Top 5 Celebrities 2009

Move over, Manny Pacquiao.

Here's my Top 5 List of the most prominent (and/or controversial) Filipinos in the Year 2009. They made the news, consumed so much airtime on national television, and used up so much space in each and every bloggers' articles and websites.

On 5 is Basketball hearthrob Chris Tiu of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. In case you didn't notice, Tiu dominated the television airtimes via various commercials (such as Milo and Fit n' Right), hosting jobs (for Ripley's Believe it or not and Pinoy Records in tandem with Manny Pacquiao), and of course, the telecast basketball games.

With looks, talent, (money), and family background, Tiu is sure to gain an even more exposure on National TV this year and in the years ahead.

My Number 4 goes to Master Rapper Francis 'Kiko' Magalona who passed away on March 16, 2009 due to a battle with Leukemia.

Magalona popularized the Hit Songs, Mga Kababayan Ko, Man From Manila, and many other songs that cater for Filipino Patriotism.

Also an artist, he founded the company Three Stars and a Sun which specializes in creating quality t-shirts designed with various Filipino symbols. Sales of these t-shirt immediately zoomed up during and after Magalona's interment.

Next on my list is Dr. Hayden Kho, partner of cosmetics surgeon Vicky Belo who became popular, thanks to his video scandals with several women, including Katrina Halili and Maricar Reyes.

For more than two weeks, the controversial issue was all over the news, talk shows and newspapers; while pirated dvd sellers made good money out of the video scandals.

Apparently, Kho was probed and stripped off his medical license.

Though already a Senator, Noynoy Aquino suddenly rose to stardom immediately after the death of his mother, former President Corazon 'Cory' Aquino on August 1, 2009.

The interment and burial of the former president, being watched on National TV by the whole filipino people, also featured her remaining children, Balsy, Pinky, Kris and Noynoy.

With sympathy pouring out for the children, Noynoy becomes an instant Presidentiable in the coming 2010 elections. From out of nowhere, Noynoy suddenly becomes the man to beat, as he leads each and every national presidential survey conducted by the SWS and Pulse Asia.

My Top Celebrity for 2009 is no other than Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., suspected mastermind of the infamous Maguindanao Massacre which accounts for at least 57 people being brutally murdered in Maguindanao on November 30, 2009.

At least 27 among those killed were innocent journalists who were out to cover the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy of Vice Mayor Dong Mangudadatu, a known political archrival of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

As of today, Andal Ampatuan is still under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation for trial.