We count down 2009’s most shocking local showbiz headlines. This round-up essays how the fists of fame hit and maul even those on top of their game when bad judgment takes over or how death inevitably slices life into before and after chapters.

Sometimes even the good news fails to out-shadow the bad as seen in the top three local entertainment headline-hugging affairs that rocked our showbiz fancies, hurt our hearts, raised our eyebrows and even made us smile in disbelief.

Because change is the only thing that’s constant, it was hard to imagine that all these struggles only happened in one year. So before we shelve most of the following unresolved issues to that GMA-7 program called “Case Unclosed,” and eventually forget the past altogether, here are the news, tragedies and affairs we all spent time talking about over the course of 2009.

While we uncork the last wine bottle for the year and let the fireworks take our better spirits toward a better 2010, here’s a showbiz look-back:

Happy 2010 everyone!

1. The Hayden Sex Video Scandal. It can happen to the likes of Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian but to a young Filipina actress like Katrina Halili, it was highly improbable that many refused to believe there was such a sex video involving Katrina and Hayden Kho Jr. until the videos spread like wildfire.

Katrina denied she knew she was being taped, announced to the world that her only fault was falling in love with the then-committed (to Dr. Vicki Belo) Hayden. It became a full-blown scandal reaching almost every corner of the country including the Senate where a real-life drama unfolded like scenes from a movie. The news even made international headlines because at a trying time in the country (when the economy is suffering), Filipinos chose to talk about the scandal more than any other serious crises.

It got uglier to the point that Hayden took a splash of bottled water on the face during the investigation of the case. Katrina was accused of milking underdog publicity for herself. Hayden’s mother got into the picture. And Dr. Belo’s personal life was made more public than ever.

At the height of the scandal, everybody knew who Maricar Reyes is (the other girl on the videos and the other women caught on tape), Hayden jokes were passed around like holiday text messages, and finally (for this year) the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revoked Hayden’s license to practice medicine. To cap Hayden’s year, he was accused of attempted suicide, which his lawyer denied.

If there was any good that came out of the circus it was the passing of the Anti-Voyeurism Bill, co-authored by Bayan Party List Representative Irwin Tieng, who was among the few who had the foresight to push for the rights of the victims of Cyber-boso.

2. Cold Summer Nights in March. The Man from Manila left the world with unquantifiable music treasure and had every Pinoy mourning the passing of a legend in rap and pop music. Francis Magalona succumbs to leukemia on March 6.

In a world-halting announcement, Vic Sotto interrupted regular “Eat Bulaga” viewing to inform the people that the Master Rapper has joined his Creator. Although Francis has been getting treatment in and out of the hospital months leading to his death, no one wanted to swallow the bitter truth when it finally happened.

A man whose passion never wavered for a second and an entertainer who sparked the TV screen or the live stage whenever he was present, it was indeed hard to imagine the loss of that kind of life.

There were cold summer nights in March knowing that the kind of fire branded Francis M will never be around anymore.

3. Pacman Knocked Down by Infidelity Issues. Not even the seven world boxing titles to his credit saved Manny Pacquiao from the harsh judgment he got, this despite the fact that he never admitted to the alleged affair with starlet Krista Ranillo.

At the height of Manny Pacquiao’s victory against Miguel Cotto, rumors have it that an unlikely face figured in the boxer’s entourage in the form of Krista Ranillo, Manny’s co-star in “Wapakman.” Certain photos came out where Krista was around Manny’s group while a YouTube post saw the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter driving away from the “Jimmy Kimmel Show” with a woman, not Jinkee Pacquiao, on the passenger seat.

Jinkee would later dispense unsolicited but warranted advice to Krista, telling the actress that there’s a full life ahead of her and that it will not do her good to be involved with a married man. There are other fishes in the ocean, Jinkee hinted.

In the end (of this year, at least), Krista continues to successfully evade the local media. She did not show up for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) parade on Dec. 24 and it was reported that she had to leave recently for the US where she will be busy putting up a restaurant business in LA.

While Manny and Krista continue to deny the affair, few and few people believe their statement.

4. Juday and Ryan's Secret Wedding. On April 28 in San Juan, Batangas, Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo staged the wedding of their dream minus the circus usually thrown at brides and grooms of their celebrity status.

Very few people were told of the wedding and the couple just chose to have a Manila reception for those they did not invite in the setup.

Juday and Ryan just released a documentary of the wedding, from preparations to post-ceremony, to share with the world.

The couple asked for forgiveness that they hid the wedding while thanking those they intimated the wedding to for “lying” for them. The two said the stunt would not have been a success if not for the cooperation of their family and friends.

Eventually the public forgave them as the focus shifted to longing to see the country’s young superstar pregnant to complete their family.

5. Richard Gutierrez Cheats Death. Richard Gutierrez figured in an accident in May that took the life of his personal assistant Nomar Pardo. Prior to that, Richard sued Pep.ph for an article published on March 29 about an alleged quarrel Richard had with Michael Flores in a party. Richard and Michael denied there was any tension between them, let alone confrontation or any scene involving a gun. Celebrities who were at the party scene supported Richard’s statements.

Other celebrities who cheated death are Dennis Trillo who almost drowned and Jay-R who lost his girlfriend in a freak train accident.

6. Willie Takes the Heat Again. While the death of President Cory Aquino was of national news concern, Willie Revillame entered the frame to make it an entertainment business.

Willie did not like how the video of President Cory’s burial march was being aired while his “Wowowee” show was ongoing. But the manner by which he expressed his dislike was the reaction in question.

Though the host stated his point that the video inset was making it difficult for the “Wowowee” cast to have fun, the public did not like how Willie failed to screen his words because he could have requested for the video to be removed off-air.

7. Annabelle vs. Wilma; Annabelle vs. Ruffa. Annabelle Rama and GMA’s Wilma Galvante have yet to iron out their differences. The word war between the two eventually became a court battle.

Annabelle also let out a mouthful against Ruffa Gutierrez who reportedly hooked-up with John Lloyd Cruz. Ruffa and John Lloyd denied there was anything more than friendship between them.

8. Brilliante Wins in Cannes. If vindication had a name in local indie cinema, it would be Brilliante Mendoza. The filmmaker bagged the Best Director award at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival for his movie “Kinatay.” The win came after a foreign critic called the film as the worst he has seen.

Recently, another Pinoy Jose Pepe Diokno also won Best Director for his movie “Engkwentro” at the Dubai International Film Festival.

9. Rustom No More. Also this year Bebe Gandanghari came home from the US announcing the death of her former self Rustom Padilla.

Bebe started attending showbiz functions as a woman and now refers to Rustom as another person. This naturally caused strain relationships with Bebe’s brothers, particularly Robin Padilla. In the end, blood was ever thicker than water and Robin accepted Bebe for the new person he chose to be.

10. Network War Updates. ABS-CBN and GMA-7 continues to lord over the industry, but TV5 has just posted the biggest threat it could mount late this year when the now Manny Pangilinan-owned and operated No. 3 station announced a major shake-up that remains to be seen. Actors and actresses meanwhile welcomed the news with open arms because it means more jobs for the industry.

Meanwhile swinging survey results show there were periods ABS-CBN dominated the battle and times GMA-7 shows were on top. This only proves that balance has spread and if there ever is a perfect time for a third wheel station to try and take a share of the TV pie, this is the moment.

Network transfers include those of Claudine Barretto and Joross Gamboa who moved to GMA-7. Cristine Reyes also threatened to return to GMA but decided to stay with ABS-CBN. But it was Paolo Bediones who made the big leap to TV5.