Faith, entertainment, sports, and public safety dominated Facebook conversations in the Philippines from January 1 to 30, 2026, according to a social media scan by Capstone-Intel Corporation.

Content about Faith and local festival celebrations topped the list with an Engagement Score (ES) of 924,916.8. The Sto. Niño, or Child Jesus, is widely venerated in the Philippines and honored through colorful events such as Sinulog in Cebu, Dinagyang in Iloilo, and Ati-Atihan in Aklan which generated 5,970 posts.

These festivals feature street dancing, religious processions, and traditional rituals. In Cebu, highlights include the Traslacion and the seaborne procession, where devotees carry the image of the Sto. Niño through the streets and onto boats. The top most engaging story was a video post from the Facebook page 11:11 featuring people in devotion, which recorded an (ES) of 120,104.8. Coverage of these celebrations generated over 426,674 loves, 225,472 likes, 36,500 comments and nearly 30,000 shares, with users expressing joy, devotion, and a strong sense of community.

Netflix, now a global streaming powerhouse with a strong cult following, ranked next with an (ES) of 606,917.1, generating 3,078 posts. Led by Stranger Things, the 1980s-set sci-fi series fueled widespread sharing of clips, quotes, and “where to watch” updates. The top most engaging story was a quote from the FB page of Prince Umpad, which recorded an (ES) of 43,742.1.

Recurring themes centered on streaming availability, season-related discussions, and quote-style posts that users reposted as personal reflections. Netflix-related posts logged 5,809 comments and 52,094 shares, alongside hundreds of thousands of reactions, 372,086 loves and 158,378 likes underscoring the strong pull of entertainment content on social media.

Filipino tennis standout Alex Eala followed closely, emerging as a major Facebook topic as big-match updates and Australian Open-related posts sustained audience interest. The Alex Eala / Tennis cluster recorded an (ES) of 428,259.6, generating 3,978 posts. The top most engaging post was a photo of Alex Eala facing former world No. 1 and tennis legend Venus Williams, shared by One Sports, which recorded an (ES) of 9,377.5.

Interest peaked around posts highlighting her matches at the ASB Classic in Auckland, her tournament progress, and high-profile matchups. These posts drew 425,934 loves and 679,158 likes, 36,484 comments and 25,415 shares, reflecting strong fan support and close tracking of Eala’s milestones by Filipino sports followers.

Mayon Volcano in Albay, Bicol Region, the country’s most active volcano, ranked next with an ES of 308,099.4, generating 3,916 posts. Known for its perfectly symmetrical cone, Mayon remained closely monitored due to eruptions, lava dome collapses, and pyroclastic flows that threaten nearby communities.

The top most engaging post is a photo of the fiery Mayon Volcano from Philippine Star, which recorded an (ES) of 15,466.8. Information on volcanic activity, including official advisories and alerts, was shared more than 39,000 times and received around 9,400 comments dominated by mixed reactions: 106,418 likes, 22,939 wows and 13,805 loves. Users expressed concern, awe, and urgency as they followed updates to protect loved ones.

Health-related conversations, particularly about the Nipah virus outbreak, also drew significant attention, scoring an ES of 181,732.6. Overall, Nipah virus–related content dominated discussions, with the top post from GMA Public Affairs reaching an ES of 10,679.6. Guidance on symptoms, monitoring, and preparedness prompted over 615 posts, 30,000 shares and 13,200 comments, as users actively exchanged information to help keep family and friends informed. 

While the post generated an overwhelming reaction mix dominated by humor and concern: 54,297 like reactions, 12,553 Haha and 7,469 sad.

Ella Kristina Domingo, Research and Publications Director at Capstone-Intel, said Filipinos consistently engage with topics that feel immediate and personal.

“Festival content reflects pride and shared identity, while entertainment, sports, and public safety updates show how people connect by reacting, sharing, and discussing issues that matter in their daily lives,” she said.

Capstone-Intel’s Social Listening service provide real-time awareness of online conversations and media narratives for proactive communication and decision-making.