10 Amazing Pinoy Trivia That Will Blow Your Mind

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Pinoy trivia? Theyre mostly useless information that stay in our brains for not
longer than 60 seconds. Still, they fascinate us in a way that even more useless
showbiz news cant do.

Also Read: 6 Surprising Pinoy Historical Facts You Probably Dont Know

Are you ready for a list of mind-blowing Pinoy facts and trivia? Here goes:

1. Juan Luna killed his wife and mother-in-law. He was later acquitted of his crime
of passion.
Juan Luna + Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera + murder

In Photo: Juan Luna and his wife, Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera (from the painting
Ensueos de Amor)

In 1892, Juan Luna, famous Filipino painter of 400 masterpieces, was involved in a
bloody murder at their Paris home. The victims? His wife, Maria de la Paz Pardo de
Tavera, and his mother-in-law. It is said that extreme jealousy forced Luna to pull the
trigger. He was later acquitted in February 1893 after the court categorized the
murder as a crime of passion.

2. Cory Aquinos favorite color was RED, not YELLOW.

Cory Aquino + trivia

The late President Corazon Aquino as well as the EDSA People Power Revolution are
best remembered through the iconic yellow ribbon. However, she once admitted
that RED was actually her first favorite. The yellow color only came after some
friends suggested the song Tie A Yellow Ribbon for Ninoys homecoming. Cory
continued to use her yellow trademark after her husbands death.

3. In 1992, Pepsi offered 1 million pesos to anyone who had a bottle cap with 349
printed on it. Turns out, half a million bottle caps got the winning number.
Pepsi 349 fiasco

Dubbed as the Number Fever, the promo was offered by Pepsi-Cola Products
Philippines. On May 25, 1992, the winning numbers (i.e. 349) were finally released.
Thousands claimed the prizes but Pepsi officials revealed that there was a technical
glitch. In the end, the company spent more than 200 million pesos to pay up to 500,
000 disappointed claimants. The case of the infamous Pepsi 349 fiasco was finally
closed in 2006.

4. Major Archibald Butt, former military captain in the Philippines, died in the sinking
of Titanic in 1912.
Major Archibald Butt + Titanic

A former journalist, Butt was a well-known military aide and adviser to US presidents
William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. He joined the army who fought during
the Spanish-American War.

After the war ended, he was assigned to the Philippines as a volunteer and later
promoted as Assistant Quartermaster with the rank of Captain. He stayed in Manila
until July 1903.

In 1912, after a short trip to Europe, Butt embarked Titanic to return to the US.
Sadly, he was one of the victims who perished when the ship sank. His body was
never recovered.

5. Jaz Cola, a beverage produced by The Coca Cola Company, was specifically made
for the people in the Visayan Islands.
Jaz Cola

Image source: Flickr

Jaz Cola is a cola-flavored drink and just one of the many custom beverages made
by Coca-Cola for the Philippine market. Originally created for consumers living in
the Visayan region, Jaz Cola has reportedly fueled Visayan pride among its teen
consumers.

6. Aluling Bridge in Ilocos Sur took 35 years to complete.

Aluling Bridge

Image source: www.dpwh.gov.ph

After 35 years and 6 presidents, the Aluling Bridge was finally completed on March
25 of this year. Its construction first started in 1978 but due to a host of factors
such as unpredictable weather and difficulty of navigating the river, the completion
was delayed for more than 3 decades. Aluling Bridge connects the provinces of
Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province.

7. Gollum suluensis is a shark named after Gollum of the movie Lord of the Rings
and Philippines very own Sulu Sea.

Gollum suluensis shark

Image source: LAST & GAUDIANO, Zootaxa 3002 (2011)

Discovered in Sulu, this New Zealand shark is one of the species of the genus
Gollum. Compared to its cousin (G. attenuatus), this shark has a darker, plainer
and less contrasted coloration,