Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup was named the third-runner up in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant held in Sao Paolo, Brazil in September. The achievement was another impressive entry on the University of the Philippines alumna’s resume. She had graduated magna cum laude and had topped the 2010 Architecture board exam. Pinoys were truly ecstatic over Supsup’s finish—even if they had mixed reactions to her answer in the pageant’s Q&A round. Judge Vivica A. Fox had asked her, “Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person that you love? Why or why not?” Supsup had answered, “If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person I love is God, who created me. I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God, too.” Later on, it was revealed that Supsup’s boyfriend Lloyd Lee had, in fact, changed his religion for her.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s weather bureau, had gotten a lot of flak in the past for alleged inaccurate predictions. To be fair, the agency was handicapped by the lack of equipment and outdated facilities. PAGASA revealed that they needed around P1.8 to modernize their operations and acquire more computers, Doppler radars, and other crucial tools for more accurate and timely weather forecasts. In November this year, PAGASA revealed that they have started the mass installation of over 70 automatic rain gauges all over the country as part of their efforts to improve the country’s flood forecasting system.

The U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) still has a hold over Pinoys. Despite the league’s lockout woes, NBA magic was kept alive when stars like Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans, Derrick Williams, James Harden, and Derek Fisher came to Manila to play an exhibition during the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend in July. Basketball-crazy Pinoys went gaga over seeing their idols in the flesh. Unfortunately, the NBA lockout has dragged on and fans can do nothing else but wait for it to be resolved.

The sexy model-actress, who was the Yahoo! OMG! Awards' Clear Woman awardee, also topped FHM Philippines’100 Sexiest Women in the World 2011 list. Pinto—who was one of the housemates in ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up” edition in 2009—also got more press when her “Tween Academy: Class of 2012” co-star Alden Richards revealed that he had a big crush on her. Pinto has clearly capitalized on her sex appeal—as she flaunts her whistle-bait figure on TV and print ads. She has been tapped to endorse products like Bench and San Miguel Beer Light. She was also in the GMA-7 primetime show, “Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik.”

The country’s football team got a lot of buzz as they attempted to snag a spot in the 2014 World Cup. Alas, the formidable team from Kuwait ended the Azkals’ World Cup dreams, when they beat them at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in July. Despite the disappointment, the Azkals announced that they are eyeing a spot in the 2015 Asian Cup. The team fared better in the 2011 Long Teng Cup, where they placed second and player Chieffy Caligdong was the top scorer with four goals.

The Valenzuela City councilor and former girlfriend of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III surprised the nation anew when her engagement to Pasig City Congressman Roman Romulo was announced in September. This struck the public as rather “fast,” as her relationship and subsequent break-up with Aquino had been much publicized in 2010. Soledad had also surprised people when she agreed to be controversial TV host Willie Revillame’s co-host on his TV5 game show, “Wil Time Bigtime” (previously known as “Willing Willie”). The Soledad-Romulo wedding had been scheduled for 2012.

In July, Eigenmann’s mother, actress Jacklyn Jose revealed that her 21-year-old daughter was pregnant. Though she did not name the young man who had gotten her daughter pregnant, Jose revealed that he was “Andi's first boyfriend who left her when he found out about her condition.” Initially, people speculated that Jose was referring to Jake Ejercito, son of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Laarni Enriquez. As it turns out, the child’s father was actually Eigenmann’s fellow ABS-CBN talent Albie Casiño, who had been her boyfriend for two years. Eigenmann, who had engaged in a cyber word war with Casiño earlier in the year, gave birth to a 7.8 lb. baby girl who she named Adriana Gabrielli on November 23.

Fans of 18-year-old ABS-CBN talent AJ Perez, who died in a vehicular accident in Tarlac early morning of April 17, used the Web to memorialize their idol. Queries on Perez dominated Yahoo! Philippines Search logs within a week of his tragic death. Users wanted to know read articles on Perez, view his photos, as well as know more details about the fatal car crash. Perez’s family later donated his corneas to an eight-year-old boy and 28-year-old Lawrence Villanueva.

The GMA-7 star’s biggest role this year is that of a warrior princess in “Amaya,” a historical series set in the Central Visayas in the 1500s. The actress also scored big with the movie Temptation Island. However, she also figured in an alleged tiff with Temptation Island co-star Heart Evangelista. The actress continues to be plagued by rumors claiming that she has a quick temper.

After “killer earthquakes” hit Japan and New Zealand, the public became more interested in the phenomenon. Some pundits brought up the findings of the 2002-2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study, which theorized that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake would strike Metro Manila. If that happens, pundits pointed out, the cities of Marikina and Pasig that lie along the West Valley Fault would be wiped out. The study’s projected disaster statistics expected 2,600 deaths, 8,800 injuries and 3.15 million refugees in Marikina alone. Most recently, users searched for news about the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit eastern Turkey on October 23 and killed more than 600 people.