Decades ago, Andy Warhol predicted that everyone will have his or her 15 minutes of fame.
With an attention-hungry society and the advent of social media, this isn’t hard to attain. Now, it doesn’t take much to leave an indelible imprint among Filipinos. A sentence or two can elicit much attention from supporters and critics. The effect is then amplified when it came from a celebrity.
With everything that happened last year, a number of memorable quotes were turned in to parodies, memes and conversation starters. Thus, this is the perfect time to reminisce the sound clips that became audible to the entire Philippine population in 2013.
“You don’t do that to me.” – Willie Revillame
Willie Revillame is someone who is not afraid to run his mouth. He has constantly used his show to unleash his rebuttals against those who have crossed his path. This year, his most famous quote came after Ethel Booba and Ate Gay left “Wil Time Big Time” as a protest to losing the best costume award to then-guest Anne Curtis.
Predominantly, the views about Revillame’s statement were negative because he also declared that the careers of the two would not be revived if not for him. After the controversy, Ethel Booba went back to GMA 7 while Ate Gay is still active in the stand-up comedy circuit. As for Revillame, his show was cancelled and there are speculations that he will go back to ABS-CBN.
“Walang background, senador agad?” – Vice Ganda
The thing about Philippine politics is that candidates can win by basis of their last name even though they don’t have related experience. Thus, the likes of Grace Poe and Nancy Binay were elected senators. But during their campaign period, Filipinos berated them for their empty track record.
Perhaps the sentiments of the public were best summarized by Vice Ganda’s statement regarding Nancy Binay’s candidacy. The outcry is simple: why run for a position that entails so much when your background doesn’t say much. Still, Binay was elected to the Senate and Vice Ganda continues to have a brilliant career.
“Hindi naman kailangan ng nurse na matapos ang BS Nursing” – Sen. Cynthia Villar
Here is the statement that almost destroyed Senator Cynthia Villar’s candidacy. In GMA 7’s “Pagsubok ng mga Kandidato”, Villar was asked by Winnie Monsod regarding the intervention that the Congress Committee on Education did for the 24 nursing schools that were suggested to be closed by the Commission on Higher Education.
Villar answered the first question pretty well. However, Monsod’s follow-up question on the dwindling number of Filipino nurses being employed abroad brought out this response. Villar said that those who are seeking employment as room nurses or caregivers need not finish the course because much skill is not required in such job opening. Villar took a lot of heat from nursing professionals in the form of comments, open letters and formal statements. Yet, she was still elected to the 16thCongress.
“Basta huwag lang manghihingi sa amin ang mga tao!” – Cong. Lani Mercado-Revilla
Memorable quotes often come from politicians and celebrities. Just imagine if the one who said it is both? Enter Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla who made this statement after the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF was cancelled due to the Pork Barrel Scam of Janet Lim Napoles. When asked regarding the non-issuance of PDAF, this is the Cavite legislator’s response. Come to think of it, isn’t it that leaders should provide and not wait for people to ask assistance? Statements like these should make voters think twice before shading the spot before their names in the ballot box.
“Simple lang kaming pamilya.” – Janet Lim Napoles
With this quote from Janet Lim Napoles, simple is taken to a whole new level. For the past few months, the excesses of the Napoles’ have been exposed. There are the lavish parties and properties that Jeane, Janet’s daughter, had. There are also images proving that the matriarch has encountered certain politicians that are allegedly involved in the Pork Barrel Scam. At present, the case is still under investigation and Napoles is still under government custody.
“Ilalagay po naming yung bags sa bed niya, minsan sa bathtub.” – Benhur Luy
To imagine the amount of money involved in the Pork Barrel Scam, star witness Benhur Luy describe how they delivered the money to the house of his former boss, Janet Lim Napoles. For privacy’s sake, it’s normal that people would have cash delivered to their room. But in a bathtub? That’s living like a queen. Wishing that the money in the bathtub stayed dry.
“I can buy you, your friends and this club.” – Anne Curtis
With one controversial quote, the entire Philippines have an idea of Anne Curtis’ net worth. She had too much juice to drink that she uttered this statement to fellow celebrity Phoemela Barranda. There were also reports that she slapped the face of John Lloyd Cruz. The “It’s Showtime” host has already expressed her apology to Cruz and Barranda. But while the issue is closed, this opens the public to the effects of “juice cleansing”.
“In a situation like this, nothing is fast enough.” – Sec. Mar Roxas
Days after Typhoon Yolanda devastated major parts of the Visayas, western media reported the lack of organization and government initiative in the relief and rescue efforts. In the defense of the administration, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said this in an interview with CNN’s Andrew Stevens who continually stressed that disaster efforts were not quick especially when typhoon landfall is already known. After the interview, relief efforts picked up and the heavily damaged areas will undergo rehabilitation.
“Tatandaan ninyo ‘pag dumating ang panahong wala tayong problema, iyon naman ang problema…Dahil magiging boring na.” – President Benigno Aquino III
When a statement like this comes from a president of a nation, expect a lot of sighs from constituents. Gazing into the mind of President Benigno Aquino III, is this to justify slow action or non-response from a country’s pressing problems? But with 2014 coming, optimism is abundant despite the tragedies and controversies that happened in the Philippines.
“Wala kang magagawa eh, talagang mag-aadjust ka. Kumakain ka ng pork barrel, ngayon tuyo na lang.” – Sen. Lito Lapid
This quote comes from Senator Lito Lapid and it is self-explanatory. Care to digest this one?
“Tell the truth before the senators affected will have you assassinated.” – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago
Finally, here’s a memorable quote from the mother of them all: Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. She said this to Janet Lim Napoles in a Senate hearing and what makes it memorable is that it’s part omen, part threat. Only time will tell when Senator Santiago proves to have prophetic skills or not. But for sure, all Filipinos deserve to know the lowdown of the Pork Barrel scam.
Written for LionhearTV by Correspondent Lawrence Fernandez of www.lawrencefernandez.com. Be part of our growing community! Send an article pitch to aolionheart@yahoo.com.
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