In November, Filipinos flocked to Facebook to discuss everything from storms and pageants to politics and holiday plans.
This report, based on a scan of the 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 — 12.5M engagements
Posts about storm alerts, rescues, and human stories got the most reactions. People showed empathy with LIKE, LOVE, and SAD reactions, proving Facebook is a lifeline during disasters.
2. Cebu — 9M engagements
Stories from Cebu, including community news, mental health reminders, and rescued animals, drew attention and emotional responses nationwide.
3. Love — 6.3M engagements
Feel-good posts, celebrity jokes, family stories, and “kilig” moments got the most LOVE reactions. Love posts remain a favorite among Filipinos.
4. Duterte — 4.6M engagements
Political posts, satire, and debates about the Duterte family were popular. Most people reacted with HAHA, showing they enjoy humor in politics.
5. Bongbong Marcos — 4.3M engagements
Posts about the President, especially on flood-control issues, got a mix of jokes, criticism, and debate. HAHA reactions were dominant.
6. Miss Universe — 4.1M engagements
The pageant sparked national pride. Posts supporting the Philippine contestant and backstage content kept people engaged.
7. Flood Control — 4.06M engagements
Posts about floods and infrastructure issues drew attention. Memes and sarcastic comments dominated reactions.
8. Zaldy Co — 4.03M engagements
Discussions on the congressman’s alleged role in flood issues got strong traction, mostly through humorous reactions.
9. Martin Romualdez — 1M engagements
Crime reports and governance news involving the House Speaker were widely shared, often with ironic or funny reactions.
10. Noche Buena — 1.7M engagements
Posts about whether P500 is enough for a holiday meal got lots of laughs, showing humor about rising food prices.
According to Dr. Guido David, chief data scientist of Capstone-Intel, what this tells us about Filipinos netizens is that empathy, humor, and pride drive engagement online.
“For Duterte, Marcos, Zaldy Co, flood control, and even Noche Buena prices, HAHA reacts consistently topped the charts. Filipinos may take the issues seriously—but they express their feelings through memes, sarcasm, and witty commentary,” said David.
This, he added, shows how Filipinos stay informed, connected, and entertained while navigating crisis, politics, and everyday challenges.
Capstone-Intel’s Social Listening service provide real-time awareness of online conversations and media narratives for proactive communication and decision-making.
