father-in-law and five others, including the man who pointed to the body's location (CLICK HERE to read article)
JULY: DISMISSED. Because of "lack of probable cause," the libel suit actor Richard Gutierrez filed against PEP, was dismissed. (CLICK HERE to read the DOJ decision) Asked for her reaction, Annabelle declared: "Hindi pa tapos ang laban!" (CLICK HERE to read article)
Later this month, the family of Richard Gutierrez's personal assistant, Nomar Pardo, who died during Richard's car accident, filed a "Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide" case against the actor. (CLICK HERE to read article)
Previously, negotiations between Nomar's widow and Annabelle Rama regarding recompense for Nomar's death fell through. After filing the case against Richard, Lorayne swore she would never agree to a settlement.
Meanwhile, an audio recording of Lolit Solis discussing how to "crisis-manage" Hayden Kho, and admitting she was behind Katrina Halili's lines in her interviews, surfaced. Katrina's lawyer said the audio recording was just a "grand scheme" by the Hayden Camp to ruin Katrina. (CLICK HERE to read article)