“Hindi OKS ang Year of the Ox,” one would probably sum up 2009.

The year gave Filipinos the scandalous of all the scandals, the fiercest word wars, and the most number of hot issues and bad news. But despite all of these, 2009 is also the year the words “resilience,” “courage,” “unity,” “love” and “charity” were highlighted, as Pinoys rose from the challenges brought by adversities both man-made and natural.

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) looks back at the hot news and issues in this Year-End Report.

JANUARY: OF BREAKUPS AND PROUD ANNOUNCEMENTS. The year started with news of a breakup. Jolina Magdangal and Bebong Muñoz, a couple for six years, quietly called it quits. If not for Daddy Jun Magdangal’s confirmation on January 3 through PEP contributor Nora Calderon the public would not have known about the breakup. Jolens and Bebong were expected to be the next couple to announce their engagement, following their friends Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo’s engagement last year. Like everyone else, Daddy Jun was surprised when Jolina admitted the breakup before Christmas 2008.

Still on another breakup, Hayden Kho admitted that he cheated on his much older girlfriend Dra. Vicki Belo . He also admitted that he had a short “for fun only” relationship with Belo endorser Katrina Halili. The actress, on the other hand, was offended by Hayden’s attitude about their past relationship, and said she never enters a relationship “for fun only.” Both Hayden and Katrina, however, denied that they had a sex video. A fourth party by the name of Princess Velasco, was also named as one of the reasons behind the Hayden-Vicki breakup.

Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, meanwhile, continued their “neither confirm nor deny” stance on their real status. Dingdong had just got out of a long-time relationship with then girlfriend Karylle before Christmas, and the pretty Caviteña was being pointed to as the reason of the breakup. Both Dingdong  and Marian started giving hints that their relationship was more than professional, that they were special to each other.

No more hints, however, on what Rustom Padilla really wanted to be when he came back to the Philippines after his three-month stay in the U.S. Shortly after his arrival he announced on Startalk that Rustom Padilla was no more and that Bebe (pronounced “bibi”) Gandanghari was here to stay .

Another proud announcement was that of YES! magazine setting record history in Philippine publishing. The magazine’s “Wowowillie” issue broke records when its circulation reached 200,000 copies . Not only was this the first in the leading Philippine entertainment magazine’s eight-year run, but also in the country’s magazine publishing business.

FEBRUARY: DISCORD DURING THE MONTH OF LOVE. GMA-7 announced newcomer Carla Abellana as its new talent and the star of the Pinoy version of the Mexican telenovela Rosalinda.

Meanwhile, trouble was brewing in the Kapuso Network. Dennis Trillo expressed his disappointment when he learned that Heart Evangelista backed out from their upcoming team-up, the Sine Nobela, Muling Buksan ang Puso. When asked about the reason behind the shelved teamup, Heart said in an interview that there were things in the story that she thinks might conflict with an existing contract she has with an endorsement. Plus her manager, Annabelle Rama, wanted her to star in a primetime soap and not in an afternoon slot drama.

Because of Heart’s camp’s refusal to accept the show, GMA Network, through its VP for Legal Affairs Atty. Dick Perez, issued a reminder letter to Heart, to remind her of her obligation to GMA-7, and that the Kapuso Network will take legal remedies to protect its interests because of Heart’s refusal to accept the assigned show to her.

What ensued was like a pingpong game between the two camps.

The issue was eventually settled when Heart’s parents (who also stood as her primary managers) met with GMA-7 President, Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon in a closed door meeting, without Heart’s co-manager Annabelle Rama.

In related news, Annabelle Rama’s rift with GMA Network’s SVP for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante was renewed, with a claim by the feisty talent manager, that her ward JC de Vera was harassed by the GMA executive during a story conference for a proposed project for the actor. Ms. Galvante countered Annabelle’s accusations

Boy Abunda was also one of the most read celebrities this month. Aside from his rift with Showbiz Central host John “Sweet” Lapus, which stemmed from John’s exclusion in a Calayan Surgicenter billboard, Boy also had a bone to pick with Vicki Belo.

He took offense when the beauty surgeon stated, “If you want to look like Boy Abunda, then go to Calayan. If you want to look like Dingdong Dantes and Piolo Pascual, come to Belo” . The doctor apologized through a text message. Boy felt Dra. Vicki could have done better, but accepted her apology anyway just to let the issue die.

Also during the love month, actress turned Parañaque councilor Alma Moreno wed Marawi city mayor Fahad Salic in a civil rite.

Concert Queen Pops Fernandez and Concert King Martin Nievera’s reunion concert Missing You, produced by Jomari Yllana, was a big success.

MARCH: THE ISSUES HEAT UP. The month heralded summer heat—and hot celebrity issues, including legal suits.

