To say that 2022 was an eventful year for the Philippines is an understatement. Aside from the relaxation of COVID restrictions and the attempts to return to some pre-pandemic life, this year also marked a significant event: the changing of the guard at Malacañang Palace through the May elections that saw one of the most riveting people’s campaigns in electoral history, as well as the historic win of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that saw a comeback for the Marcos’ family image after the 1986 People Power Revolution toppled his father’s 21-year regime.
Other, lighter news emerged on top, too, such as the unlikely revival of a long-beloved but obscure local food chain, and other stories that captured readers’ senses. Here are the top stories of Coconuts Manila for 2022:
After going viral, Tropical Hut is selling out across Manila — and is now hiring new staff to keep up with the demand
Filipinos went gaga for Tropical Hut after the once-forgotten homegrown fast-food chain became an overnight viral sensation. Tropical Hut experienced a new lease on life after a viral tweet unleashed a wave of nostalgia among customers who frequented them in the ‘80s and ‘90s, driving up sales in its branches across the metro.
Love Tropical Hut? Here are 11 other nostalgic establishments that are still serving tasty old-school eats
The Tropical Hut revival wave was strong in the country as it sparked nostalgia among Filipinos for other oldie-but-goodie establishments — with this Coconuts list of 11 other nostalgic eats being one of the most widely read stories in Manila for the year.
Ariana Grande shares clips of 137k-strong Pinoys singing ‘Break Free’ at Leni-Kiko Pasig rally
Another story to make you walk down memory lane of the year that was. The candidacy of former Vice President Leni Robredo sparked a wave of massive supporter rallies, one of them being the 137,000-strong turnout in Pasig City that had been catapulted into global consciousness after Ariana Grande posted an Instagram story of the packed Emerald Avenue along the Ortigas business district, as people sang to her 2014 hit song Break Free.
‘Worst airport’? Dutch TikToker laments cash-only options at NAIA
Meanwhile, transport woes in Manila are nothing new, and the metro’s airport is not spared. A Dutch TikToker aired his frustrations about the cash-only establishments at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 through a video, where he was unable to purchase a meal due to the lack of card payment systems. Readers — Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike — apparently related to it hard, enough for it to round up the top stories of the year.
