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The
end of 2019 can be remarkably considered a special occasion because it will definitely
mark the end of one decade and when the new year starts, it will also be the beginning
of the next chapter in the new millennium - the 2020s. As people around the
world are celebrating the holidays while counting down the days to the new
year, we can think of what the 2010s has done for us and the things that have
certainly defined the decade. In every decade, there are many different kinds
of moments slated to be remembered across the globe and future generations. Though
it is no exception, the 2010s may be one that can start something that we
didn't expect to happen in a slow and steady pace - a silent revolution.
There
have been thousands of moments that happened in many countries around the world
including the Philippines and it seems that people through these times are
starting to embrace what has transpired and evolved from these moments. Among them
is the surprisingly incredible and phenomenal rise of professional gaming worldwide
simply dubbed eSports which is now becoming a billion dollar industry. Thousands
of ordinary young individuals from all walks of life are using their
smartphones and PCs to immerse and train themselves in the games they love to
play in order for them to compete against the best in the foreseeable future
and be among the likes of OG, Evil Geniuses, Team Liquid, PSG.LGD, TNC Predator,
Mineski and more. With overwhelming support from various parties, professional
gaming became a legitimate sport in many countries including the Philippines
and it recently made its highly successful debut as an official medal sport in
the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. This makes me wonder what would be next for
eSports in the year 2020.
Then
there is binge-watching which began with Netflix in the United States and ABS-CBN's
iWant in the Philippines. Since the middle part of 2015, stand-alone online
streaming services have began to intend on providing their own vast library of
content to entertainment-loving consumers and offering what makes their service
unique. These would eventually make binge-watching the new way of watching TV
while television, for binge-watchers, is considered to be a compliment to their
enjoyment but remains a reliable source of news and information. Binge-watching
is sure catching on but so are fake news, online shopping and the phenomenal popularity
of the Asian pop scene worldwide. There is no need for a long explanation to
what makes these three define the decade but what I'm about to tell is sure to
be as relevant as offline viewing, my personal favorite feature on online streaming
services.
Throughout
the second half of 2010s, I'm sure that you can remember the surge of
unbelievable but truthless and senseless reports sprawling on our social media
feeds, especially on Facebook. These usually happen during important events
such as the Philippine and US elections as well as one individual's personal
moments that literally ticks me off. Traditional and campus media organizations
and even the government are exerting their own efforts to combat the spread of
fake news and inform the public about what is right about these reports. There
is one instance that an organization spreading fake news through its blogs and
websites has been permanently shut down by Facebook due to its non-compliance
to community standards. Such instance is proof that fake news can't fool the
vigilant public.
More
consumers are now spending their own time browsing and purchasing what they
want to buy either anywhere or within the comforts of their own home thanks to
online shopping. The likes of Lazada, Shopee and Amazon have interesting
features that can make one's shopping spree more convenient and productive than
in ordinary shopping malls. Fortunately, their huge shopping events are the
peak of their prime with thousands of online shoppers taking advantage of its
deals and discounts. Finally, the meteoric rise of Korean and Japanese pop
culture to the global stage literally opened its doors to opportunities for
other pop stages in Asia and the Philippines is slowly building up to be at par
with Korea and Japan with its sleuth of artists, films and television shows
making their own mark in other countries outside Asia. It makes me wonder which
Hollywood star will surprise millions of Filipinos with an appearance at FPJ's
"Ang Probinsyano" come 2020 or will MNL48 be able to change its
election process for the next batch of centergirls on its third year.
These
are just some of the defining moments and trends that have rocked the second chapter
of the new millennium slowly but surely with a uniquely intriguing pace. At the
start of the new decade, we should learn to control ourselves in what
forthcoming circumstances should we embrace in the foreseeable future.
Otherwise, whatever happens won't matter as long as there is a bright direction
that can guide us ahead. Farewell, 2010s and hello to 2020!!