Right after the successful concert of Martin and Pops came a shocking breakup announcement.

Jomari Yllana confirmed that he had called it quits with Pops, his girlfriend of four years. Although no specific reason for the breakup, rumors went around about their busy schedule and a “third party.” Both Pops and Jomari denied the rumors. Pops said she never really saw the breakup coming.

The two chose to keep mum, but Pops’s ex-husband Martin granted an interview and said he can no longer work with Jomari, and that the actor is not okay with him. “He [Jomari] is not okay with me now for hurting Pops and being so mysterious,” Martin said of Jomari.

Jomari took umbrage with that remark. As guest on Anjo Yllana and Eugene Domingo’s Cool Center, he addressed the Concert King as “Mr. Nievera,” expressing annoyance over Martin’s unsolicited opinion.

“Mr. Nievera, I find it strange and hypocritical na of all people, ikaw pa ang nagsasalita about Pops getting hurt. I maybe wrong but if you have some unresolved guilt within you, please refrain from using my situation with Pops para lang magmukha kang malinis na tao… Mr. Nievera, not at my expense,” Jomari confronted Martin.

Martin, in his message to The Buzz, said he would not react to Jomari’s statements in Cool Center but told the actor-producer to tell the people what they want to know and defend Pops against false accusations about the breakup.

When finally cornered by the showbiz press, Pops confirmed that she and Jomari had already talked and reached closure. As for why they broke up, the singer said everything was still unclear to her but she just wanted to move on, like Jom himself.

Meanwhile, the Annabelle-Wilma feud continued, as both presented their own versions, in separate press conferences, of what happened during the storycon where JC de Vera cried. Both women also talked to the press about the fate of JC after his crying incident at the GMA office.

Annabelle in fury hurled invectives at Mrs. Galvante, like “demonyita,” “devil woman,” “kupitera,” and “pangit.” . The GMA exec held that the Kapuso Network would abide by the contract with its artists; Annabelle, on the other hand, challenged the station to release all her talents.

The fate of JC’s career with GMA-7 was resolved a couple of days after the press conferences of both Annabelle and Galvante, when the Kapuso Network released its official statement declaring JC will remain a GMA Network contract artist.

Ms. Wilma Galvante filed a P7 million libel suit against Annabelle Rama at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

It was a sad day on March 6 not only in showbiz but over the whole country, when Vic Sotto announced in Eat Bulaga! the passing of the Philippine King of Rap or the Master Rapper, Francis Magalona. The actor-musician-TV host was one of the host of the GMA-7 noontime show and have been battling leukemia since being diagnosed last year. He succumbed after months of being confined in Medical City in Pasig and receiving medical treatments. His friends, co-workers and fans not only in the Philippines but around the world, grieved his death. He was given the posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit for his valuable contributions to the country through his music.

Even the Pinoy Rock legendary band Eraserheads paid tribute to Francis during their The Final Set reunion concert . The concert was the Eheads’ continuation of their August 2008 concert which was abruptly stopped when lead singer Ely Buendia was rushed to a hospital after collapsing from chest pains backstage.

Days after his death and burial, PEP and Pia Arroyo-Magalona, Francis’s widow, discovered two groups using Francis’s name for “benefit” concerts  without her permission. While the Dubai group made efforts to contact and apologize to Pia, the Canada group did not reach Pia for permission or even issued a statement.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao made a surprise decision to give ABS-CBN exclusive broadcasting rights to his fight with British boxing champ Ricky Hatton and to his future fights.

Solar Entertainment Corporation, the company where Pacman is currently signed with for the exclusive broadcast rights of his fights, was obviously disappointed with Manny and threatened to sue the boxer and ABS-CBN. GMA-7 was likewise disappointed because aside from being partners with Solar Sports, Manny’s decision would violate a provision in his contract, which prohibited him from appearing in any media company without the Kapuso Network’s permission.

The Kapamilya Network, on the other hand, said they violated no contract and that they just welcomed back Manny when the boxer approached them for the media coverage of his upcoming fight.

On March 21, the “confusion” was settled when Manny retracted his decision and apologized for causing public confusion. He said he would honor his contract with Solar and GMA.

Two controversial videos surfaced during this month. The first one was that of RTW designer Boyet Fajardo harassing a duty-free employee and the second, that of comedian Bayani Agbayani challenging another man in a fist fight.

Both Boyet and Bayani apologized for their behavior in the videos. Boyet reasoned he was tired, sick and had not yet eaten during his flare up, while Bayani said he was provoked and was intoxicated during his incident at the parking lot of a club.

Near the end of the month, PEP inadvertently uploaded a story, to which Richard Gutierrez reacted by suing the website with a P25M libel suit, in spite of an apology letter and a press conference.