2016 was lit.
That is such an annoying 2016 way of phrasing it, fam. But so be it. Leave those expressions behind along with the earth-shaking news we’ve received throughout those 365 days.
The year that was may have been filled with lots of puppy and melting cheese videos on loop. And pandas. Always. But 2016 was pretty darn filled with noise-making bits, which shattered the world, made the world, or simply just worthy of our attention in our makeshift own little world (Hi, Mocha Uson!)
So before 2016 goes home ‘cause it’s drunk, let’s take one more shot and look back on the highs, the lows, more lows, and all things good! And have I said lows?
Viva la Politics!
Oh, good one.
This year is when everyone went bat-sh*t crazy and became sudden political critics with their know-how on how to share on Facebook of other people’s opinions—both good and bad, beeteedubs. America elected a grumpy orange man to basically rule the world. Here’s the deal: He’s never been in politics. Ever. And right when you suddenly start feeling bad for the US, you look at where you are. Oh yeah, the Philippines, which just elected Duterte as president. Current resume? Calling Barack Obama and the Pope a “son of a whore,” has gotten about 6,000 people killed in his drug campaign, and even admitted to killing some criminals himself before, and giving Marcos a hero’s burial. If you think this is unfair and you need to balance it out with positivity, simply refer to Mocha Uson’s blog. Thank you very much!
Even countries pull apart, too! The UK has decided to break up with the European Union claiming that it has opposing interests with the latter through Brexit. Just like what that guy you used to date told you. In a totally related—not related—point, we go to Bradxit.
Flames to Dust
Even good things come to an end. Golden couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie filed for divorce with Angelina saying it was a decision “made for the health of the family.”
Dust to Flames?
But things looked up for couples in the Philippines. Your It girls are now hitched! There were Solenn Heussaff and Nico Bolzico, Isabelle Daza and Adrien Semblat, and then Georgina Wilson and Arthur Burnand, who just welcomed a bouncing baby boy! If you’ve been copping out the lives of these girls your whole life, next up in your checklist is a super hot European boy, please! And a TV show.
Just right before the year ends, Billy Crawford and Erwan Heusaff put a ring on their now-fiancées Coleen Garcia and Anne Curtis respectively. Oh what a time to be in love! None for us Gretchen Weiners, though.
Another One Bites the Dust
It’s not all fun and games for the entertainment industry though as we mourn the loss of such great talents. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Prince were a few of the notable class acts we’ve lost. We also said good-bye to Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, Zaha Hadid, and endure lot of heartbreak just this December due to the passing of Zsa Zsa Gabor, George Michael, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, along with local designers Donn Camilo Delantar and Charles Kenneth.
The Show Goes On
But there’s no business like showbizness! TV was still on full swing with mega-shows that debuted this year. From the eerie kids of Stranger Things to the insane singers of Baz Luhrmann’s The Low Down and the mega-production The Crown, everyone just got hooked on Netflix and Chilling (for real this time!).
You finally now have the shows you’ve been waiting for! Just like Leonardo DiCaprio with his Oscar win for the movie The Revenant, after six long nominations. I cried, too, don’t worry.
But entertainment’s biggest exposé is when Kim Kardashian did a smack down of Taylor Swift via Snapchat. Just when poor old Taytay was playing victim for Kanye’s lewd lyrics about her on his song “Famous” (“I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous”), she apparently gave it a go signal! GASP.
All Things Beauty
Speaking of the Kardashians/Jenners, do they love their controversies! Queen Kylie Jenner also faced smack for her uber-famous lip-kit-turned-beauty-megabrand collection. Besides allegedly copying an L.A.-based makeup artist’s photos for Kylie’s Instagram posts, the formulation of her lip kits are also identical with Colourpop Costemics’ versions, but retail for less than half the price.
What does Bobbi Brown have to say about it? Nothing. First, she’s not related to it and second, ‘cause she’s leaving her namesake beauty label already! So it’s Bobbi Brown leaving Bobbi Brown. Mind. Blown.
Just Get Stuffed
Right when things are getting too stressful to handle, thank goodness for comfort food! The It girls aren’t all busy just getting married and getting engaged. Georgina with Martine Cajucom, Bea Soriano, and Eric Dee, opened the new and hottest coffee spot near you, Sunnies Café! Must try are the Cripsy Tacos and Sunnies Funfetti. Diner lovers now have the American diner Denny’s, cheese tart aficionados have Japanese dessert place Pablo’s, and hot and cold dessert lovers have Freezer Burn by chef Miko Aspiras.
App, App, and Away!
But what’s the use of gorging on all these if no one will see them? Hail live feed on social media! The Snapchat bug caught up and the rest of the applications followed suit. The 24-hour only real-time videos migrated to Instagram and, surprisingly, Facebook Messenger. So for your annoying, self-obsessed friend you follow, give it 24 hours and he/she shall be gone, anyway.
If Tinder ruled the past years, here is an anti-climactic frontrunner for this year, Pokémon Go. You’ve never wanted to elbow someone on the streets so badly until everyone got glued on their phones wandering aimlessly for that rare Pokémon. I’ve never been told that my apartment also doubles as a gym. So for a non-Pokéball holding human being, how are all these relevant?
Fashion Saves the Day
At the end of it all, good old fashion redeems us all. Fashion brands are embracing real-time demands for runway looks so brands like Burberry, Tom Ford, and Tommy Hilfiger introduced the “See Now, Buy Now” model. Yes, you can get the looks as soon as they’re shown on the runway!
Welcome to the new age of fashion. Models are now celebrities: Here are the social media supermodels like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. Gender fluidity is more recognized as Jaden Smith dons women’s clothes for Louis Vuitton campaigns and transgender models Benjamin Melzer and Loiza Lamers front Deisel’s ads.
Yes, this is 2016. We were given hottie Canadian Prime Ministers and Rio Olympians proving that there are more things to the Olympics than just sports, erm, sexy spandex. And, of course, there was progress! But not without a backlog of backward thinking, too.
Say what, we have another 365 days to make up for it! Welcome 2017 with the viral Mannequin Challenge, and a renewed sense of spirit. Isn’t that what looking back is all about after all? To make us all feel brand new?
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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