In November, Filipinos flocked to Facebook to discuss everything from storms and pageants to politics and holiday plans, according to a report.
The report, based on a scan of top keywords conducted by research firm Capstone-Intel Corporation using Facebook social listening tools, analyzed data from publicly available pages collected between December 1 and 3.
The top 10 topics reveal a mix of concern, pride, and humor.
Top 10 most talked-about topics:
1. Typhoon — 12.5 million engagements. Posts about storm alerts, rescues, and human stories generated the most reactions. Users showed empathy through LIKE, LOVE, and SAD reactions, underscoring Facebook’s role as a lifeline during disasters.
2. Cebu — 9 million engagements. Stories from Cebu, including community news, mental health reminders, and rescued animals, drew nationwide attention and emotional responses.
3. Love — 6.3 million engagements. Feel-good posts, celebrity jokes, family stories, and romantic moments received the most LOVE reactions, reinforcing love-themed content as a perennial favorite.
4. Duterte — 4.6 million engagements. Political posts, satire, and debates involving the Duterte family gained traction, with HAHA reactions dominating as users leaned toward humor in political discourse.
5. Bongbong Marcos — 4.3 million engagements. Posts about the President, particularly on flood control issues, sparked a mix of jokes, criticism, and debate, with HAHA reactions prevailing.
6. Miss Universe — 4.1 million engagements. The pageant fueled national pride, as posts supporting the Philippine contestant and behind-the-scenes content sustained high engagement.
7. Flood control — 4.06 million engagements. Discussions on flooding and infrastructure issues drew attention, with memes and sarcastic commentary dominating reactions.
8. Zaldy Co — 4.03 million engagements. Conversations on the congressman’s alleged role in flood-related issues gained strong traction, largely driven by humorous reactions.
9. Martin Romualdez — 1 million engagements. Crime reports and governance-related news involving the House Speaker were widely shared, often accompanied by ironic or humorous responses.
10. Noche Buena — 1.7 million engagements. Posts questioning whether P500 is enough for a holiday meal generated laughter, reflecting humor amid rising food prices.
According to Dr. Guido David, chief data scientist of Capstone-Intel, the data show that empathy, humor, and pride drive online engagement among Filipino netizens.
“For Duterte, Marcos, Zaldy Co, flood control, and even Noche Buena prices, HAHA reactions consistently topped the charts. Filipinos may take issues seriously, but they express their views through memes, sarcasm, and witty commentary,” David said.
He added that this reflects how Filipinos stay informed, connected, and entertained while navigating crises, politics, and everyday challenges.
