August, as Taylor Swift said, has really slipped away into a moment in time. Yet, the whirlwind of pop culture antics has ensured the month brimmed with excitement and drama.

With new trends, surprising events, and jaw-dropping stories making waves, it’s clear that this summer’s finale was anything but ordinary.

As we look back on this month, let's dive into the standout moments and trends that shaped the summer's final stretch.

1. Sandro Muhlach accuses GMA contractors of sexual abuse

(Screenshot from GMA News/Youtube)

Trigger Warning: mentions of sexual abuse.

The Filipino entertainment industry is reeling after Sparkle GMA Artist Center artist Sandro Muhlach accused two GMA Network contractors of sexual assault. The allegations, aimed against the independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz, sparked widespread controversy and prompted an internal investigation by the network.

On Aug. 1, GMA Network received a formal complaint from the young actor, who identified the two individuals working as independent contractors for the network. The complaint, which was also posted on GMA Integrated News’ official Twitter account, led the network to say, “the Network assures the public and all stakeholders of its commitment to conducting this investigation with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality.”

On Aug. 2, Sandro and Niño Muhlach then went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for assistance to formally file a sexual molestation complaint against Nones and Cruz.

In a privilege speech on Aug. 5, Sen. Robin Padilla unveiled his plans to investigate the sexual harassment complaint filed by the actor, stating, “Hindi maaaring mamatay ang isyu na kinasasangkutan ng walang malinaw na pagpapaliwanag sa komite ng mass media. Dahil ito po ay obligasyon ng bawa't mass media network bilang sila ang pinagkakatiwalaan ng marami nating kababayan.”

The Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media has subpoenaed the accused contractors.

On Aug. 12, Nones and Cruz appeared before the Senate inquiry, vehemently denying the accusations against them and urging the public not to judge them harshly.

Despite their strong denials and claims of clean record, a Senate panel investigating the complaint has found “strong evidence” against them, with further details pending as the NBI continues its work.

2. ‘Very demure, very mindful’

(Screenshot from @joolieannie/TikTok)

TikTok just gave birth to another catchphrase!

On Aug. 2, beauty influencer Jools Lebron (@joolieannie) posted a video pointing out her office look of the day. Drawing inspiration from her minimal makeup and sleek hair, she reflected on how she comes to work in a “very demure, very mindful” way.

“I don't come to work with a green crease... I don't do too much. I'm very mindful while I'm at work,” she said in the video.

The video has now over 33 million views on the platform in less than three weeks with celebrities like Nadine Lustre, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, and NewJeans’ Hanni joining the trend.

In another video, the TikToker also confessed that she wore the same exact “green crease” makeup on her first day of work at Texas Roadhouse.

“Every video is me just referencing me,” she said in another clip explaining the joke after drawing flak for “judging” the way people show up to work, saying, “That’s the joke!”

The word “demure” takes on a more expansive meaning than its traditional meaning of being modest. For Lebron, being demure extends from the makeup you wear to the manner in which you order your room service and wear braids.

3. Our golden boy, Caloy

(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Gymnast Carlos Yulo made it to the history books after securing not just one, but two Olympic gold medals for the Philippines with high-scoring performances in the men’s floor exercise and vault at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Yulo scored 15.00 points after a near-flawless and skillful routine in the men’s floor exercise event.

“I'm so overwhelmed. I'm feeling grateful for having this medal and for God. He protected me, as always,” Yulo said after his podium finish on Aug. 3 Paris time.

In just over 24 hours, he scooped his second gold in the men’s vault, earning a 15.116 average score in the floor discipline.

Yulo, along with bronze medalist boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, led the Heroes’ Welcome Parade for the Filipino Olympians on Aug. 14, starting at Aliw Theater in Pasay and ending at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Fencer Sam Catantan, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, boxers Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam, and hurdler and sprinter Lauren Hoffman also joined the parade, feeling the warm welcome of the Filipino crowd.

The 24-year-old artistic gymnast is the second Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s victory in the women’s 55 kg category for weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

4. The 64 pesos food poverty threshold

(Screenshot from 24 Oras Weekend)

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) drew flak after Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that individuals who spend below 64 pesos for three meals a day are considered “food poor.”

Filipinos lampooned the 21 pesos per meal food threshold used by NEDA for food poverty by churning out meal budget challenges and memes on social media.

“As of 2023, a monthly food threshold for a family of five is P9,581. It comes out [to] about P64 per person,” Balisacan said during the Senate briefing on the proposed 2025 budget. Balisacan explained that the figure has been adjusted to account for inflation.

Senator Nancy Binay urged NEDA to reassess the current food poverty threshold since it was unrealistic and insufficient considering the rising cost of living in the country.

After receiving public backlash, the NEDA chief clarified that the food and poverty thresholds are not meant as a budget for what is considered a decent living standard but serve as tools to assess the country’s development progress and the government’s efforts to improve living conditions among the poor.

Balisacan agreed that it is time to review their threshold to ensure that their forecasts are accurate.

5. Tone-deaf promotions with 'It Ends with Us'

(Photo from Mirror.com.uk)

Hollywood stars, at some point, will reveal their true colors to the public, and Blake Lively did it in true airheaded and mean fashion.

Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel ‘It Ends with Us’ was adapted into a movie directed and starred by Justine Baldoni with Lively. Released on Aug. 7 in cinemas, the movie tackles the traumas and nuances of an abusive relationship.

However, Lively, who played Lily Bloom, went viral for her off-putting attitude and promotional gimmicks in various interviews, which involved encouraging floral attire and marketing her haircare line.

