The year 2024 was one of seismic shifts in the Philippine political landscape, punctuated by explosive controversies, public outrage, and moments of unintended humor.

At the heart of these events were the words of prominent figures, whose statements not only encapsulated the spirit of the times but also sparked debates and gave rise to viral memes.

From Vice President Sara Duterte’s “Shimenet” moment to former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s love language defense, these quotes reflect a year of tension, reckoning, and resilience.

Sara Duterte: The ‘Shimenet’ saga and beyond

Vice President Sara made headlines repeatedly in 2024 with her fiery rhetoric and polarizing remarks, turning Senate and House budget deliberations into must-watch spectacles.

During a heated House inquiry on 27 August, the Vice President defended her office’s controversial use of P125 million in confidential funds.

In response to Representative Arlene Brosas’ demands for transparency, she declared: “She may not like my answer. She may not like how I answer. She may not like the content of my answer, but I am answering.”

However, Filipinos were less interested in the substance of her defense and more amused by her pronunciation of “she may not,” which sounded like “shimenet.” This sparked a wave of online memes, parodies, and debates about the deeper meaning behind the humor.

Later in the year, Duterte shocked the nation with an even more controversial remark during an early-morning press conference: “If I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (First Lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke.”

This bold statement underscored rising tensions between the Marcos and Duterte camps. While critics condemned her for reckless rhetoric, Duterte’s supporters admired her unfiltered style, framing it as proof of her authenticity.

Alice Guo: The scandal that shook Bamban

As 2024 came to a close, one name dominated the country’s headlines: Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, whose entanglement with allegations of illegal gambling, money laundering, and human trafficking rattled the nation.

From heated Senate hearings to international pursuits, the saga of Guo Hua Ping — her alleged identity as a Chinese national — has become a case study in governance, accountability, and the growing vigilance of law enforcement.

The turning point came in May 2024, when a Senate probe was launched following a raid on a gambling hub linked to Guo.

Sen. Joel Villanueva encapsulated the national outrage during one of the Senate hearings, declaring, “Binastos mo at binalahura mo ang gobyerno, ang buong sambayanang Pilipino.” His words, translated to English as “You disrespected and insulted the government, the entire Filipino nation,” echoed the frustrations of a country grappling with the implications of foreign infiltration and corruption.

Perhaps the most shocking revelation was the uncovering of Guo’s dual identity as Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national. This raised critical questions about Philippine citizenship laws and the loopholes exploited in the verification process.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expressed the broader implications of the controversy: “We are not trying to point fingers dito, we are trying to look for solutions.” The controversy prompted the Philippine Statistics Authority to reevaluate its identity verification processes, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities that could enable similar cases in the future.

Guo’s appearances — or lack thereof — before the Senate painted a picture of defiance. During one hearing, her refusal to cooperate led to an infamous outburst from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada: “Gustong-gusto mo pala. Eh di sabihin mo sa amin. Nakakapikon ka na ah! (So you really like it/want it. Then tell us. You’re starting to get on my nerves!).

Despite her evasiveness, the Senate pressed on, uncovering details about her alleged connections to offshore gaming operators and questionable property ownership. Her claims during the hearings, including, “Wala po akong POGO business po at wala po akong pinatayo (“I don’t have a POGO business and I didn’t have anything built/constructed),” were met with skepticism by lawmakers and the public alike.

Guo’s evasion ended in September 2024, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Indonesian and Philippine authorities. Arrested in Tangerang, Indonesia, her deportation marked a significant victory for law enforcement.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros lauded the arrest, emphasizing international cooperation: “Terima Kasih to our friends in Indonesia. Inaasahan ko ang pagharap ni Guo Hua Ping sa hearing ng Senado sa lalong madaling panahon (I expect Guo Hua Ping to appear at the Senate hearing as soon as possible).”

Amid the hearings, Guo made headlines for a peculiar remark about her “love language”: “Yan po yung pinaka-love language ko sa mga taong nagmamahal sakin, to tell them na okay po ako (That’s my ultimate love language with the people who love me, to tell them that I’m okay).” This statement, delivered during a House inquiry, was met with disbelief, with many questioning the sincerity of her sentiments given the gravity of the accusations.

