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| (Image Source: Adobo Magazine) |
2020 has been one of the most memorable years of the past century by any means and measure. These past 50 odd weeks have kept netizens in the Philippines glued to their devices in search for information, ideas and opinions through a once-in-a-lifetime "new normal" situation. From the eruption of the Taal Volcano to the continuing threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the resumption of the NBA and PBA, and even local and Korean entertainment choices, there has been a flood of online activity this year as netizens sought their passions online like never before. And as the year draws to a close, Yahoo's Year In Review takes a look at the top happenings, people and trends that have captured the interest of the Filipino online community all throughout a challenging year.
Top Newsmakers Of 2020
Taal Volcano, one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, was the top searched newsmaker in the Philippines for 2020 as its unexpected eruption last January threatened the lives of millions of people in CALABARZON, Metro Manila and several parts of Central Luzon and Ilocos region. Meanwhile, the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant ranked second on the said list when his untimely passing due to a helicopter crash in California that also killed his daughter Gigi and seven others shocked the world of basketball as well as a basketball-obsessed nation.
Local and international politics featured prominently with the US presidential elections (3rd) and outgoing US president Donald Trump (6th) as well as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (4th) and his additional authority to combat COVID-19 through the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act ranking high on users' searches. The arrest and ongoing saga of businessman and social media personality Francis Leo Marcos (7th) for alleged violation of the Optometry Law has also kept users on their seats.
Most Searched Celebrities Of 2020
Filipino celebrities dominated the list of most searched female celebrities for 2020, taking eight out of ten spots, and catapulted to the top of the list is internet sensation Ivana Alawi whose wildly popular YouTube channel drove her meteoric rise to fame in just over a year followed by PopStar Princess Sarah Geronimo with the news of her surprise secret wedding sending users on a frantic hunt for details on the said nuptial. In third place is Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray's controversial breakup with her ex Clint Bondad thrusting back into the public light as alleged photos of them being circulated on social media.
Half of the spots in the list of most searched male celebrities of the year went to the irresistable charm of South Korean oppas. Gaining international recognition alongside the hit Korean drama series Crash Landing On You, 2020 was a shining year for Hyun Bin (2nd) as he becomes the first Korean celebrity in the sleuth of endorsers and brand ambassadors for Smart Communications. Other South Korean male celebrities who made it to the list were Lee Min-Ho (6th), Park Seo-Joon (9th) and Ji Chang-Wook (10th). However, it was veteran broadcast journalist "Idol" Raffy Tulfo who edged out these globally-renouned Korean actors and clinched the top spot. Rounding off the list of the most searched male celebrities were Fernando Poe Jr. (3rd), Pilipinas Got Talent season 2 grand winner and America's Got Talent grand finalist Marcelito Pomoy (4th) and Filipino world boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (5th).
Most Searched Movies And TV Shows Of 2020
It is no surprise, doubt and question that the local tinseltown continues to be popular among Filipinos amidst the phenomenal growth of the Korean wave in the country brought about by the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the list of most watched movies and TV shows for this year was Crash Landing On You. The World Of The Married Couple, which was eventually the first fresh Korean and Asian drama series to be aired on ABS-CBN's new flagship station, the Kapamilya Channel, came in seventh while rounding off the list is Oscars 2020 best picture Parasyte.
Not to be beaten and literally left out in the dust, local showbiz featuring a mix of TV shows, newscasts and variety shows were also popularly searched with Encantadia topping the list at second while TV Patrol (3rd), Wowowin (6th) and FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (8th) proved to be time-tested favorites. Although it dominated Yahoo's list last year, the popularity of Hollywood waned this year with only America's Got Talent (4th) and Frozen 2 (5th) being featured on the said list.
Sports Reigns Supreme Among Most Searched Events
With major events and concerts pushed back due to the pandemic, users have turned to sporting events to keep them entertained in the safe comforts of their homes. These would eventually fill the list of the most searched events led by the NBA and the PBA Philippine Cup, proving that the country's love and passion for basketball prevails amidst the challenging times. Meanwhile, tennis was also well-loved by users with the Australian Open (3rd), French Open (5th) and US Open (9th) securing three spots on the list. Rounding off the sports-filled most searched events list are baseball, football, mixed martial arts, golf and racing.
Searching For COVID-19 Updates, Symptoms, Lockdowns And Vaccines
As the COVID-19 pandemic upended the lives of Filipinos and people across different parts of the globe, the most searched terms involving the virus and the pandemic amongst users are "Coronavirus update", "Coronavirus Philippines", "Covid 19 symptoms", "Covid 19 update worldwide", "Covid 19 vaccine", "Covid 19 tracker", "Quarantine", "Pandemic", "Lockdown", and "Coronavirus Italy" which happens to be the most interesting given that Italy has captured the interest of users in the Philippines due to the country's status as one of the largest migration destinations for Filipinos across Europe.
Check out Yahoo's Year In Review 2020 at https://ph.yahoo.com/topics/ph-yir for a more detailed look at the most searched list as well as the biggest online moments and surprises that have happened in 2020.
