February was a month to savor with its highs and lows. We’ve pushed through endless January, all for the perfect mix of exhilarating rush and dramatic twist that the love month had in store.

Whether or not Cupid fumbled the bag and yet another situationship took a turn for the worse, February had us hooked with its momentary bliss and buzz:

1. Mavericks superfans crash out over Dončić

(Photo from Jerome Miron/USA Today)

The basketball world was shaken to the core when the Dallas Mavericks suddenly traded five-time All-NBA star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis on Feb. 2.

“I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We're built to win now and in the future,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said on the decision to trade for Davis.

Die-hard fans sparked an outcry and protested at the American Airlines Center in disapproval of the trade, especially as Dončić led Dallas to last year’s Finals.

2. The 67th Grammy Awards celebrates the biggest names in music

(Photo from Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Beyoncé made history again as "Cowboy Carter" established her as the first Black woman to win best country album and as she bagged her first album of the year award during the 2025 Grammy Awards on Feb. 2.

“I just wanna encourage people to do what they’re passionate about and to stay persistent,” Beyoncé said in her acceptance speech.

In another passionate speech, Chappell Roan, the best new artist winner, called out to the music industry to support their developing artists with health care and liveable wages.

Roan ended with a resounding statement: “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”

Adding to history, the rap game's newest obsession, Doechii, became one of only three women so far to win best rap album with "Alligator Bites Never Heal."

Pop culture’s reigning divas graced the Grammy stage, with Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli xcx serving buzzing performances.

3. House impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte

(Photo from Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)

The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on allegations of conspiracy to assassinate and corruption on Feb. 5. Initially, there were 215 signatories, but by Feb. 7, 25 more legislators signed the impeachment complaint. A total of 240 lawmakers were in favor of sending the resolution to the Senate.

This makes Duterte the fourth Philippine official to be impeached. The complaint specified that her conduct throughout her term “displays gross faithlessness against public trust and a tyrannical abuse of power.”

These factors constituted her “gross unfitness to hold public office” and infidelity to the laws. Duterte denied the claims, claiming that she was a victim of political vendetta.

4. Obiena bags first gold of the year in France

(Photo from EJ Obiena Facebook page)

In his return to competition, Thomasian Olympian EJ Obiena snagged his first gold of the year at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athelor in France on Feb. 8.

Obiena, who also clinched the fourth spot in the latest World Athletics rankings for pole vault, claimed the top of the podium in the eight-man tournament with a 5.70-meter finish. The Dutch silver medalist Menno Vloon attempted the same height but fell short in the tiebreaker, while USA’s Christopher Nilsen secured third place with a clearance of 5.60 meters.

Obiena’s win marked his season-best after a silver medal finish in January at the International Springer Meeting in Germany.

5. Kendrick Lamar drops the mic

(Photo from Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Record-breaking rapper Kendrick Lamar took over the Super Bowl LIX halftime show with a performance that was nothing short of powerful.

“I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” said Lamar, teasing a direct hit to rap rival Drake, who sued the artist’s music label, Universal Music Group, for his top-charting diss track “Not Like Us.”

The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans roared in a chorus when the infamous lyrics were finally sung. Lamar’s musical sidekick, SZA, also surprised fans with a collaboration performance of “All the Stars” and their recent hit “Luther.”

Lamar’s performance had everyone talking about its symbolism and its political commentary on race and identity.

6. NIKI mends and breaks hearts in two-night Manila serenade

(Photo from Natt Lim/ABS-CBN)

NIKI’s sold-out Buzz World Tour shows at the Mall of Asia Arena on Feb. 11 and 12 captivated fans with her dreamy yet raw storytelling in her music.

NIKI, known for her heartbreak anthems, impressive pull on the local scene, and for notching over three billion streams worldwide, serenaded the Manila crowd with fan favorites like “Buzz,” “Lowkey,” and her setlist finale, “Backburner.”

On the first night, NIKI thanked the fans for filling the venue. She also showered appreciation for how her Filipino fans sang along in perfect pitch.

The overwhelming demand to see NIKI in Manila led to the announcement of an additional show on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

7. Vatican reports “slight improvement” in Pope Francis’s health

(Photo from Filippo Monteforte/AFP)

Pope Francis has been confined at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome since Feb. 14 due to a lung infection that led to the early stages of kidney failure. This has been his most concerning health scare yet, but experts said his condition has been improving steadily.

In a statement, the Vatican said Pope Francis’s health has shown progress, as “the critical clinical conditions of the Holy Father demonstrate a slight improvement.”

The Vatican reports that the Pope is “alert and well-oriented” and attended Mass with his medical staff at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

8. Waterbomb Festival makes waves in Manila

(Photo from Waterbomb Manila Facebook page)

South Korea’s hottest summer festival finally made it to Manila with a two-day blast at the Quirino Grandstand on Feb. 22 and 23.

The fiery live performances brought summer heat to February as water cannons drenched the crowd. The festival boasted a lineup including K-Pop, K-Hiphop, and EDM artists, particularly big-name headliners such as EXO's Chanyeol, Epik High, Hwasa, Jessi, and more.

BamBam of GOT7 made the first Manila stop extra special as he swooned the Filipino crowd with his surprise cover of Lola Amour’s hit song “Raining in Manila.” To level it up, P-Pop artists BILIB and ZÉLA raised the flag and performed along with the stellar lineup.

9. Experts: Asteroid 2024 YR4, less likely to hit earth

(Photo from NASA)

Asteroid 2024 YR4 was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System telescope in Chile in December 2024.

NASA has been closely monitoring the orbit of this near-Earth threat since its discovery, and up until Feb. 18, the chance of impact by the year 2032 stood at 3.1%—the highest probability recorded for an asteroid measuring between 130 and 300 feet across.

To our relief, the recent update from NASA on Feb. 25 shared that YR4 is expected to miss Earth in 2032, with its impact probability dropping to 0.004%, a near-zero estimate that may finally put us at ease.

10. Seven planets parade the sky

(Photo from Miguel De Guzman/The Philippine STAR)

Astrophiles were treated to a rare sight when seven planets aligned as the “planet parade” soared through the sky on Feb. 28.

The seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—were positioned simultaneously along an arc visible in Earth’s atmosphere from 6 pm to 9 pm. This usually occurs as the planets orbit around the Sun. While it isn’t an unusual occurrence, seeing it with the naked eye is a magical sight to behold.

If you missed it, you have another chance to see the planets in August this year, with four planets visible before sunrise, or in October 2028, with five planets appearing. It would be another 15 years until all seven planets peek through the night sky.

February may be shorter by two or three days, but it certainly didn’t hold back on unforgettable highlights. From sports showdowns and political tensions to the highs of pop culture and a supposedly impending asteroid hit, the month packed in more than its fair share of drama and frenzy.

The best is yet to come as summer shines through with a fresh wave of heated moments and scorching excitement that await us ahead.