Top 10 Facebook moments in 2015 for Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines – In 2015, you’ve seen a wide variety of events unfold before your eyes – while scrolling up and down your own Facebook news feeds.  

Aside from being a social networking platform, Facebook has also become one of the leading source of news and information worldwide. Thanks to the easier access to the Internet, a Facebook user can easily keep up with current events through the news that pop up in his/her feed.

Each major event that happened in the Philippines and all over the world created a unique social conversation that triggered not just emotions but also action. We have witnessed how global movements unfolded together with the news, and how social media played a crucial role in making it all happen.

Rappler picks the top global and local events that dominated the Facebook news feeds of Filipinos for the year.

2016 national elections

Throughout the year, Filipinos witnessed the opening salvo and the preparations leading to the 2016 national elections. For the first time, social media will play a huge part in choosing the next Philippine president. This year, the Commission on Elections ramped up its campaign to urge people to register and have their biometrics captured. Politicians declared their intent to run for their desired position, ahead of the filing of certificates of candidacy last October.

Politics has always been one of the most-discussed topics and this year is no different. Netizens debated on several controversial election-related news including the following: 

• Vice President Jejomar Binay’s heated exchange with the students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños

 

• Miriam Defensor-Santiago declared she is running for president

 

• Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had a change of heart and confirmed that he will run as president

 

• Senator Grace Poe’s disqualification issue 

 

• Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas’ verbal brawl with Duterte about his Wharton degree

 

Pope Francis in the Philippines

2015 has been a big year for Filipino Catholics with the arrival of Pope Francis in the country last January. During his 5-day visit, the beloved pontiff spent time with Filipino families and children; met with various religious leaders, and civil authorities; and visited Yolanda-hit Tacloban.

 

Mamasapano clash

On January 25, less than a week after the visit of Pope Francis in the country, the nation mourned the loss of the 67 lives, including 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force in clashes with rebel forces and private armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The botched operation was meant to hunt down Malaysian bomb maker and terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. A Senate probe into the clash was launched and a series of public hearings and closed-door executive sessions were done to investigate what really happened during the “misencounter.” 

 

In September, President Benigno Aquino III announced in a live national address that indeed, Marwan was neutralized in Mamasapano.

Marriage equality

History was made when the United States Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all its 50 states. US President Barack Obama addressed the nation and praised the ruling as a “victory for America.”

 

Shortly after the announcement, Facebook launched a “Celebrate Pride” tool that allows a Facebook user to add a rainbow filter on their profile picture. 

 

‘Fight of the Century’: Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao 

The world stopped when the match between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, billed as “The Fight of the Century” and “The Biggest Fight of All-Time,” finally happened last May.

After 12 rounds of boxing 6 years in the making, Mayweather secured a unanimous decision victory versus Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

 

Rappler also crowdsourced fan artworks showing support to one of the most anticipated boxing matches in recent history.

 

Paris attacks

Ten months after the attack that killed 12 people and injured 11 others at the office of satirical paper Charlie Hebdo, another terror attack in Paris shook the whole world. On November 13, a series of attacks in the French capital left more than 128 people dead and 180 people injured. 

 

During the attacks, people in Paris were able to utilize the safety check feature activated by Facebook to let friends and family know that they were okay.

 

Similar to the “Celebrate Pride” profile photo filter, Facebook also launched the French flag filter tool to show solidarity with the victims of terror in Paris.

Fight against ISIS

The fight against terrorism continues.

People from all over the world condemned the actions of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS). Throughout the year, netizens utilized Facebook and other social media platforms to share the latest news about terrorism, and to mourn its victims.

Some of the terror attacks claimed by ISIS includes the Russian plane crash in Egypt in October, the deadly Iraq mosque attack in November, and the recent Paris shooting.

 

FIBA Asia 2015

The basketball-loving nation stood together as the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team aimed for the outright berth to the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Philippines, however, settled for silver in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha in Hunan, China, last October.

Gilas Pilipinas star Jayson Castro was also named to the 2015 FIBA Asia Mythical Team.

 

This runner-up finish earned the country a spot at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament happening next year. 

2015 APEC summit

Global political and business leaders gathered in Manila for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held November 12-19. The last time Manila hosted the regional summit was in 1996, a time when social media have yet to be introduced.

Several bilateral talks between leaders were also held on the sidelines of the APEC. Rappler compiled all the bilateral talks and agreements between the Philippines and other economies in a Facebook album:

 

Below are some of Rappler’s top Facebook videos about the 2015 APEC Summit:

 

AlDub phenomenon

No doubt, the AlDub fever took over every one’s social media feeds during the latter months of this year. The on-screen team-up of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza dominated the daily trending topics and conquered the world.

 

Since noontime television show Eat Bulaga introduced its Kalyeserye segment, more and more Filipinos became hooked and captivated by the fast-rising love team. Below are just some of the most-viewed AlDub videos:

 

What events did you like, comment on, or share this 2015? Which news prompted you to take action? Let us know in the comments section or write about it in X! – Rappler.com