In modern times, memes and trends have found a way to add a twist to our lives.
Whether it’s something relatable that we can share on our social media feed or something funny that we can share with our friends or our loved ones to laugh about. Some of these trends even came to open up topics that comes to open our eyes into a better perspective.
As we come to wave our hello to 2025, let us have a look back at the trending topics that became well-known among Filipinos this year.
January – Esophagus Esophagus
Content creator Yasmin Asistido famously known as “Kween Yasmin,” became viral after making a spoken word poetry about the esophagus.
Guesting on a podcast with TheKoolPals, Kween Yasmin was given the word “Esophagus,” to make spoken word poetry about. Kween Yasmin was able to successfully deliver poetry later winning the hearts and laughs of many Filipinos.
Since then, the word “Esophagus,” has become a well-known meme among Filipinos.
February – “Tinitigan ko, nilapitan ko”
Coming from the song “Marikit sa Dilim” by Juan Caoile and Kyleswish, the “Tinitigan ko, nilapitan ko” craze became trending within TikTok.
However, one video that stood up on the trend was from Subo Queen who added a twist on their take on the trend.
March – “Gumagamit ako araw, araw.”
Last March, a man from BGC made a public scandal—proudly admitting that he was using drugs in an interview after being asked if he’s using.
The man even made a remark that he cannot be arrested as “under the law of God,” he cannot be touched as he is God.
While the issue isn’t necessarily a laughing matter, the man’s phrase somehow became a laughing stock with many users editing his blasphemous phrase with a hopecore template.
April – Diwata Pares
Diwata first appeared in the media back in 2016 after being featured in a GMA News after being beaten up by his friends who were taking drugs.
Upon the interview airing to the masses, he quickly became viral because a lot of people found it funny as he was still able to do a pageant walk despite being deeply hurt.
Last April, his Pares business–the “Diwata Overload Pares,” became one of the most visited eatery amongst Filipinos. Due to its hype, Diwata’s Pares business became the talk of the town that month.
May – Alice Guo
Due to her involvement at the POGO hub, the Philippine government opened an investigation into Bamban, Tarlac then mayor Alice Guo.
Upon investigation, the Philippine government found overwhelming evidence that disproved Alice Guo as a Filipino citizen. This later led to a series of interrogations with various politicians such as Sen. Risa Hontiveros–asking about her life.
The phrase, “lumaki po ako sa farm,” and “your honor hindi ko po alam,” became a meme in most netizen’s for you page.
Adding to this was Alice Guo’s interview with Karen Davila that was later turned into a meme by many people.
June – Boy Dila
Every June 24, it became a tradition for the residents of San Juan City to have a water festival which they refer to as the “Wattah Wattah festival.”
During the Wattah Wattah festival, residents do water-splashing activities in celebration of the feast of St. John the Bapists with the activity of it symbolizing purification and renewal.
However, the incident of Boy Dila (Lexter Castro) angered many netizens after he purposely aimed his water gun toward a delivery rider he encountered during the festival.
Lexter was later criticized for his unruly behavior with many netizens pointing out on how it insulted the spirit of the festival that supposed to be a happy celebration in the eyes of the public.
July – “Sir” issue
After being mistakenly misgendered by a waiter, Jude Bacalso made the waiter stand in front of her (for two hours) as she allegedly threw insulting remarks towards him.
With the waiter being scared to lose his job, all he could do there was to stand and hear Bacalso threaten to fire him.
This later spark an online outrage with some LGBTQ+ members calling out Bacalso for handling the situation improperly.
August – Angelica Yulo
Following the success of Paris Olympics gold medalist Carlos Yulo–his mother, Angelica Yulo made headlines after he claimed on a lengthy TikTok video that his mother–who manages his bank account that contained the money he won from the Olympics had been withdrawn without disclosing the exact transaction to him.
In addition to this, Yulo also claimed that his mother didn’t tell him that he had received a payment from a 2022 competition and even claimed that the amount was less than what Yulo had won.
Angelica Yulo later denied the allegations, stating that she had transferred the money to her account to safeguard it for Carlos’ future.
Due to the issue, this later opened the topic within Filipino culture–tackling “utang na loob.” The issue later divided Filipinos siding with either side that aligned with their own beliefs.
Some people called out Angelica, stating that her son owes her nothing, while some called out Carlos, stating how he has no gratitude towards his mother.
September – IShowSpeed Philippine venture
On September 11, American Youtuber and Online Streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., whose famously known as “IShowSpeed,” visited the Philippines and upon his visit in the country–he live-streamed it on his YouTube channel.
Upon his visit, he was swarmed by Filipino fans–making his visit overall memorable and chaotic.
October – Jen Barangan Olivia Rodrigo controversy
Last October, “Driver’s License,” hit-maker Olivia Rodrigo came to visit the country for her GUTS World Tour.
The concert intended to be one of the most memorable experiences for Olivia Rodrigo fans later came to be a lesson learned for content creator Jen Barangan after being called out for filming herself with her phone camera flash open during the concerts.
Netizens even pointed out that one of the rules with the concert of Olivia Rodrigo was “no flash photography.” With this issue coming to light–it opened up the talk about concert etiquette.
Jen Barangan later apologized for her behavior on a short message that she posted on Instagram.
November – Reserving parking slot
Finding a parking spot can always come as a tricky task among car owners and something that could really take a toll on someone’s mood is when someone tries to reserve a parking spot by standing on it.
During Undas, a heated argument between two women at Las Pinas cemetery became viral after a woman was seen standing in a parking lot to reserve a parking space.
This later caused the woman from the SUV to confront the woman who was standing at the parking space.
According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), parking spots are supposed to be “first come, first serve” basis.
December – Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings controversy
After the intimate messages between Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings were exposed on Instagram by Anthony’s ex-girlfriend Jam Villanueva, the controversy was quick to spread on the screen of many netizens.
With the issue being known to the public, netizens are quick to call out the two actors for their behaviors even resulting in a massive backlash.
Maris Racal later took accountability for her action on an interview with Anthony Jennings later apologizing to the two.