Rodrigo Duterte: Reckoning with the past

In 2024, former President Rodrigo Duterte faced congressional hearings over the thousands of deaths linked to his war on drugs.

In his highly anticipated appearance at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, former President Rodrigo Duterte issued a striking declaration:

“I take full legal responsibility sa lahat ng nagawa ng mga pulis pursuant to my order. Ako ang managot at ako ang makulong. Huwag ‘yung pulis na sumunod sa order ko (I am the one responsible and I am the one who should be imprisoned. Not the police who were just following my orders).”

The statement was seen as a bold move to shield police officers who carried out his orders, but critics questioned its sincerity. Congressman Bienvenido Abante Jr. addressed Duterte’s rhetoric head-on:

“Who finds humor in this horror? These are not punchlines in a cruel joke; these are lives, innocent lives taken from us.”

When pressed about alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Duterte bluntly stated: “Doon sila sa impyerno, at doon tayo magkita (They’re going to hell, and that’s where we’ll meet).”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros was quick to fire back: “Well, Mr. Chair, wala namang jurisdiction ang Senado sa impyerno. Dito lang sa bansa natin pwede tayo mag-investigate (The Senate has no jurisdiction in hell. We can only investigate here in our country).”

The hearings featured chilling testimonies from witnesses who revealed the dark mechanics of Duterte’s war on drugs.

Former convict and alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa testified that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Duterte’s former police chief, threatened him to implicate Senator Leila de Lima in the drug trade:

“Kung hindi raw ako sumunod sa plano, puwedeng mangyari sa akin ang nangyari sa ama ko. Isa sa mga pamilya ko, ang mamatay din (If I didn’t follow the plan, what happened to my father could happen to me. One of my family members could also die).”

Dela Rosa vehemently denied the allegations and dismissed claims of a reward system for police killings: “I have no idea about that reward system… I did not engage in a reward system because I had no funds for that.”

Despite his denials, Duterte himself accused Dela Rosa of complicity, stating:

“Yang isang senador, iyang nakaupo diyan, [si] Senator Dela Rosa, death squad rin ‘yan (“That one senator, the one sitting there, Senator Dela Rosa, he’s also part of a death squad).”

A central issue in the hearings was the alleged export of Duterte’s “Davao style” leadership — marked by violent crackdowns on crime — nationwide. Representative Arlene Brosas challenged Duterte on this approach during a House inquiry: “Mr. Chair, yes or no, ‘Davao Style?’”

But Duterte refused to give a straight answer: “Do not ask me to answer yes or no, you are not an investigator!”

The exchange underscored the evasiveness that defined much of Duterte’s testimony, frustrating lawmakers seeking clear answers about his role in the systematic killings.

Beyond Duterte’s deflections, damning revelations from other witnesses shocked the nation. Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza testified that high-ranking officials manipulated drug watch lists to justify murders, including the killing of Wesley Barayuga, a whistleblower at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Mendoza detailed how former PCSO chief Royina Garma, a known Duterte ally, allegedly orchestrated Barayuga’s murder to silence him: “Barayuga’s name was added to the drug watch list after his murder to justify the killing.”

Lawmakers, too, grew impatient with what they saw as efforts to obscure the truth. Rep. Abante’s emotional plea reflected the nation’s weariness: “Enough with the gaslighting. Enough with the destruction. Enough with the squid tactics.”

If 2024 proved anything, it’s that words matter. The remarks of these public figures — whether carefully calculated or spontaneously uttered —shaped the national discourse, sparking outrage, introspection, and even laughter.

For Sara Duterte, the “shimenet” phenomenon highlighted Filipinos’ penchant for humor amid political controversy, but her more serious remarks underscored deep-seated political rivalries. Alice Guo’s statements revealed the audacity of public officials facing damning evidence, while Rodrigo Duterte’s words forced the nation to confront the legacy of his administration’s most controversial policies.

In 2025, these quotes serve as a reminder of the power of language to inspire, enrage, and, at times, heal. The question remains: will these words lead to meaningful change, or will they simply be remembered as soundbites of a turbulent year?

For now, they stand as markers of a nation grappling with its past, present and future.