Faces of the News: December 29, 2024
Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has again lambasted China for interfering in Philippine internal affairs, particularly on Manila’s plan to acquire missile assets to boost the country’s defenses.
Teodoro on Dec. 25 said no foreign country could meddle in Manila’s sovereign prerogatives, after China warned that the Philippines’ plan to acquire midrange missiles was a “provocative and dangerous move” that could heighten geopolitical tensions and trigger a regional arms race.
The defense chief told Beijing to stop its “saber-rattling, stop their provocative actions, halt their interference in other countries’ internal affairs, withdraw their illegal presence” in the West Philippine Sea if it really wanted to reduce tensions.
He also accused China of “sponsoring criminal syndicates and subversive organizations beyond its borders” and has been “continuously building up their nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability” while criticizing the Philippines’ modest capability development.
In November, Teodoro said the deployment of the US missile system in the Philippines was “none of China’s business. —NESTOR CORRALES
Eli Remolona Jr.
When Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. joined President Marcos in unveiling the country’s first series of polymer banknotes on Dec. 19, public backlash ensued over the design of the new plastic-based peso bills.
What the BSP had touted as “smarter, cleaner and stronger” banknotes no longer feature heroes and historical figures that have been showcased in paper bills for decades.
Instead, the polymer banknotes—which now include the P50, P100 and P500 denominations—put focus on animals and plants endemic to the Philippines, similar to the first P1,000 plastic-based bills released in 2022.
The August Twenty-One Movement, a prominent civil society group during the Marcos dictatorship, was among those that opposed the design, calling the removal of heroes and past presidents in the new peso bills an attempt to “rewrite history.”
But the BSP said it aims to promote both historical icons and the country’s rich biodiversity by cocirculating the polymer and paper banknotes. —IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL
Judy Ann Santos
Judy Ann Santos snatched from equally noteworthy nominees the best actress trophy at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for her performance in the Chito Roño horror film “Espantaho.”
In the movie, she plays Mona, whose story begins as she mourns the death of her father. Dark secrets and a malevolent plot start to unravel shortly after his death.
At the awards ceremony held Friday night, Santos shared the accolade—the only award “Espantaho” received from the 13-man MMFF jury—with her coactors Lorna Tolentino and Chanda Romero, who were nominated also under the best supporting actress category.
She won against the fiercest of contenders: veteran Vilma Santos, who leads the cast of the revenge film “Uninvited;” and Aicelle Santos, who portrays the iconic role Elsa in “Isang Himala.”
Santos and the producers of the nine other MMFF entries also pleaded to cinema operators to schedule more screenings, especially for films that had so far lagged in the Top 10 box-office rankings. The MMFF runs until Jan. 7, 2025. —MARINEL CRUZ
Gisele Pelicot
The moment she stepped into the Avignon court in September, Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity in a drugging and rape case that riveted France and shocked the world.
For nearly 10 years, she was unknowingly given sedatives by her then husband Dominique, who raped her and invited men he had recruited online to have sex with her at home while she was unconscious.
But over the course of the three-month trial, the 72-year-old grandmother stood up to her 51 aggressors and demanded that all evidence—including 20,000 horrific videos and photographs documenting her own abuse—be heard in court.
After Dominique and his codefendants were found guilty of sexually assaulting her, Gisèle has turned into an icon against gender violence.
“I wanted all of society to be a witness to the debates that took place here,’’ she said after the verdict was handed down on Dec. 19.
After her court ordeal, she is looking forward to bonding with her seven grandchildren, listening to music, and taking long walks. —PRESS RELEASE
Han Duck-soo
In less than a fortnight, South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo lost power—and the chance to keep the country’s political strife from spiraling out of control. On Friday, by a majority vote of 192 out of 300, the parliament voted to impeach him.
The reason: his refusal to appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court that vowed to swiftly try suspended President Yoon Sukyeol. He had wanted the opposition and ruling parties to reach an agreement first before appointments can be made.
Han has been acting president since Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 for declaring martial law on Dec. 3. Perhaps lost in the political frenzy is the fact that Han, now 75, has played key leadership roles for more than three decades under five presidents.
He has served as prime minister, finance minister and trade minister on top of being ambassador to the United States and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
His expertise, reputation for rationality and hard work had made him “a regular go-to man” in South Korea politics, according to Reuters. —PRESS RELEASE
