The most powerful man in the country and the most beautiful woman in the world—the universe rather—are the most searched people on Google Philippines in 2016.
Google processes trillions of search requests every year, and, according to data released by Google Trends, in the Philippines, users searched President Rodrigo Duterte and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach the most, in male and female categories, respectively.
Duterte assumed office this year after his victory at the 2016 Presidential Election in May, wherein he raked in more than 16 million votes. His feisty remarks, most of which concerning illegal drugs, and infamous statements, often met with criticisms both here and abroad, made him (and continuously make him) a popular personality and topic here in the Philippines.
Wurtzbach’s controversial win at the Miss Universe pageant, where host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as the winner, was a glorious event that closed year 2015 for the Philippines. She is well loved, especially among Filipinos who now have a third Miss Universe, thanks to her.
Pinoys’ love for Korean TV series reflected on the second most searched male personality—Song Joong Ki, the South Korean actor who played the lead role in the pan-Asia hit 2016 drama Descendants of the Sun. The show is said to be the one that established him as a top Hallyu star.
Rounding up the list of five most searched male personalities on Google Philippines are United States President-elect Donald Trump, whose victory stunned the world; South Korean actor Gong Yoo, the lead character in the hit movie Train to Busan; and English actor and Taylor Swift’s latest ex-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston.
Meanwhile, the other half of phenomenal love team AlDub and “Dubsmash Queen” Maine Mendoza took the second spot in Google Philippines’s most searched female personalities in 2016. A mainstay in variety show Eat Bulaga!, Mendoza has since appeared in several television programs and movies.
Taking the third, fourth and fifth spots in this category are Australian actress and Suicide Squad cast member Margot Robbie, Filipino actress and vocalist Arci Muñoz, and American actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, respectively.
