For Filipinos, 2009 was a mix of agony and triumph.

The country experienced one of the worst flooding disasters in history, through typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. The chilling massacre of media people and civilians in Maguindanao continue to make headlines here and abroad.

This year was also witness to evidence of the worst corruption practices in the country. A small item in a newspaper in the United States revealed how much top officials in the country, led by the President, are willing to spend for the love of fine dining. Hunger and poverty rates, meanwhile, are believed not to have improved since 2006 estimates on poverty were released by the National Statistical Coordination Board.

On the plus side, talented and exemplary Pinoys continued to impress even the hardest skeptics all over the world. World champion boxer Manny Pacquiao stamped himself onto the record books by earning the seventh championship belt of his career.

Efren Peñaflorida, a simple educator from Cavite City, inspired everyone by winning the CNN Hero of the Year award.

Selfless deeds during the Ondoy and Pepeng tragedies were also recognized—one hero, 18-year-old Muelmar "Toto" Magallanes, who sacrificed his life to save others, made Time magazine's list of 2009 Heroes.

Here are the numbers that rocked the nation in 2009.

BASIC DATA. The economy shrank 2.3 percent in the country's first quarter. It was the only negative growth in the last 20 years, according to IBON Foundation's Midyear 2009 report released last July.

As of April, there were 4.2 million unemployed and 6.6 million underemployed Filipinos, according to IBON.

The Social Weather Stations' (SWS) perceived-poverty survey conducted last February showed that 47 percent of Filipino families consider themselves poor. It was a decline from 52 percent last December 2008.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) pegged the inflation rate at 2.8 percent last November. It was an increase from 1.6 percent during the previous month.

The latest estimates of simple literacy and functional literacy remains at 92.3 percent and 84 percent, respectively, says the NSO.

NSO estimates the 2009 projected population at 92.23 million.

TRAGEDIES. In September, Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila, and caused widespread flooding in Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Makati, Manila, Pasay, Pasig, Antipolo, Taguig, Valenzuela and San Juan. It also placed 25 other provinces under a state of calamity. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the disaster caused 464 deaths, and an estimated 11 billion pesos in damages.

After Typhoon Ondoy, Typhoon Pepeng hit Northern Luzon and left 465 dead and an estimated 19 billion pesos in damages, according to the NDCC.

In September, a Super Ferry ship carrying around 960 people sank an hour after it left General Santos City, killing nine.