Last Dec. 15, Yahoo! Philippines released a list of the top 10 topics that went viral in the country in 2012. Here are the people and other topics that made it to the list.
#Amalayer
Paula Jamie Salvosa, a 23-year old student was caught on video berating a guard on Light Railway Transit. The video as well as the student’s Twitter handle went viral online.
Carabuena
Robert Carabuena, an employee of Philip Morris International, physically assaulting a Metro Manila Development Authority officer was caught on video and subsequently went viral.
#Sinotto
Following the plagiarism accusations involving Reproductive Health bill critic Senator Vicente Sotto, netizens coined the term “Sinotto”; the hashtag posts became immediately popular with those poking fun translating famous English quotes to Tagalog or vice versa.
Claudine vs. Tulfo brothers
A brawl involving showbiz couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto and Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 became an Internet sensation.
Noemi Lagman
Missing girl was reunited with her family thanks to social media’s help.
Noynoying
Antigovernment protesters in the Philippines found a new way to poke fun at President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. “Noynoying,” which means doing nothing, was a protest against the president.
Anti-epal
A social media site that became a venue for the public to share photos of public servants who displayed their names or images in public places to advance their political careers.
“Hero dog” Kabang
Philippine hero dog Kabang saved two young girls from being run over by a motorbike but lost her snout and upper jaw by being hit by the front wheel of the motorbike.
Batangas
A Hollywood style signage in Taal Volcano of Batangas became the butt of online jokes.
Zendee Rose Tenerefe
The “random girl” on YouTube got a recording contract and was invited to the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