Social media was flooded with her infamous “Congrats on your little bump,” retort after a well-meaning interviewer, Kjersti Flaa, congratulated her on her pregnancy. The other instance showed Lively being sarcastic, after being asked how she can help victims feel seen and heard, to which she joked that maybe she could just reveal her address to the world for them.

Netizens have revived Blake Lively’s past interviews and guest appearances, which detailed how she’s been “unlikeable” since her Gossip Girl days.

6. 2020 Deja Vu

(Photo by Guerchom Ndebo/AFP News)

In just a span of three days, we checked out two from the 2020 bingo card.

Mount Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental erupted last Aug. 16, and the first Monkeypox case for 2024 in the Philippines was reported on Aug. 19.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology also observed volcanic smog emitting from the Taal Volcano on Aug. 20. The volcano emitted 5,128 tons of sulfur dioxide, forcing face-to-face class suspensions in affected areas.

Netizens were quick to relate these events to those that dawned in 2020, which were the COVID-19 pandemic and Taal Volcano eruption.

Contrary to popular belief, monkeypox or mpox, has already been around since 2022 and is currently a public health emergency.

However, four more confirmed cases were confirmed in August. The Department of Health urged the public to use masks and limit physical contact.

7. Where did she ‘Guo’?: Brands offer freebies to Alice Guo

(Photo from Spot.ph)

If you haven't caught up on the latest developments in the Alice Guo saga, the most controversial mayor of the Philippines apparently managed to evade authorities and leave the country.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed on Aug. 19 that the dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor fled the country on July 18, traveling to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Guo later went to Singapore on July 21 to meet her family before heading to Batam, Indonesia, on Aug. 18 by boat. Guo is currently facing a qualified trafficking complaint at the Department of Justice regarding her alleged connections to illegal activities in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators sites that were raided in Bamban.

Various local establishments wasted no time in jumping on the news, giving tempting offers of free food and drinks if she decided to return to the country.

Some of the freebies include a free duo meal from Brothers Burgers, a year of unlimited boneless chicken from Coop’s Boneless Chicken, a lifetime supply of Batangas lomi overload from Captain Bowl, free drinks at Default Cafe Pub, and many more.

These brands have outdone themselves with their humor, demonstrating dedication and creativity through various witty remarks, playful incentives, and marketing strategies. Will Alice Guo take the bait and return to these tempting delights? Only time will tell, but one thing is sure: these establishments are going the extra mile to win her back.

8. Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan’s surprise joint slay

(Photo from Billboard)

Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan surprised fans on Aug. 20, as they shared the stage with a duet of “HOT TO GO!” during Rodrigo’s “GUTS” world tour in Los Angeles.

On Rodrigo's TikTok account, she shared a humorous video from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. In the clip, Rodrigo playfully says, “I hope she plays ‘Hot to Go,’” only for the video to cut to Roan, who responds with, “This is an Olivia Rodrigo concert, b—h.” The video then transitions to them performing the hit track together.

Roan, known for her hit song “Good Luck, Babe!” took to Instagram to express her gratitude to Rodrigo for the chance to perform together.

In her caption, Roan wrote, “You make me feel like a rockstar, Olivia. Thank you for having me. I love you so much xoxox.” Rodrigo responded, “My girl, I love you so much.”

The two have a long-standing friendship, with Rodrigo first welcoming Roan as her opening act during the "SOUR" Tour in San Francisco in 2022. This year, Rodrigo tapped Roan again to open the first 24 shows of her "GUTS" World Tour.

9. Taylor Swift speaks out on Vienna concert cancellations due to alleged terrorist plot

(Photo by Henry Nicholls/AFP News Via Getty Images)

Pop icon Taylor Swift addressed the cancellation of three Vienna concerts on Aug. 21 due to a foiled terrorist attack.

In an Instagram post, Swift shared her feelings, stating, “the reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear and tremendous guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”

“But I was also so grateful to the authorities because, thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she added.

Austrian authorities had arrested two teenagers allegedly planning the attack near the venue, with a third arrested days later. Authorities revealed that the plot seemed to be influenced by ISIS and Al Qaeda. Investigators found bomb-making materials and extremist content linked to these groups at one of the suspects' residences.

The European leg of her tour ended in London, where Swift played five sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium under heightened security measures.

10. Tae-il’s transgression

(Photo from Getty Images)

Trigger Warning: mentions of sexual crime, abuse, and blackmailing.

You don’t really know the idols you spent thousands for, and South Korean boy groups have attested to this via heinous sex crimes.

SM Entertainment dropped a shocking announcement regarding former NCT member Moon Tae-il on Aug. 28, saying his removal from the group was due to a “criminal case related to sex crime.”

Information and other allegations have been strictly online, with fans speculating on X (Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok about what the case could be all about.

Petitions to investigate NCT and other boy groups are also making rounds on social media and Korean online forums amid cases linking K-pop groups with sex crime.

In the last five years, South Korea saw the Burning Sun case and the Nth Room case in 2018, which both involved cyber sex rings on Telegram and Kakaotalk chat rooms where women were trafficked.

As August slips away, the vibrant pulse of summer begins to quiet down, leaving us with tokens of bold trends, shocking revelations, and unforgettable achievements. As we transition out of the warmth of summer and into the damp embrace of the “ber” months, we brace ourselves for the new season ahead, with its own set of challenges and surprises.

With the leaves turning and the days growing shorter, anticipation fills the air, setting the stage for the next wave of cultural moments.