What a Gangnam year it was! (A quick look at how showbiz ‘galloped’ in 2012)

Korean pop star Psy set the tone and the mood of the year, prompting people from all walks of life the world over to dance the way he did, hitting one-billion mark among viewers of his YouTube calisthenics horseback-riding style.

Showbiz denizens “galloped” along with Psy, too — and how!

Here’s a quick, misty-eyed look at the events that made the past 12 months a record-breaker:

Baby Boom: Precious Lara Quigaman (left, with husband Marco), Katrina Halili (above, with boyfriend Kris Lawrence) and Pia Guanio (far left, with husband Steeve Mago), first moms; and Krista Ranillo (above, left, to her and husband Niño Jefferson Lim’s second baby).

Knots were tied: Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi (top, left) made official their years of living contentedly, and so did Sherilyn Reyes and Chris Tan (above, left). Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo and Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad (top, right) opened the year by walking down the aisle at a garden wedding. Precious Lara Quigaman (above, right) was expecting when she married Marco Alcaraz at a Christian garden wedding in Tagaytay. GMA reporters Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali (above) were the last couple to jump onto the marriage bandwagon.

Star-Studded Campaign Trail: Among those running in May’s elections: Incumbent Senators Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda, and first-timers Grace Poe-Llamanzares and San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito, for the Senate; Rep. Manny Pacquiao (Sarangani), Aga Muhlach (Camarines Sur), Annabelle Rama (Cebu), Imelda Papin (Bulacan), Christopher de Leon (Batangas), Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, Ormoc City Lucy Torres, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, for Congress; Lito Camo, for board member (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro); Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito, for reelection; Jinkee Pacquiao (Sarangani), Jolo Revilla (Cavite), Daniel Fernando (Bulacan, reelection), for vice governor; Former Pres. Joseph Estrada (Manila), Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (for reelection), Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan (for reelection), Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares (Antipolo City), Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla (for reelection), Richard Gomez (Ormoc City) and Patrick de la Rosa (Baco, Oriental Mindoro), for mayor; and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Manila Councilor Lou Veloso, for vice mayor. And scores for councilor in different parts of the country.

Farewells: Dolphy, Mario O’Hara, Marilou Diaz-Abaya,  Celso Ad. Castillo and Angelo Castro.

Breakout Stars: Among them: Neil Coleta (I Do Bidoo Bidoo), Richard Yap (the Kapamilya teleserye Be Careful With My Heart), Paulo Avelino (the teleserye Walang Hanggan), Alden Richards (the Kapuso soap One True Love), Daniel Padilla (the Kapamilya teleserye Princess & I), Ryzza Mae Dizon (Eat, Bulaga!’s Little Miss Philippines), and Edgar Allan Guzman and JM de Guzman in indie films.

Lovebirds: Sen. Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista, Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna, Jolo Revilla and Jodi Santamaria, John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban, Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati, Rhian Ramos and KC Montero, and Ai-Ai de las Alas and Jed Salang.

Ex-Lovebirds: Heart Evangelista and Daniel Matsunaga, Kris Aquino and James Yap (marriage finally annulled), John Lloyd Cruz and Shaina Magdayao, Derek Ramsay and Angelica Panganiban, and Lian Paz and Paolo Contis.