It was 1992, I was just a quarter of a century, and the President was Fidel V. Ramos. During his term, the Philippines was dubbed “Tiger Cub of Asia.” However, it was also the year that strong storms visited the country. The roaring Asian cub became a purring kitten, cold and wet, every time Mother Nature unleashed its wrath.

Three prominent figures hogged the headlines that year. First Lady Ming Ramos, with her clean and green campaign that led to the beautification of open spaces in Manila, the cleaning of Pasig River, and the sprucing up of Mehan Garden and the establishment of Arroceros Forest Park, considered as one of the remaining “lungs” of the congested, polluted and populated City of Man, the other lung of course, Luneta Park.

Dubbed by his followers and supporters as the First Bakla then, Ricky Reyes, who received support from FL Ming, rolled out the “Isang Gunting, Isang Suklay” caravan that changed the lives of many gay men and women who were in financially challenged situations. Reyes and his battalion of glamor technicians taught and trained thousands to learn the basics of hair cutting, coloring, perming, makeup and all things that make one look and feel beautiful, from head to toe, inside and out.

The other lady of prominence, without doubt, was Rosario “Baby” Arenas. She was a socialite and patroness of the arts. This former Blue Lady brought Luciano Pavarotti to have a concert held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which happened two years after 1992.

If we are to believe the news that circled and swirled about Madame Arenas, her label as “First Baby” need not be explained.

Pop goes the world

In 1992, the biggest song was Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” produced by David Foster, the main love anthem of The Body Guard where the pop star starred opposite Kevin Costner. It stayed for 14 weeks at the US Billboard charts, was awarded Grammy’s Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, and it became a worldwide hit.

Other major hits of the said year that had immense radio play in majority of Manila’s FM stations were “End of the Road” from Boys II Men, “Save the Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams and “Jump” by Kris Kross.

Gone grunge

Grunge was the in fashion of 1992 and its most prominent muse was the waifish super model Kate Moss and the hip hop jock Marky Mark now known as the actor Mark Wahlberg.

Staples of the grunge era included flannel shirts, oversized sweaters, slip dresses and skirts, crop tops, ripped or wide leg jeans. The appearance, sweaty faces, racoon eye makeup, disheveled hair, dirty, not taking the shower look for days over all-look.

My inner ballerina