Showbiz 2012: A year of death, defeat, awards and controversies

CEBU, Philippines - The year 2012 was marked by vari-ous events that made an impact and shook the showbiz world. As the year comes to a close, let’s take a look back at the showbiz events and personalities who made the news and became the talk of the town.

The year was marked by several deaths, stunning defeats, inspiring victories and controversies.

Well-loved comedy king Dolphy, who made us laugh for more than six decades, died at the age of 83 after he was confined at the Makati Medical Center. Dolphy or Rodolfo Vera Quizon in real life succumbed “due to multiple organ failure secondary to complications brought about by severe pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute renal failure.”

At his bedside when he died was Zsa Zsa Padilla and some of his children.The comedy king would have been 84 on his birthday, July 25.

Also passing to the Great Beyond were directors Mario O’Hara, Celso Ad. Castillo and Marilou Diaz Abaya.

Mario O’Hara was one of the favorite directors of Nora Aunor and gave us critically acclaimed movies like Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Fatima Buen and Bulaklak sa City Jail.

Celso Ad. Castillo, known as enfant terrible of Philippine showbiz, was considered a filmmaker ahead of his time. He gave us such classics as Burlesk Queen, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak, and Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa which launched the career of Miss Gloria Diaz.

Marilou Diaz-Abaya is a brilliant female director who gave us the award-winning Brutal, Moral and Karnal, plus the epic bioflick Jose Rizal, Muru-Ami, among others. The famed director was diagnosed with breast cancer but bravely fought until her death.

The whole nation mourned the death of these personalities who became part not only of showbiz world but whose contributions as artists/filmmakers became part of our entertainment history.

Then there were the two defeats suffered by Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquaio. First was in the hand of Timothy Bradley via decision. However, the result was very controversial because most boxing experts say that it was Pacquaio who should have won the bout. When the fight was reviewed and scored by an independent group of judges, Pacquaio emerged as the winner in their scorecards.

Last November, Pacquiao suffered a stunning knockout loss to Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez. A punch set Pacquiao to dreamland before a shocked audience in their fight in Las Vegas. It took quite a while before Pacquaio regained his bearings as he lay flat on the ring and was counted out.

Pacquiao later admitted he became confident and paid the price for it. But he vowed to come back next year despite the request from his mom Dionisia Pacquiao and wife Jinky that he should quit boxing.

Despite some setbacks, local stars managed to shine in the international front. Eugene Domingo won the Audience Choice Award for Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards for her work in the movie “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank.” On the same contest, noted theater actress Shamaine Buencamino won the award for Best Supporting Actress for the indie film Nino. It was Shamaine first award from a competition abroad.

Nora Aunor’s Thy Womb, directed by Cannes best director Brillante Mendoza, was invited to the Main Competition category of the Venice International Film Festival, said to be the first local film to compete in the prestigious festival. The film got good reviews and Nora was recipient of the awards given by critics covering the festival. Likewise, direk Brillante also received recognition for his work.

Ageless actor Eddie Garcia, on the other hand, won the Best Actor Award at the Asia-Pacific Film Awards held at Brisbane for this performance as the gay man who found a new meaning in life due to his friendship with a dog in “Bwakaw.” Said film also gave him the best actor award at Cinemalaya last July where the film was first shown.

Bwakaw was later on picked to be the Philippine entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category of Oscar. Though it failed to make the cut, Bwakaw gained an avalanche of good reviews for its story and superb acting.

Controversies were also the name of the game in showbiz. Feisty talent manager Annabelle Rama filed charges against Nadia Montenegro. They traded charges and counter charges in court over Rama’s alleged mishandling of the careers of Nadia’s children. Despite facing court cases, Rama went to file her certificate of candidacy to run as congresswoman in her hometown in Cebu.

Andi Eigenmann was accused of being a two-timer because of her romantic liaisons with former bf Alvi Casino and Jake Ejercito, the son of former president Joseph Estrada and former actress Laarni Enriquez. When Jaclyn Jose made a remark that Jake’s family seem not to approve of Andi because she’s an unwed mother, Jake stopped communicating with Andi and subsequently broke up with her.

Angelica Panganiban and Derek Ramsay broke up after six years of happy relationship. Derek kept mum on the reason why they split up. Angelica, on the other hand, found a new love in John Lloyd Cruz.

Derek also moved to TV5 as the newest Kapatid talent and will be seen in Kidlat, a new fantaserye this January.

Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto had a ugly confrontation with Ramon Tulfo after an incident in the NAIA 3 where Claudine berrated a ground stewardess after their luggage was left in Boracay. Tulfo took a video while Claudine was castigating the ground stewardess. Then all hell broke loose. Tulfo was seen being beaten by Raymart, Claudine and their companions. They have filed charges against each other in court.