Twitter recently released what it saw as some of the top Tweets in the country for the year. In the midst of a pandemic, Filipinos took to Twitter to express their emotions, beliefs and opinions on certain issues and local or global events that really matter, or sometimes just to show joy, find encouragement, or simply to have fun.
Whether it’s working from home, learning remotely, or practicing social distancing, everybody’s life has changed in 2020. People went to Twitter to try and change the world, to help, encourage, inspire others, and even used Twitter to promote businesses that may have needed a little boost to stay afloat.
The past year, Twitter truly became the place for Filipinos to come together. As 2020 is about to end; relive and cherish the moments that have made people laugh, touched their hearts, shed a tear, and most importantly, reminded them that we’re all in this together.
This year, a Tweet that made Pinoys beam with pride and another that showed bravery and freedom in self expression were some of the most unforgettable stories among Filipinos on Twitter.
Sam Smith’s (@samsmith) Tweet about a young Filipino boy singing his song in a public karaoke machine went viral. The English singer was amazed with the boy’s talent, and so do the thousands of people on Twitter, making it this year’s Top Retweet and Most Liked Tweet in the Philippines, and also the one of the most engaged Tweets in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the thread by Jzan Tero (@JzanVern) about her personal experience drew the attention and support of many Filipinos, and is the Most Quote Tweeted Tweet in the Philippines for this year.
Staying at home did not stop Filipinos from participating in social movements. Tweets became useful to voice everyone’s opinion, while a simple Like, Retweet or Quote Tweet can be a sign of support to further amplify advocacies online. For example, many Filipinos engaged on this Tweet to promote body positivity among Pinays.
Transitioning to the new normal is not an easy feat, so it’s amazing how people come together and try to lift each other up on Twitter. From simple words of encouragement to artworks that inspire people to keep going, anyone can be one less lonely by connecting to communities on Twitter.
Just like last year, Entertainment proved its dominance as the Most Tweeted about hashtags this 2020. Music, loveteams, and local celebrities continue to make Filipinos smile despite the challenging times. This year, P-Pop boy group #SB19 debuted straight to the top of the list, while #MayWard, #MaineMendoza, and #AldenRichards, among others, continue to set the trend, thanks to the fans who unceasingly show their support on Twitter.
Among the most Tweeted accounts in the country, Entertainment remained steadfast on being the top conversation driver on Twitter. Perhaps, Entertainment kept Filipinos (virtually) together, and staying updated with the scene became their solace and joy in the rather mundane life at home. This year’s list of Most Tweeted about Accounts is led by the phenomenal group, SB19 (@SB19Official), who went straight to number 1; while other “veterans” such as Maymay Entrata (@maymayentrata07), Edward Barber (@Barber_Edward_), Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm), and Alden Richards (@aldenrichards02) completed the top half of the list.
In sports, Even though many sports went on pause and looked a bit different when they returned, there were 2 billion Tweets globally about sports. The UAAP is one of the highly anticipated sporting events in the Philippines every year. Despite the pandemic that halted the games, fans continued to stay in tune with the latest updates in the sports scene. Just this August, Ricci Rivero (@_ricciiirivero) and CJ Cansino (@cjcansino) trended for their Tweet exchanges, eventually making them the lead in the Most Tweeted about sports accounts in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the return of the NBA season also became the talk of the town with people Tweeting and watching the highly-anticipated basketball games, especially on witnessing the Los Angeles Lakers’ (@lakers) win.
“This year, people have used Twitter not just to keep up with what’s happening around the world, but to maintain connections with one another despite being apart. The challenging circumstances of 2020 has highlighted Twitter’s role in driving real-time conversations and facilitating the interactions that matter as Filiipions bonded over heartwarming and key moments of the year. As we enter 2021, it’s clear that Twitter is the only place for the buzziest, funniest, most interesting, and most relevant culture moments, and we expect this to continue moving forward,” said Arvinder Gujral, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, at Twitter.
Join the #ThisHappened2020 conversation on Twitter using any of the hashtags listed below and you’ll see a fun emoji in your Tweet. Also check out @TwitterPH and our Twitter accounts around the world which will spotlight the top Twitter moments from the year.