Google PH reveals Filipinos’ top searches in 2023

Google Philippines on Tuesday unveiled its Year in Search 2023, revealing Filipinos’ top searches throughout the year. The list sheds light on the various topics that captivated the Philippine online community during a tumultuous 2023.

Unsurprisingly, “SIM registration” topped the “News” category, reflecting the implementation of the SIM Registration Act in an effort to curb mobile-related crimes.

However, despite “KathNiel” flooding the search engine since November 30, the query did not make it to any list.

Top Searches in News

1. SIM registration
2. precinct finder
3. persona non grata
4. Nipah virus
5. War in Israel and Gaza
6. lato-lato
7. Typhoon Egay update
8. Taal Volcano update
9. Turkey earthquake
10. MoCa Farm

The NBA rivalry between the “Lakers vs. Warriors” reigned supreme in “Sports,” while the movie “Oppenheimer” sparked the most online curiosity in the “Movies” category.

Top Searches in Sports

1. Lakers vs Warriors
2. Lakers vs Nuggets
3. FIBA World Cup
4. Miami vs Denver
5. Lakers vs Grizzlies
6. Suns vs Nuggets
7. Celtics vs 76ers
8. Heat vs Knicks
9. Golden State Warriors vs Kings
10. Ginebra vs Bay Area

Top Searches in Movies

1. “Oppenheimer”
2. “John Wick: Chapter 4”
3. “Barbie”
4. “Insidious: The Red Door”
5. “The Menu”
6. “Extraction 2”
7. “I Love Dizzy”
8. “Evil Dead Rise”
9. “Nowhere”
10. “Kill Boksoon”

Filipinos also embraced music, with “Say You Won’t Let Go” leading the “Lyrics” search. Juan Karlos’s “ERE” ranked second in this category which hailed as Spotify’s most streamed local song in a day. It’s also the first Filipino song that reached the platform’s Top 100 Global chart.

Top Searches in Songs or Lyrics

1. Say You Won’t Let Go
2. ERE
3. Pasilyo
4. Uhaw
5. Lupang Hinirang English
6. Angels Like You
7. California King Bed
8. Rapstar
9. Raining In Manila
10. Jopay

In the “Games” category, “Blade Ball codes” unexpectedly ranked the top spot, surpassing more established titles like “Honkai: Star Rail” and “Minecraft”, which placed 8th and 9th, respectively.

Games

1. Blade Ball codes
2. Delta Executor
3. Soldier, Poet, or King quiz
4. Cosmic Values
5. Anime Adventures codes
6. Farlight
7. Choox Sega
8. Honkai: Star Rail
9. Minecraft 1.20
10. Project Slayers codes

South Korean actor Ahn Bo-hyun and Filipino actress Katy Louise Saunders emerged as the most searched “Male” and “Female” personalities, respectively. K-dramas continued their popularity, with “Duty After School” topping the series category.

Male Personalities

1. Ahn Bo-hyun
2. Mackenyu
3. Marco Gumabao
4. Taylor Lautner
5. Travis Kelce
6. Liam Hemsworth
7. David Licauco
8. Kyle Kuzma
9. Juan Karlos
10. Chen Zhe Yuan

Female Personalities

1. Katy Louise Saunders
2. Cristine Reyes
3. Millie Bobby Brown
4. Lee Da-in
5. Issa Pressman
6. Janna Dominguez
7. Bada Lee
8. Jenna Ortega
9. Emily Rudd
10. Isabel Santos

Korean series

1. “Duty After School”
2. “Moving”
3. “The Glory”
4. “Twinkling Watermelon”
5. “King the Land”
6. “My Lovely Liar”
7. “Strong Girl Nam-soon”
8. “Alchemy of Souls”
9. “Island”
10. “A Time Called You”

Shows or Series

1. “Duty After School”
2. “Maria Clara at Ibarra”
3. “Moving”
4. “The Glory”
5. “Twinkling Watermelon”
6. “King the Land”
7. “XO, Kitty”
8. “The Last of Us”
9. “My Lovely Liar”
10. “Strong Girl Nam-soon”

A new “Farewells” category debuted this year, capturing searches related to deceased individuals. Veteran broadcaster Mike Enriquez, actor and director Joey Paras, and “Friends” star Matthew Perry topped this poignant list.

Farewell

1. Mike Enriquez
2. Joey Paras
3. Matthew Perry
4. Andrei Sison
5. Patrick Guzman
6. Mario Dumaual
7. John Regala
8. Michael Gambon
9. Park Soo Ryun
10. Tina Turner

Mervin Wenke, Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Google Philippines, emphasized online vigilance during the announcement.

“We’d like to encourage everyone to always think first or verify the information that they see online. That’s why Google is here,” Wenke said.